ISLAND ROLLERS
Tim Groenendaal is one of those friendly Waiheke locals who will strike up a conversation on the ferry ride over. And he may just show you round the best bits of the island too — at least that’s what he occasionally does (free of charge) for lucky tourists, but there’s also the option of paying for the luxury.
Tim is the founder of Hōpara, a private guide to Waiheke, offering luxury wining, dining and experiences in areas most never get to see, given his exclusive access to private properties. The business name — which is Māori for ‘explorer’ — follows Tim’s background in the entertainment industry, where he began hosting A-list international touring acts, and last summer decided to offer this formally to fill a gap he saw for luxury tourism. He still shows international artists around the island, just don’t ask him to disclose any names!
“Waiheke is right at the top of the list as a New Zealand destination,” says Tim. “I wanted to unlock that and show off its true potential to international guests.”
With an unlimited budget, the ultimate itinerary can be arranged. Think helicopter arrivals to wine, honey and olive oil tastings at the private 4500-acre vineyard property Man O’ War Farm, followed by a lavish picnic among the vines. Then carry on in a Mercedes for guided horse treks, water time via charter or seaplane, and dinner at any one of the Island’s finest restaurants such as Tantalus Estate or Poderi Crisci, which can be booked out by Hōpara in its entirety.
For the more humble punter, Hōpara has a full range of hosting options to pick and choose from — and the Dom Perignon can always be swapped for a scoop of local artisan Island Gelato on the ferry ride back.