Easter ideas

Gingerbread Easter treats. Photo / Babiche Martens

Viva's suggestions of festive fancies for the upcoming holiday:

* Indulge your chocolate fantasies at The Langham this Easter when its SBF Brasserie will be transformed into a Chocolate Wonderland with a chocolate buffet consisting of "chocolate eggs, fountains, chocolate creations and desserts galore". There will also be lucky golden tickets hidden in special Easter eggs which will see the finders winning a variety of prizes. The SBF Brasserie evening buffet is $69 and includes the Chocolate Wonderland, while the Sunday brunch buffet and lunch buffet are priced from $37 per person, children under 12 years $19. The Chocolate Wonderland can be added for an additional $26 per person or enjoyed by itself at this price also. To book, ph: 0800 61 62 61.

* If you want to escape chocolate overload, head to the Croatian grape harvest "Berba" being held at Soljans Estate in Kumeu over Easter weekend. There'll be music and dancing, food and the chance to stomp grapes. State Highway 16, Kumeu. Ph: (09) 412 2822 or go to soljans.co.nz.

* Instead of blowing the budget on chocolate Easter eggs, how about investing in some real eggs and buying 25 baby chicks or a breeding hen and rooster? These Easter gift ideas are part of the ChildFund New Zealand fundraiser and will help feed hungry tummies and produce ongoing income for families in impoverished countries. For more info, go to childfund.org.nz.

Stockists: Farro's (09) 570 7071, gretelsgingerbread.co.nz, Naturally Organic 0800 567 888, Pandoro Panetteria (09) 377 8306, Sabato (09) 639 8751.