WHERE THE HEART IS

THE RIVERTON HERITAGE HARVEST FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE BEST OF AOTEAROA, FROM THE KINDNESS OF COMMUNITY TO THE NOSTALGIC PRIDE OF WINNING BEST APPLE IN SHOW

Celebrating with Riverton and its

feel- good heritage festival

NOTEBOOK Getting there: Riverton is located 40 kilometres west of Invercargill and is part of the Southern Scenic Route. Air New Zealand fl ies to Invercargill from Wellington and Christchurch with connections available from all Air New Zealand serviced domestic airports. airnewzealand.co. nz Visit: There is much to explore around Riverton. Heading west, Cosy Nook is a must-visit for the nostalgic, tiny cribs, which cling to the rocks of this oft- wild coastal cove. Gemstone Beach, just out of Orepuki, will enchant treasure- hunters young and old. Scour the sands for wave-smoothed gemstones such as rodinguite quartz or orbicular jasper. Semi- precious or just sentimental, most visitors leave with a heavier pocket. Do check the tides, and only visit either side of low tide as high tide approaches more quickly than expected. Eat: Fancy a cheese roll? Then Mrs Clarks Café is a compulsory stop. Owner Cazna Gilder still uses her grandmother’s recipe and the results are mouth- watering (and potentially mouth- burning – don’t be greedy, let them cool). She also has an array of sweets and cakes on display, including gluten- free options. Find her in the luminous turquoise building on the main s treet or call her on ( 03) 234 8600. If the sight and smell of the sea is filling hearts with joy and stomachs with seafood cravings, drive around to Beach House Café and order either the seafood chowder or the blue cod. The view is priceless, but also free. 126 Rocks Highway, ( 03) 234 8274.

Stay: Hotelier Rose Ivory is not dissimilar to La Riviera, her guest house and home. While one has been here longer than the other (1889 for the old hotel, only 2011 for Rose) they share a rich charm, both full of stories and comfort, encouraging visitors to fall into a couch and relax over a glass of cold white or spicy pinot. La Riviera has five rooms to choose from, each with a different theme. Breakfast is available in the enormous communal kitchen – enjoy homemade muesli while looking over the estuary. 136 Palmerston Street, ( 03) 234 9100, larivierabnb.co.nz