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Matakana Oasis
My favorite place in New Zealand
Waiheke Island is pretty fab, but everyone already knows about it and it peaked a decade ago. Meanwhile, a mere 50-minute drive from Auckland is a new funky little foodie and arts community that even some locals haven't discovered: the verdant valleys and misty peaks of Matakana.
It might be because of the little indie Matakana Cinemas, three uniquely and extravagantly decorated theaters showing a range of films from La Vie En Rose to The Bourne Identity, but my first thought strolling along the town's main drag was that it reminded me somehow of Park City, Utah: that rustic vibe that's also progressive and wealthy.
The people have a healthy, sun-kissed, outdoorsy glow and wear slouchy but chic clothes that they probably also sleep in. Many have baby prams (strollers). They meet up at the Black Dog for morning espresso and artisanal cheese omelettes with rosemary potatoes, stop into the Cream of Matakana gift shop to pick up a greeting card by a regional artist, or maybe a New Zealand tea towel that's been made into a sun hat, then grab a blueberry juice from Blue, a little shop with a crackling fireplace that sells all blueberry-themed food items, including the area's famous blueberry ice cream.
For all its moneyed pastiche, it's a hard-working town, as most residents are growers of some kind. The gathering place is the Matakana Village Farmers Market every Saturday, where you can wander and just eat away two hours of your life. The market prides itself on its zero waste policy and of course, only stocks products made or sourced locally. I started at the organic tote bag stand so I'd have a bag to carry my purchases in, then promptly purchased jars of local manuka honey, apricot, capsicum and chili relish, and Indian peach chutney. Those were gifts I was going to somehow get back to the US, so next I needed a snack. There were so many choices, but I decided on whitebait fritters, pumpkin soup, mini lemon tarts, and some pavlova, a meringue dessert New Zealanders insist the Australians stole from them.
It might be because of the little indie Matakana Cinemas, three uniquely and extravagantly decorated theaters showing a range of films from La Vie En Rose to The Bourne Identity, but my first thought strolling along the town's main drag was that it reminded me somehow of Park City, Utah: that rustic vibe that's also progressive and wealthy.
The people have a healthy, sun-kissed, outdoorsy glow and wear slouchy but chic clothes that they probably also sleep in. Many have baby prams (strollers). They meet up at the Black Dog for morning espresso and artisanal cheese omelettes with rosemary potatoes, stop into the Cream of Matakana gift shop to pick up a greeting card by a regional artist, or maybe a New Zealand tea towel that's been made into a sun hat, then grab a blueberry juice from Blue, a little shop with a crackling fireplace that sells all blueberry-themed food items, including the area's famous blueberry ice cream.
For all its moneyed pastiche, it's a hard-working town, as most residents are growers of some kind. The gathering place is the Matakana Village Farmers Market every Saturday, where you can wander and just eat away two hours of your life. The market prides itself on its zero waste policy and of course, only stocks products made or sourced locally. I started at the organic tote bag stand so I'd have a bag to carry my purchases in, then promptly purchased jars of local manuka honey, apricot, capsicum and chili relish, and Indian peach chutney. Those were gifts I was going to somehow get back to the US, so next I needed a snack. There were so many choices, but I decided on whitebait fritters, pumpkin soup, mini lemon tarts, and some pavlova, a meringue dessert New Zealanders insist the Australians stole from them.
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