KAIKŌURA PRIVATE FIELD GUIDE
Forage the Garden, Master the Flame: A Full-Day Outdoor Cooking Lab in Kaikōura
A six-hour, hands-on outdoor cookshop at Hapuku Kitchen that teaches wood-fire, embers and smoke cooking while you forage seasonal ingredients and share a multi-course feast.
Forage the Garden, Master the Flame: A Full-Day Outdoor Cooking Lab in Kaikōura.
Set against Kaikōura’s wind-swept coast and mountain backdrop, this full-day experience at Hapuku Kitchen is an elemental program of foraging, fire and shared eating—entirely outdoors and built around seasonal ingredients and wood-fired technique.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Guided Forage Through Hapuku’s Gardens
Begin by moving through the kitchen gardens to gather the seasonal produce that will shape the day’s menu—an instructive foraging session that anchors the cooking in place and season.
Hands-On Fire, Embers and Smoke
Spend the core of the day learning and practicing wood-fire methods: embers, coals, smoke and open flame techniques used to slow-smoke vegetables, char and sear, and bake over coals.
A Shared Multi-Course Feast with Local Drinks
The experience concludes around a long outdoor table where participants share the multi-course meal they prepared, complemented by a glass or two of local wine, beer, cider or homemade non-alcoholic sodas.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
From arrival with tea, coffee and baked treats, through a guided forage, to hours of tactile, open-air cooking over wood and embers, the day is a sensory, hands-on immersion in seasonal, coastal flavours—ending with a communal feast and recipes to take home.
THE GARDEN
Guided Forage Through Hapuku’s Gardens
Begin by moving through the kitchen gardens to gather the seasonal produce that will shape the day’s menu—an instructive foraging session that anchors the cooking in place and season.
THE TECHNIQUE
Hands-On Fire, Embers and Smoke
Spend the core of the day learning and practicing wood-fire methods: embers, coals, smoke and open flame techniques used to slow-smoke vegetables, char and sear, and bake over coals.
THE TABLE
A Shared Multi-Course Feast with Local Drinks
The experience concludes around a long outdoor table where participants share the multi-course meal they prepared, complemented by a glass or two of local wine, beer, cider or homemade non-alcoholic sodas.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this is best for—and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The experience runs for six hours and is offered as a private program for small groups, with a maximum of eight guests.
All outdoor kitchen equipment, tools and fire elements are provided. Tea, coffee and baked treats on arrival, a multi-course feast with drinks, and a recipe booklet to take home are included.
All dietary needs and all cooking levels are catered for by the operator.
The program is based at Hapuku Kitchen on the Kaikōura coast; participants meet at Hapuku Kitchen for the start of the day.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the experience?
The experience lasts six hours.
Where do we meet?
The program meets at Hapuku Kitchen.
How many people can join?
This is a private program with a maximum of eight guests.
Do I need prior cooking experience?
No—cooking levels are catered for, and the day is suitable for all levels.
What is included in the price?
Included are tea, coffee and baked treats on arrival; a guided foraging session; use of outdoor kitchen equipment; hands-on fire-based cooking instruction; a multi-course shared feast with a glass or two of local drinks or non-alcoholic soda; and a recipe booklet to take home.