Katikati's grape escape

Seascape Lodge is a haven for city types when it's not catering for weddings.

Living in a luxury apartment on the Gold Coast, working for a benevolent multimillionaire employer sounds like nirvana.

But for David Warren, who grew up in Gisborne then worked for the Hilton hotel chain before finding his dream job in Queensland with the Seascape group, life became too cruisy and after a while he felt the urge to come home after 28 years away.

On visits back to New Zealand he saw how the hospitality industry had expanded and become more sophisticated. When he left Gisborne it had a burger bar and a Chinese takeaway; now it has coffee shops as fancy as those in major European cities.

But it wasn't Gisborne that drew him home. It happened on a visit to see friends who had developed the up-market Matahui Lodge at Katikati in the Bay of Plenty. Over a few drinks one balmy evening Kay and Trevor Mitchell mentioned that a block of land next door, with spectacular views over the upper reaches of Tauranga Harbour, was on the market. Warren made a bid and the rest, as they say, is history.

Warren named his newly constructed lodge Seascape as a nod to his former accommodation-industry employers in Australia, and set about chasing the wedding-reception market.

He works with his pals at Matahui for larger functions, and the nearby Morton Estate winery often does the catering.

Seascape has accommodation for two couples, and between weddings Aucklanders often stay for weekends.

The design of the lodge is minimalist and it's popular with younger city escapees.

It is a great base from which to sally forth and sample some of the entertainment and fun the Bay of Plenty offers.

The bars and restaurants of Tauranga are a short drive away, and provide a great range for the young, and the young at heart. Faux British pubs sit cheek by jowl on the waterfront alongside quality restaurants and themed bars.

There are seven golf courses within striking distance, including the championship Ballantyne course.

Katikati has quirky antique shops and a wonderful collection of outdoor murals.

For those seeking offshore adventure, several companies offer fishing tours, catering for novices to veterans who are after tuna, marlin or broadbill.

Boats with well-equipped galleys and barbecues can take punters to islands off the coast for bottom and reef fishing and guides from Dolphins Down Under take brave souls to swim with dolphins off the coast of Tauranga.

And for those with deep pockets there are flights over Hells Gate Thermal Valley and the White Island active volcano. Helicopter trips include a stop on the tiny steaming island. The flights range from about $400 to $800.

Welcome Bay's Aqua Vida spa's facilities include a health clinic with five massage rooms, a nail and beauty therapy room, a sauna and flotation tank.

Kiwi360 is an attraction based on the kiwifruit. The property consists of 13.5ha of grounds, with kart rides and walking tours through the orchards.

Dinner at Morton's Restaurant with a couple of bottles of their excellent Morton Estate wine is a great way to end the day. Then back for a peaceful night at Seascape, surrounded by kiwifruit, cows, ponies and pukekos, before returning to real life in the city.

Checklist

Seascape Lodge

* Accommodation
189 Matahui Rd Katikati, Bay of Plenty.
Phone (07) 571 6100. Seascape Lodge is a two-hour drive from Auckland and 25 minutes from Tauranga.

* Food and wine
Tauranga has a good range of restaurants and bars. Morton Estate is a two-minute drive from Seascape and has an excellent restaurant.

* Activities
Swim with the dolphins: Dolphins Down Under White Island, 2 The Strand, Whakatane. Email:flipper@dolphinswim.co.nz
Game fishing: Mission Charters, Tauranga Bridge Marina, phone (07) 549 0055, Email: gaye@missioncharters.co.nz.
Scenic flights: WHite Island volcano landing and guded tour with Vocanic Air Safaris. The trip takes about three hours.
Pampering: Aqua Vida, 531 Welcome Bay Rd, 15 minutes from Mount Manganui. Ph (07)544 2036.
Kiwifruit frun: Kiwi360,82 Young Rd, Te Puke (07) 573 6340.