Gourmands Flock to Matakana

The New York Times heads to Matakana Village, a thriving boutique wine town an hour north of Auckland City. Matakana Village is a gourmand’s delight, boasting an award-winning artisanal bakery, scores of boutique wineries, cafes and restaurants, and a popular weekend organic market. “[The market] is no dusty-radishes Birkenstock scene,” assures NYT writer Debra Klein. “With uniform chalkboards, resort-style umbrellas and slickly packaged products, it’s more like Dean & DeLuca in a country setting.” Matakana Village is located in Auckland’s Rodney District, the fastest growing region in the north island.