The best family attractions | Matakana, Auckland

Here you can read about the BEST family attractions and activities to visit in Matakana, Auckland, New Zealand, for a fun day for you and your kids. It does not mean you have to go to a kid’s playground or entertainment center because you have kids. You can enjoy your adult time and activities with your children because they are natural, open-minded people and happy to be with you.

Here I will show you the best family attraction in Matakana you can visit with your family on a sunny or rainy day.

Our first trip to Matakana as a family

Matakana is a place that arouses a lot of emotions and memories. My partner and I lived there for 3.5 years. A lot happened during that time, many essential things, but one of the most important was that we got pregnant there and got Sophie, who is now two years old.

The trip was not a planned family vacation. We came to help with bottling and sticking the wine left in the barrels at the Winery where we used to work, Ascension Wine Estate. I worked as a Wedding Manager, and Axel worked as an assistant winemaker. So it was more of a business trip than a vacation.

Axel was mainly busy while I helped as much as I could, and the rest of the time, I used to the maximum to lead Sophie all around Matakana. We don’t have much free time, and the weather is not the best, but there is a solution for that.

Matakana beautiful wineries – family friendly

OBV – Omaha Bay Vineyard

A lovely winery run by a family for four generations. It is currently led by Bev, who came from Great Britain in the 1970s, and Hegman, from New Zealand, of English and Croatian origin.

I had had this vineyard since 2002 when they bought it. At that time, Bev and Hegman had no experience growing grapes and making wine, but they were diligent and learned a lot.

The first year they made wine was in 2006, and they built the Winery in 2007. And they finally opened it in 2008. With a small gallery that is beautiful to see.

The wines they currently have are:

OBV ‘The Imposter’ 2021 – Flora (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV ‘Olivia’ 2019 – Montepulciano / Syrah (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Hauturu 2010 – Syrah (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Syrah 2018 (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Cabernet Franc / Malbec / Petit Verdot 2010/2014 (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Cabernet Franc 2014 (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Malbec 2010. /2018. (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Petit Verdot 2010. /2015 (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Montepulciano 2010. /2015. (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Sangiovese 2010 (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Late harvest 2010 – Flora (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Rose 2021 (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV ‘F.A.B.’ 2016 – Sparkling Flora (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV ‘Hannah Louise’ – Sparkling Rose (Matakana, Auckland)
OBV Chardonnay 2019 (Kumeu, Auckland)
OBV Pinot Gris 2020. (Matakana, Auckland)

Family activity in the winery

When going to wine tasting with the family, the most common activity is letting the child run around, controlling not to break something :), or playing with simple props. In my case, the current is pouring water from glass to glass. Of course, the little one broke a wine-tasting glass, but the good thing is that it doesn’t always happen.

If you have an older child, I suggest you bring with you the props that are currently current for your children. Whether it’s a drawing package or plasticine for making figurines, or something else, I believe it can occupy children enough that you can have wine tasting alone or with a partner/husband.

Sometimes it is crucial to take children to museums and galleries. If they are small like my Sophie, it is helpful to see experience works, develop creativity, connect with different environments and develop creative thinking.

Matakana Estate Winery

The Matakana Estate Winery is one of the wineries I wanted to visit because when I left Matakana about two years ago, the cellar door was closed. After all, the building was located ancient and unsafe. The terrace that was in that space was fantastic with a fantastic view.

But the newly opened cellar door is located just above the old one, and the view is impressive of the spacious vineyard in Matakana.

I wanted to see how they arranged the proctor because, for me, it is imperative to enjoy the space itself. I love wines, and I really enjoy them, but I also care about the atmosphere. It doesn’t have to be specially arranged to charm an atmosphere.
He seemed very comfortable. The terrace is ideal in a contemporary style with a beautiful view of the vineyard, and the interior is done in a contemporary-rustic manner and looks very comfortable.

The only thing that bothered me personally was that many of the grapes come from Hawke’s Bay and Malborough, not Matakana. When I come to a specific region, the important thing is to try wines from the area where I came from. However, I understand that Matakana is not ideal for vineyards because it is humid.

The wines you can find here are:

ME RANGE

Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Gris
Rose
Merlot
Pinot Noir

RESERVE RANGE

Syrah
Cabernet Franc Merlot

LIMITED EDITION

Syrah
Cabernet Franc Merlot

Matakana Estate provides an experience to visitors where they can see how they blend their wines, but you need to book it in advance.

The best cafes to go with kids in Matakana

There are some lovely places where it’s great to go with your family to have coffee, eat breakfast or relax with tea.

Cafes and restaurants in Matakana always try to use free-range and locally sourced products. That is a trend in Matakana village since many people from Auckland are coming here for a weekend.

Anyone who has read my stories about Queenstown knows that New Zealanders are dedicated to their family. Even in wineries and many restaurants, you can always find either a children’s corner or toys.

Matakana Market Kitchen

Lovely place with an area outside for seating if the weather is nice. It is settled next to the small river. Inside is a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, with a bar on the first floor next to the cinema. And that makes it a lovely complex worth a visit.

Service is excellent, and they have crayons for little ones to draw. Please is compostable and nice to have some meal.

Cool places for the best coffee in Matakana

#1 Ravish

If you would like to sit down and have an excellent coffee in some sweet corner, Ravish is one of those places where you can do it. There is a space around where children can fit in, at least in my case.

Morris & James Matakana

In addition to good coffee in a beautiful setting, you can also see the gorgeous pottery in this cafe, which is partly pottery and showroom.

#2 The Matakana Village Pub

The Matakana Village Pub is a casual place where you can find beer and wine and have lunch in addition to coffee. A comfortable and relaxing place that you can visit with your family.

#3 Plume Cafe Matakana

Plume is another small and cozy place with a cute garden. Place where you can enjoy bird’s song, flowers, and excellent coffee or cup of tea along with breakfast.

#4 Stables Restaurant

Another place to enjoy yourself with your family. Plenty of space where kids can play. Right next to this area there is a riding school so children can see the horses, which is beautiful. Since it is also a restaurant, you can have lunch here.

Great Matakana Gelato!

Places, where it is great to go with your children and family, are places with good quality products.

#1 Charlies gelato

Charlies Gelato is handmade ice cream. Mostly it is takeaway service, but you can have your ice creams at Charlies’ secret garden watching little Japanese fish in the pool. They provide blankets in case you want to have a picnic.

They have wholefoods shop too. It is a new part of Charlies’ Gelato. Besides jams, relish, and condiments, you can find coffee, teas, and cakes.

Everything is handmade. Gelato and sorbetto, in Charles Gelato place, they made the same way the Italians do: from scratch, in tiny batches. They are developing a range of new flavors in addition to the ‘old favorites.’

#2 Tramcar Diner

Charming place, where beside coffee, ice cream, and hot chocolate, you can get fresh-squeezed orange juice, smoothie, salads, and some cabinet food.

It is a cute design with pink and green colors. It is an attractive spot to include in your family day with activities, especially if it is rainy.

Crafted beers in Matakana

#1 8 Wired Brewing

Maybe you think why to go to the brewery with kids, but I believe if you enjoy your life and you go to places you like, your kids will enjoy it too.

As I already mentioned in some of my stories, New Zealand is a great place for the family. Everybody, from cafes to breweries, wineries, and restaurants made spacious places so it is easy to have a great time with family.

8 Wired Brewing has 21 taps of different beers, aged in barrels. If you are like me, and you don’t like beer, you can have a coffee or some other drink. Food is available too in case you are hungry.

#2 The Sawmill Brewery and Smoko Room

This brewery is spacious and cozy too. There is a lot of space outside and if it is colder you can have a heater next to your table. Their beers are clean with no preservatives, sugar, or color. Their beers are unpasteurized with a more vibrant flavor.

Additional Restaurant recommendation

Besides some of the restaurants I recommended above such as Matakana Village Pub or Matakana Stables, I have a few more on my mind when I think about the perfect family activity spot.

Brick Bay Matakana

Brick Bay is a restaurant, winery, vineyard, and sculpture trail. Firstly, you can go with your kids for a walk through the park with a running an exhibition of contemporary sculpture by New Zealand’s leading contemporary artists.

After a walk, you can have a nice lunch outside or inside if the weather is not perfect. It is a nice place for family activities.

Rusty Pelican

Rusty Pelican is a great place to play pool, watch some games, MotoGP, and other sports. You can have a beer, wine, or tea/coffee and have some burger, pizza, or nachos.

Some family activities in the Ascension Wine Estate

I mentioned that we came, my partner (Axel) and I with our 2-year-old toddler to work a bit. We bottled and labeled some wines for Ascension Wine Estate. Ascension is the place where we worked before we got Sophie. I worked as a Wedding/Venue Manager and Axel worked at the winery.

Lots of good memories come from this place and one of them is the time we got Sophie. Visiting this place was not just for work but for those beautiful memories.

At the moment it is not possible to visit this amazing place but I believe that soon you will be able to visit it again.

Matakana is a small, cozy, and perfect place for family visits and activities. There are so many activities and nice places to see beside beautiful beaches and national parks.

If you liked the post please leave a comment. If you have any questions regarding this trip please ask, I will be happy to answer them.

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