5 Nights Manawa Ridge Eco Retreat – Waihi

Manawa Ridge is a personalised luxury experience on the Southern Coromandel. ‘MANAWA RIDGE' is an artistic balance of old beams, mud bricks and straw bale walls. Indeed this has all the durability of a hill‐fortress albeit a very luxurious one and Designed and Build by its owners, Willem and Carla.From the turret‐like viewing room of Manawa Ridge is a scene akin to a kingdom stretching as far as the eye can see. With 360 degrees of stunning hill country, PacificIslands and coastal vistas, you can indeed feel like King or Queen of all you survey.

Day 1 (D)
Arrive at Manawa Ridge. Relax in the spectacular surroundings before enjoying an evening meal at.

Day 2 - Nature Experience, Glowworms & Coastal Tour (B,L,D)
Highlights of your day will be a leisurely walk through beautiful regenerating Kauri forest full of fern trees, along the old tracks of Puketui, the 1890's gold mining town. See glowworms in an historic old gold cave. Learn about the flora, fauna, and history of this magic area.

Lunch will be at a delightful cafe, or a delicious picnic with a chance to view your guide’s spectacular collection of quartz, obsidian, minerals, old photos of the Coromandel and beautiful rocks full of gold.
From the panorama of mountains and forest, travel to the contrasting coastal scenery with beautiful beaches, off-shore islands and magnificent cliffs decorated with ancient Pohutukawa trees.
Highlights may include:
Visit to Hotwater beach (tide permitting) where you can dabble your feet in the natural hot-springs on the beach.
Walk up onto the old Maori fortification to enjoy the spectacular panorama, or a depending on fitness a walk down into the famous Cathedral Cove.
Cooks Beach or Lonely Bay.
This day includes many of the “highlights” of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Day 3 - Free Day to discover Waihi (B)
After a delicious breakfast at Manawa Ridge travel into Waihi and start the day with a mine tour. Waihi is a gold mining town with an active open cast mine right in the middle of town. Learn about Waihi’s rich mining history and mining today. Take a walk in the famous Karangahake Gorge and lunch at Ohinamuri winery. In the afternoon discover Waihi beach. Another option is the beautiful coastal walk from Manawa Ridge to HomungaBay. This is an easy 25 minutes offering fabulous views, or if you are feeling energetic carry onto Waihi Beach with a picnic lunch where your hosts will pick you up and bring you back to Manawa Ridge. This is a 3 hour walk. That evening dine at one of the many local restaurants.

Day 4 - Horse Riding / Art Sculpture (B)
Explore the 250 acres property horse riding on one of the black Friesian horses. The temperament of this old European breed is calm and dependable. Willem will pass on all his expertise from many years. If art has got your passion, you are welcome to create your own sculpture out of very workable volcanic rock, for that special memorandum. Artist on side is Carla, always in for some artistic sessions.
Day 5 - Free Day to Discover Tauranga & Mt Maunganui (B)
The Bay of Plenty's arts and crafts culture has been growing strong in the past few years. Take some time to browse through art markets, local shops or artists' studios to learn about the local art on offer.

There are many specialty food outlets, restaurants and cafes to tempt your taste buds. A visit to the Prenzel Heaven Tasting room in Tauranga is a must. Are you interested to learn about Kiwifruit. Kiwi360 rests on a truly unique pocket of land. Here, specific weather and geological conditions combine in precisely the right order, at the right time, unlike anywhere else on the planet! Kiwifruit grown here is deservedly known as the very best in the world.So, climb aboard a KiwiKart and tour through our lush orchards, where’ll you see a huge variety of fruit and learn the enthrallingly complex process that bring the world’s healthiest fruit to our tables. After your fun and fascinating tour, you can relax and rejuvenate in the Kiwi360 café. Sink into a fresh roasted coffee, kiwifruit juice or a delectable deli-style sandwich in our sunny courtyard. Then, take home some exquisite skin care products, stylish home wares, fine jewellery or a little bit of Kiwiana from our Kiwi360 Shop. Feeling energetic – climb to the top of Mt Maunganui and enjoy the magnificent views, or perhaps choose to walk around the base of the Mount and finish with a drink & meal at one of the many cafes along the waterfront.

Day 6 (B)
After a delicious breakfast it is time to bid you farewell and continue on your journey.

INCLUSIONS:
5 Nights accommodation
Daily breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners
Full Day Kiwi Dundee Private Tour – Nature Experience, Glowworms & Coastal TourHorse Riding / Stone Sculpturing

***Blow the Budget Option***
Tuhua Island Tour with Aerius HelicoptersBe picked up by helicopter from Manawa Ridge for an exciting day tour to New Zealand’s most unusual Volcano, “TUHUA’ (MayorIsland) Our ½ day guided tramping tour through one of New Zealand’s largest Pohutukawa forests. Reon, the guide will take you to the Devils Staircase, The stronghold where tribe would defend the island in battle.Then visit the “Big Tree” this massive pohutukawa specimen has a girth exceeding 11 meters and is regarded as one of New Zealand’s biggest and oldest Pohutukawa trees.

You will see and hear many of our native birds including nectar-feeding bellbirds and tui, wood pigeons, morepork, fantail, kaka (brown parrot), grey warbler, waxeye, kingfisher and, soaring on the thermals, the harrier hawk. The island is also home to the Kiwi bird. A Bird watchers paradise.

For the more energetic we can customise a full day tour to include the diving, kayaking, or an extended trek into the crater and RuruPass.