Waiheke’s Man O’ War Vineyards is Otherworldly
Luxury and lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler is “currently obsessed” with Man O’ War Vineyards on Waiheke Island.
“When I was planning a vacation to New Zealand earlier this year, Traveler’s resident Kiwi expert Erin Florio gave me a few must-sees,” Meredith Carey writes for the publication. “Among them were the naturally stunning Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island and low-key urban hub of Wellington and its national Te Papa Tongarewa museum. (She was right about both, by the way – absolutely worth a visit.) She also suggested Man O’ War Vineyards on Waiheke Island, one hour via ferry ride from Auckland. I knew right away I needed to work it into my itinerary.
“Man O’ War is the most remote of Waiheke’s 23 vineyards – which means it’s off the path of the hop-on, hop-off wine tasting buses that traverse the island’s hills each weekend. The ride to the vineyard, curving along picturesque bays and through vine plot-covered hills, is bumpy, dusty, and slow. In a more developed area, the ride could take just a handful of minutes, but at 15km/h or so, it’s the definition of ‘taking the scenic route’.
“Man O’ War is the only beachfront tasting room on Waiheke, with a quiet, white sandy beach just past the rows of picnic tables to keep kids (and bathing suit-toting adults) entertained in the cool waters. Wandering around barefoot as Kiwis do, glass of wine in one hand, cheese plate in the other, looking out onto the nearly still water with the Coromandel Peninsula in the distance, the stop at Man O’ War was one of the most idyllic parts of our trip. Erin’s intel, as usual, was right. Which makes me think part of Man O’ War’s charm is feeling like you’ve stumbled upon this unknown, otherworldly place. As if its location – which feels quite literally like another planet – is only revealed through those who’ve been let in on this wonderful secret. Well, now you know.”
Original article by Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, July 25, 2019.
Photo by Man O’ War.
