What’s your PICNIC STYLE?
Most epic picnic spots are found by chance, on the road from hither to thither, but every outdoor grazer has a picnic preference – what’s yours?
ABOVE: Picnic in Queenstown © Sara Orme
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‘My hamper must have wine’ You need: VINEYARDS
‘I like ease and convenience’ You need: CITY GARDENS
Picnic amidst the vines at Waiheke Island’s oldest vineyard, Goldie Estate. The on-site deli provides wicker picnic baskets jam-packed with food and, for an additional cost, as much wine as you desire. Armed with picnic rugs, you’ll be given directions to a private picnic spot overlooking Putiki Bay. From north to south, you’ve no doubt locked lips with a drop of Cloudy Bay wine before. At their Marlborough vineyard, glass doors spill onto a patio with couches, wooden picnic tables and cushioned egg chairs hanging from the trees. Between December and April, you can upgrade your alfresco experience with oysters from Cloudy Bay’s seasonal oyster bar.
You needn’t lug your hamper far in Hamilton. The Lake Domain is within walking distance of the CBD. As well as the esplanade which encircles the lake, there is plenty of lawn and a dedicated picnic area. In Christchurch, garden-lovers are spoilt for choice. Hagley Park is the obvious go-to, but adjacent to this green mecca is Milbrook Reserve. Formerly part of architect Heathcote Helmore’s estate, it is now a quiet pocket of riverside and landscaped garden. In Invercargill’s Anderson Park, Sir Robert Anderson’s grand homestead remains a focal point. Featuring manicured grounds, sheltered picnic areas and rose gardens, it’s a lovely spot to roll out your rug.
