What's Happening

Claremont Country Estate in North Canterbury announce five new exclusive experiences available to guests this summer showcasing Discovery and Gourmet.

The first is a ‘Discovery’ package which includes a flight direct from Claremont’s own airstrip in a private aircraft to view whales and an afternoon with one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed food and wine writers plus a Land Rover safari with fossil fossicking on an exclusive 2,400 acre estate.

Two days of extraordinary experiences that dramatise the thrilling contrasts of wild, natural and culinary New Zealand. First, fly scenically to Kaikoura by your own private light aircraft charter where you will share the astonishing experience of whale watching in the Pacific Ocean with Wings Over Whales. Return by private aircraft to Claremont where you will be met by acclaimed food and wine writer Mavis Airey who will accompany you to lunch at award winning Pegasus Bay Winery. Mavis will then guide you on a food and wine tour with tasting throughout the adjacent Waipara region before returning to Claremont homestead for pre-dinner drinks and canapés before a four-course chef’s dinner.

Your second day starts with a mornings fascinating guided Land Rover safari through the 2,400 acre Claremont Estate to view the astounding natural formations called God’s Marbles and after lunch go fossil fossicking with local paleontologist Leigh Love who will personally guide you to areas of the Waipara riverbed known to contain marine fossils and remarkable geological features; you’ll see and touch 65-million year old marine and dinosaur fossils.

The other packages focus on "Gourmet".

‘Chef-to-you’ is the ultimate hands-on cookery experience with Claremont’s resident and locally renowned chef, Merete Pedersen. As a guest and under the expert guidance of Merete be guided through the preparation of your chosen four-course gourmet meal using the very best of local Canterbury produce. The ‘Chef-to-you’ menu will vary according to seasonal availability and tastes or preferences of the guest.

The ‘Meet the Locals’ experience is a complimentary morning excursion to the local farmers market is available for all guests who stay 3 nights or more including a Friday night. After breakfast Claremont’s co-owner Rosie, will transport you to the local farmers market and personally introduce you to the local suppliers and growers of the fresh organic produce, much of which can be sampled. Rosie will then accompany you to the award-winning Pegasus Bay winery, located in nearby Waipara for a complimentary wine tasting and then back to the lodge.

All guests who stay two nights or more are offered a morning’s complimentary guided Land Rover safari tour of the Estate and Private Nature Reserve and the ultimate fishing adventure is a day’s excursion with a local guide.

For more information on the two new experiences visit Claremont Country Estate on www.claremont-estate.com or contact Richard Goord on ++64 3 314 7559 or email relax@claremont-estate.co.nz.