What’s on YOUR LIST?

Looking for inspiration? The team at AA Life is keen for Kiwis to live life to the fullest! Whether you’re thinking wine, chocolate or fabulous dining, here are 10 great ideas perfect for the to-do list.

1 Feast by the sea Take a wander down the old jetty at Moeraki Village, north of Dunedin, and you’ll find Fleur’s Place. In this homely restaurant, you can expect to savour some of most succulent seafood in the country, served up with love by Fleur herself. Menu favourites include plump, juicy scallops, perfectly smoked mussels, and delicate blue cod, plus a range of local drops to wash it down. Moeraki’s relaxed charm and famous boulders are another reason the seats at Fleur’s Place book up fast. 2 Sample bubbly in Blenheim You don’t have to look hard to find impressive wineries in the vinecovered hills near Blenheim, but there’s one cellar door that’s different to the rest. No. 1 Family Estate is the country’s only winery dedicated exclusively to producing méthode traditionelle. The family drew on their French heritage to produce the traditionally fermented drops here in New Zealand. 3 Go restaurant-hopping For two weeks each year, foodies flock to our capital city for Wellington on a Plate, when restaurants get creative to showcase some of the region’s finest fare with special set menus, innovative burger creations, culinary events and pop-up eateries. 4 Roll up your sleeves at a cooking class Whether you’re interested in Vietnamese street food, Thai-style banquets, Malaysian delicacies or the perfect sushi, you’ll learn all the tricks for mastering Asian-inspired fare at Sachie’s Kitchen Cooking School. In her well-equipped commercial kitchen in central Auckland, chef Sachie Nomura can turn even the most hesitant cooks into culinary pros. 5 Got an adventurous sweet tooth? On the main road into Greytown, Wairarapa, you’ll find Schoc Chocolates, a haven of handmade treats where the exotic flavours include geranium, fennel, and carrot and coriander. As well as producing delicious chocolate, the store’s owner is a retired hypnotist who believes he can pair you with your perfect chocolate match according to your personality traits. 6 Treat yourself to dinner with a view It’s an impressive scene from the top of the country’s highest tower, but it’s even better when there are plates of tasty fare and luxurious wines on offer too. Make a night of it at the Sugar Club, located on the 53rd floor of Auckland’s Sky Tower, where visitors can take in the city’s sparkling harbour or evening lights while nibbling to their heart’s content.

7 Sip wine under the stars Hawke’s Bay locals already know Black Barn Vineyard is home to some of the region’s finest drops, but at this Havelock North haven, wine isn’t the only drawcard. During the summer months, visitors can enjoy a show in the vineyard’s outdoor amphitheatre, nestled in the foothills of Te Mata Peak. Modelled on the ancient Greek theatre, Black Barn’s version also has a high-tech big screen for watching movies under the stars. 8 Hunt for truffles in Canterbury For something a bit different, fungi fans flock to the Canterbury Truffle Festival. With both black and white varieties of the distinctive gourmet treats being grown in Waipara, 50 minutes’ drive north of Christchurch, Kiwi foodies are fast falling in love with the truffle’s intense flavour and aroma. With more than 15 “truffières” (or truffle plantations) in the area, the festival includes a truffle hunt, cooking demonstrations, wine matching seminars and, of course, truffle tasting galore. 9 Try wine tasting in a cave Gibbston Valley Winery isn’t just the home of Central Otago’s oldest vines, it also boasts the country’s largest wine cave. Inside the unconventional wine cellar, the earthy walls are lined with barrels of Gibbston’s finest drops. Visitors can enjoy tastings inside the cave, and there’s also the well-stocked winery restaurant for those who prefer to sip in daylight. 10 Relax by ticking life insurance off the to-do list Ensuring loved ones are looked after when you’re no longer here is at the top of anyone’s wish list. At AA Life, they make signing up straightforward because it’s all about getting rid of the worry, so you can focus on creating memories and living your life to the fullest.