good life: Waiheke Headlands Sculpture Festival

Temporary by Delicia Sampero

It's been full on at the Ponsonby ranch these days but I really wanted to put in a post about the Waiheke Headlands sculpture festival. We managed to squeeze this in on our last free weekend before invasion of the killer hounds and if there's one thing I would recommend doing over the next few weeks, this would be it. According to their website, this has been voted number 35 of the best things to do in the work in the New York Times. There are ~30 different sculpture / art installations scattered around the most beautiful walk just on the northern tip of Waiheke island, very close to the ferry terminal so immenently doable. This is only on every 2 years (but why?!) and only on for 3 weeks so not a lot of time - it's on until 17 Feb.

Here's the link to the website: http://sculptureonthegulf.co.nz/

The stunning setting for the Headlands Sculpture Festival

When you get off the ferry on Waiheke, on the right is the Headlands pavillion where you can catch a shuttle bus for $5 to the beginning of the walk. It took us about 2 hours to walk around and take in the sculptures before ending up back at the Pavillion. Grab a coffee or something to eat if you want (the kitchen is run by the runner up of last season's Master Chef, Ana Shwartz). I haven't been to any of the previous years, so I can't compare, but it was an awesome experience helped by some pretty spectacular scenery and weather. There is some real quirky stuff on this walk, and lots of it, so I've included some pics, but you really must experience this in its entirety in the setting of the headlands. Very cool.

The view from Casita Miro - worth a visit on Waiheke

Afterwards, we took the bus to Onetangi beach and had a great tasting at Obsidian winery before having lunch at one of my new favourite restaurants in the Auckland surrounds - Casita Miro. What an awesome place! Cat who runs Casita Miro is a quirky vibrant and passionate hostess and the Spanish tapas and wines and sherries are just perfect for the vinyard setting of this Spanish inspired hacienda. Cat pulled out an amazing Pedro Ximenez from a little bodega she found in Spain at the end of our meal, which went very well with the Churros con Chocolate.

All in all, another brilliant day on Waiheke.