Just 30 minutes west out of Auckland city and Alexia Santamaria was feeling like she'd left the stresses of the world well behind her.
Two burned-out working parents and 30 child-free hours. The possibilities were endless - but how to maximise relaxation time? Stay local, that's how. Just 30 minutes drive west from the CBD we discovered a world of indulgence that made an overnight stay feel like a week.
Driving out to Waimauku, suburbia quickly became lush green pastures, orchards and vineyards. Lunch and a glass of wine in the sun at Bees Online seemed like a jolly good start - especially with no kids tipping out the contents of the salt shakers. The added novelty here is that the bees and their product add a honey twist to many menu items.
Our accommodation at Vineyard Cottages ticked all the boxes for a child-free weekend: secluded, peaceful - a total retreat. Fitted out early New Zealand settler-style, with farm equipment adorning the grounds, the inside had flourishes such as brass and iron fittings, iron pots, wicker brooms, old milk churns, rough-hewn wooden bench tops and a fireplace. There was a basket with eggs, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms and a fresh loaf of bread for breakfast the next day.
As if just being in this lovely environment wasn't enough, Debbie Gillespie of BodyMind Balance soon arrived to give us a massage. It felt a bit surreal. Was this actually our life?
