Fly, Cook, Feast

An Aerial-to-Table Culinary Adventure

Fly, Cook, Feast is the most immersive way to experience Kaikōura from every angle - first from the sky, then through the garden and finally in the kitchen. Your day begins with South Pacific Helicopters as you lift off for a whale watching flight over the deep Kaikōura Canyon. From the air, you’ll have the rare chance to spot whales and cruising dolphins while taking in the dramatic sweep of mountains meeting ocean. It’s an awe-inspiring introduction to the region before touching down at Hapuku Kitchen.

Once on the ground, your journey continues with a guided forage and harvest in the Hapuku Kitchen gardens. Fiona leads you through the orchard, vegetable beds and seasonal plantings to gather the fresh ingredients that will shape your menu for the day. This is a chance to explore the rhythms of the garden, taste as you go and understand the foundations of truly seasonal cooking.

With baskets full, you’ll step into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class. Together with Fiona, you’ll prepare dishes using your freshly gathered produce alongside locally sourced ingredients.

Your day culminates in a long, leisurely lunch featuring the dishes you’ve helped cook, served with Hapuku Kitchen’s hospitality. Surrounded by garden views and coastal air, you’ll savour the flavours of Kaikōura in their purest, freshest form. Fly, Cook, Feast is more than a meal - it’s a journey through place, produce and connection.

This experience is offered on a private basis only, meaning your group will have the helicopter, the garden, kitchen and the hosts all to yourselves.

Ideal for groups of up to 6, our Fly, Cook, Feast experience can also accommodate larger parties—simply reach out to us to plan your adventure.