Happy birthday Pip

Whitebait fritters at Matakana Market

Sunday was Pip's birthday, it was also Fathers day in NZ. After an uneven year and with his Dad and Mac in heaven, my plan was a 'staycation weekend' indulging in some of his favourite things.

First up was a trip to the farmers Market at Matakana, an gentle hours drive from Auckland where he nibbled on fresh whitebait fritters from the Whitebait stand at the charming rustic market. After a stroll through the craft and food markets we drove off for brunch a the Speckled Hen cafe where chickens and roosters strutted through the cafe, one rooster yodeling his head off while we kept warm and enjoyed brekkie. Neither of us had been to Matakana for a number of years, the development was astounding especially at Omaha beach where I'd booked us a round of golf. We both loved the course with its bush walks between holes and waterside fairways, tui's drunk in the banksia trees sang their heads off as we batted around the course. Chilled to the bone after 18 holes in a stiff sea breeze we headed home, picking up 2 dozen Matakana Oysters and a bottle of bubbly which we enjoyed back in our pad. Sunday morning more oysters, this time artfully transformed by mois into fritters( recipe thanks to Lisa from Mahurangi Oysters), for brekkie then we headed over the harbour bridge to Bliss Spa at Takapuna for a couples massage and pedi!

Pizza oven and veggie stall at Matakana.



From top left, Sculpture at Riverhead and view back down river. Our friends enjoying sundown arrival at Riverhead. Ferry, Golf themed birthday cake and night sky.

We ended the weekend rendezvousing with a group of friends at Billfish cafe, Westhaven, for a surprise birthday trip on the Red Boats 'Riverhead cruiser' to Riverhead Tavern for dinner. Such fun cruising the upper harbour, which is surprisingly beautiful, bushclad and full of history. Dinner in the Portage Bar was such fun, we played pool, had a few drinks and scoffed ribs and bangers and mash with gusto! Cake and dancing on the boat as we chugged through the night under a full moon suddenly revealed to us for our trip back up the harbour to Westhaven by nine thirty. Highly recommend excursion this for an adventurous group. Its not smart but its quite lovely.