WHERE I’D RATHER BE ...
SHORT HAUL
Attending the 10th annual “it” Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival — a one-day event of eating, drinking, live music and family-friendly fun on Paihia’s Village Green. Headline acts include Boh Runga and Auto Matic 80s. October 5. facebook.com/itbayofislandsfestival
EATING: Fish and chips from the worldfamous Mangonui Fish Shop, just an hour’s drive from Paihia. Not only a good spot to fill hungry tums, the waterfront town is super-cute and worth a wander. mangonuifishshop.com
DRINKING: Russell’s Duke of Marlborough Hotel has been a popular water-side watering hole for more than 190 years, and just gets better with age. theduke.co.nz
STAYING: The Paihia Beach Resort and Spa is walking distance to the Village Green, and has all you need for a break — spa, pool, restaurant, bar, and all rooms have ocean views. paihiabeach.co.nz
MID HAUL
On South Australia’s Limestone Coast for the Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations, a month-long festival honouring the region’s most famous drop — cabernet sauvignon. Events include special wine tastings, brunches, lunches, vineyard tours, dinners and Sunday sessions. Throughout October. coonawarra.org
EATING: Sourdough pizzas at Drink Ottellia + Eat Fodder, a small vineyard restaurant where much of the produce is grown in the kitchen garden. It’s also one of six wineries on the Coonawarra Walking Trail. ottelia.com.au
DRINKING: At one of the 20 cellar doors in the region — all are experts in cab sav, with some vines dating back to 1893.
STAYING: Glamping at Bellwether, a winery with its own campsite and six luxurious bell tents, surrounded by 500-year-old red gum trees. bellwetherwines.com.au
LONG HAUL
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Wine Over Water Festival. Visitors can enjoy samples from more than 100 world wineries, with stalls set up on the town’s historic Walnut St Bridge, one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges. October 1-6. wineoverwater.org
EATING: At St John’s, a high-end restaurant in a former grand hotel, where the menu is packed with mouth-watering meals like trout, duck confit, Georgia Peach salad, rabbit tenderloin, okra and collard greens. stjohnsrestaurant.com
DRINKING: At Terminal Brew House, a bar and brewery also in a former hotel, with house-brewed beers and a passion for sustainability. terminalbrewhouse.com
STAYING: The Chattanooga Choo Choo, a former train terminal turned hotel, restaurant, and retail complex. As well as standard rooms, guests can stay in converted Pullman train cars. choochoo.com