Heretaunga's​ Secret

ALEXIA SANTAMARIA ENJOYS TWO DAYS OF BLISS IN HAVELOCK NORTH

Imagine – 48 hours in Havelock North in a lovely boutique hotel! For a mum with very little time to herself, it seemed too good to be true – and I was sure someone might call to say there had been a mix-up and whisk me back to Saturday morning cricket.

As I pushed the door open to my room at Porters, I thought there really had to be some mistake – surely not this lovely room with gorgeous linen, a big bath and all this quiet just for me? I decided I had better take advantage of it before I realised it was just a dream.

When you arrive somewhere at 6pm, there’s not much else for it but to find somewhere for a relaxing drink. Turns out I didn’t have to go anywhere – downstairs at my hotel was Malo, an award-winning restaurant. And what better way to start my two days of bliss than with a local Clearview Beachhead Chardonnay?

The food was outstanding too, and I am still thinking about the kingfish crudo with coconut kaffir cream, sake cucumber, macadamia, avocado and coriander, and the Cook Strait octopus with chorizo, olive, tomato jam and bean puree.