Hunter Gatherer Tours
Hunter Gatherer Tours
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About
Taste your way through the stunning landscape of Hawke's Bay with international cheese expert Juliet Harbutt. Visiting local wineries, collecting or eating ice cream, figs, olives and seasonal fruits and along the way drop into local artists, galleries and shops. After a tasting at Black Barn cellar door you will head up the hill to Juliet's home overlooking the vines where she will put together a delicious lunch with all the goodies you have gathered and finish with a tutored tasting of local cheeses matched with local wine. If along the way you find a fruit or even fish you've never tasted or you fancy BBQ NZ lamb then Juliet will cook it while her Jack Russell dog Winston retrieves the pine nuts if he's not chasing wild rabbits or quail. Plus you can pick fresh leaves, flowers and herbs from her raised garden beds for a wonderful salad. Every tour is tailored to you, the weather and the seasons and gives an insight into the culinary and cultural history of Hawke's Bay.
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5.0
29 reviews
Excellent
29
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0
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830Mat88
NZ1 contribution
Jun 2020 • Couples
With visiting family and a gloomy weather outlook, we decided to do one of Juliet’s Hunter Gatherer tours around Havelock North.
What a huge success this was. We tasted and sipped our way around the area. The maps were clear and concise. The beauty was that everything was in such close proximity and we would have biked had the weather been better.
The artisans that we visited were so welcoming and gave us an excellent introduction to their products. There were many options and extras to choose from on the following day as well.
Highly recommended for visitors and locals.
What a huge success this was. We tasted and sipped our way around the area. The maps were clear and concise. The beauty was that everything was in such close proximity and we would have biked had the weather been better.
The artisans that we visited were so welcoming and gave us an excellent introduction to their products. There were many options and extras to choose from on the following day as well.
Highly recommended for visitors and locals.
Written 29 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mel B
65 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
This was the absolute highlight of our trip to Hawke’s Bay! Juliet is the perfect host - warm, friendly, witty, and of course incredibly knowledgeable about cheese!
The setting is wonderful - Juliet invites you into her stunning home and it quickly felt like we were friends over for a chat rather than a formal class.
We enjoyed tasting the cheese and cider/wine and learnt some wonderful new combinations!
The tasting was followed by a light, tasty lunch.
Highly recommend for groups, couples, even a work function! Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience!
The setting is wonderful - Juliet invites you into her stunning home and it quickly felt like we were friends over for a chat rather than a formal class.
We enjoyed tasting the cheese and cider/wine and learnt some wonderful new combinations!
The tasting was followed by a light, tasty lunch.
Highly recommend for groups, couples, even a work function! Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience!
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What can I say - it was me who had all the fun! Thanks for sharing your time in Hawke's bay with me and hope our paths cross again sometime. and if you want the recipe for fresh cheese just drop me an email
Nga mihi
Juliet
Written 12 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Victoria D
Auckland, New Zealand11 contributions
Mar 2021 • Friends
This was a great way to find the most delicious products found in Hawkes Bay. Juliette gives a very interesting briefing at her charming home then sends you off with fabulous easy to read maps and the tasting and spending begins. I would recommend the tours to everyone.
Written 17 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
177judeh
Porangahau, New Zealand5 contributions
Apr 2022
Juliet's cheese-tasting experience is not to be missed. As I listened to her sharing her knowledge of NZ and international cheeses, I realised how much I had missed in my 'foodie' life up until that moment. I did not even know the correct way of cutting a wheel or wedge of cheese!
We were a small group of 4 friends and made to feel incredibly special, surrounded by the gorgeous and interesting environment of Juliet's home. She introduced us to ten different cheeses, ranging from fresh rindless cheeses, through the aged fresh cheeses with wrinkly or white fuzzy rinds, the semi-soft, the hard and eventually two blues. These were paired skillfully with cider, Alborino and a blend of Merlot, Malbec and Syrah. Some of these combinations were heaven-sent, whereas others shouted at each other. The fun was in the discovery.
If you are looking for an exceptional experience where you will come away being more knowledgeable about a subject that you may have previously taken for granted, then THIS IS IT!!!!
We were a small group of 4 friends and made to feel incredibly special, surrounded by the gorgeous and interesting environment of Juliet's home. She introduced us to ten different cheeses, ranging from fresh rindless cheeses, through the aged fresh cheeses with wrinkly or white fuzzy rinds, the semi-soft, the hard and eventually two blues. These were paired skillfully with cider, Alborino and a blend of Merlot, Malbec and Syrah. Some of these combinations were heaven-sent, whereas others shouted at each other. The fun was in the discovery.
If you are looking for an exceptional experience where you will come away being more knowledgeable about a subject that you may have previously taken for granted, then THIS IS IT!!!!
Written 1 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RuthEGordon
Wellington, New Zealand1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Juliet is a welcoming and generous host and the few hours my friends and I spent with her were a holiday highlight.
From making sure we saw her view of snow capped Mt Ruapehu and explaining how pinenuts are harvested outside to educating and entertaining us inside, Juliet gave us a five star experience.
As a cheese lover I made lots of new discoveries including how well cider and Camembert combine, the perfect way to cut a wedge of cheese and the cheese to buy next time I’m treating myself to champagne.
Sharing a relaxed lunch with Juliet after our tasting and hearing some of her stories was really enjoyable.
How lucky we are to have an international cheese expert in our back yard. Highly recommended!
From making sure we saw her view of snow capped Mt Ruapehu and explaining how pinenuts are harvested outside to educating and entertaining us inside, Juliet gave us a five star experience.
As a cheese lover I made lots of new discoveries including how well cider and Camembert combine, the perfect way to cut a wedge of cheese and the cheese to buy next time I’m treating myself to champagne.
Sharing a relaxed lunch with Juliet after our tasting and hearing some of her stories was really enjoyable.
How lucky we are to have an international cheese expert in our back yard. Highly recommended!
Written 23 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chilham2
Wellington, New Zealand13 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
We booked this as it seemed like something completely different to the normal wine tasting or cheese factory type of visit. We were hosted by Julia in her stunning home. What a fabulous experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. Julia was incredibly knowledgeable & good fun! A complete immersion into what makes a great cheese vs just a cheese. Couple this with tasting it in conjunction with various cider & wines and it made you appreciate the flavours fully. All finished off with a tasty salad for lunch. A fabulous way to spend a few hours & highly recommend it. Thanks Julia!!
Written 30 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roz
Auckland, New Zealand20 contributions
Dec 2021 • Friends
Juliet was warm, welcoming and unpretentious. Her knowledge and ability to convey information in a relaxing environment entertained, educated and surprised my group of 10 ladies, who realised how little they knew about a household staple. All participants enjoyed the relaxed informality, relatable language and laughter that ensued. Thank you Juliet !
Written 6 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
helennz
Wellington, New Zealand32 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Visiting Hawkes Bay for a girls weekend we booked Juliet's Hunter Gatherer tour visiting the local market and artisan food growers in the area.
The highlight was going to Juliet's home in the pine nut grove and her 'masterclass' in cheese tasting followed by a light lunch.
Thank you Juliet we learnt so much and valued your knowledge on our artisan New Zealand cheeses.
The highlight was going to Juliet's home in the pine nut grove and her 'masterclass' in cheese tasting followed by a light lunch.
Thank you Juliet we learnt so much and valued your knowledge on our artisan New Zealand cheeses.
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was a very happy day - lots of laughs and good food. I look forward to seeing you all in Wellington sometime for another Cheese & Wine Tasting. Thanks for a great day out
Written 15 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen A
Sydney, Australia36 contributions
Jan 2020
Juliet has an uncanny nack of finding the places you wish you knew about. Our six hours went by in a delicous flash: boutique wine tastings, real ice cream, local figs, olives and honey. Lunch at her spectacular home on the slopes of the Black Barn vineyard was a revelation. If you've never been to Hawke's Bay, this is a must do tour. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for a fun day out. I loved introducing you to my favourite producers in Hawke's Bay and they loved your genuine interest in what they did. I know your friends in Wellington are going to enjoy all the goodies and wines you collected along the way. See you next time you are in the bay. Juliet & Winston
Written 7 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sirrahea
Auckland Central, New Zealand15 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
One of the best decisions we made when visiting the Hawke’s Bay was booking in for the Cheese & Wine Experience with Juliet. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and we learnt so much about cheeses/cheese pairings. The wine was excellent too! Will definitely book in again the next time we’re in the area, as this was a real highlight.
Written 15 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loved meeting you both. What interesting jobs you have. I’m just lucky my job is sharing my favourite cheese with amazing people. See you in the Bay next time round
Cheers
Juliet
Written 16 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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