When is this year’s event happening? The event date has been set... make sure you mark your calendars! The Horowhenua Taste Trail will be held on Saturday 23 November 2019. You will not want to miss this year’s event! We are not selling tickets on the day, so be sure to get in quick so you don’t miss out. How do you get around the Trail? We have a variety of ticket options so you can choose how you experience all that is on offer. Purchase a Mains or Entry Ticket, to go at your own pace. Or with a Deluxe Ticket sit back, relax and enjoy the Taste Trail in style on our VIP tour.
How much are tickets? We have a variety of ticket options to suit all appetites:
Mains Ticket - Includes entry into all seven sites and our five Horowhenua Taster Plates, or for under 12 years, a Taste Trail Lunchbox. Tickets: Over 12 years - $60 | 12 years and under - $20
Deluxe Ticket - A bus tour from your chosen location. Join the VIP day out with a tour guide, visits to selected sites, a savour event, four Horowhenua Taster Plates and a Taste Trail Market Bag. Tickets: $100 - $150, dependent on tour start point. Check out our website for starting point options and more info.
Entry Ticket - Take your own vehicle and go at your own pace. Enjoy the Taste Trail your way, with this entry only ticket. Food will be an additional cost on the day. Over 12 years - $20 | 5-12 years - $5 | 5 years and under – FREE
What do I do on the day? Once you have secured your ticket. Print it off or save it on your phone to show on the day.
Deluxe Ticket - Turn up at the designated starting point for your bus and your tour guide will give you your black land yard and ticket. At each of the Taster Plate sites you will present your lanyard to the pop up café/restaurant, where it will be clipped and you’ll be given your delicious Taster Plate.
Mains Ticket – Start at any site you wish. Show your ticket and you will be issued with a green lanyard with this all day for entry into each site. At each of the Taster Plate sites you will present your lanyard to the pop up café/restaurant, where it will be clipped and you’ll be given your delicious Taster Plate.
Entry Tickets - You will get a green wristband to wear all day. Show this at the gate of each site for entry.
Where can I buy tickets from? Buy your tickets online now. Need some extra help buying your ticket online? Head into Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō or Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom and staff will help you.
What is the dress code? Dress sensibly for the weather, and make sure you are comfortable. To make the most of the day you will want to check out each venue as much as possible, so get ready for a bit of walking. It’s probably a good day to get the “active wear" out.
What footwear is suitable? Leave the high heels at home… we recommend practical footwear and strongly encourage you to wear covered shoes as most stops along the way are working farms or factories.
Is eftpos available? While we try to have eftpos available at each stop, this is not always possible because of our rural locations and internet connections. Please make sure you bring cash.
Are there toilets at each stop? Yes. We can’t say they will be the fanciest toilets around, but yes, there are toilets.
Where does the Taste Trail start? Where ever you want it to! Check out the map to see all of the sites on this year’s Trail. We recommend you plan ahead and leave plenty of time to get between sites, to ensure you make it to all the sites you want to see. It may take a bit longer than you expect to move between sites, because even though they might be just down the road, you’ll need to allow for time to park and enter through the gate.
How do I get around the Trail? However you like really! This year we have both self-drive options and a VIP guided tour available. If you’re self-driving you can go at your own pace. If you’re looking to be taken around, the VIP guided tour will have you travelling in style on a coach, with commentary at each spot, and a set itinerary between the sites.
What can I buy along the way? There is plenty to buy along the way. This is a Taste Trail so there is food is important– however each stop’s offering will be a little different. Some sites have prepared food, and other sites will just have fresh produce for you to stock up on and take home. At each stop we will have Horowhenua Taste Trail Market Bag available for you to purchase for $7. As we’ve mentioned above, we try to have EFTPOS available at each site but it’s not always possible with our rural location, so bring cash.
If I haven’t brought a Mains Ticket, where can I get food to eat on the day? Five of our producers have partnered with cafes and restaurants to bring you delicious food experiences! The five sites will be serving up our Taste Trail Treats menu – small bites to eat that you can purchase on the day. They’ll also have a limited number of Taster Plates available – but you’ll have to get in quick as we’re expecting these to fly out the door!
What food do you have for kids? This year we’ve got specially designed Taste Trail Lunchboxes just for the kids! You’ll need to pre-order these though – they come as part of the Mains Ticket for under 12 year olds. Check out the offering here. If they’re still hungry we think that the kids will like tucking into a few of the Taste Trail Treats on offer.
Do you cater for special dietary requirements? If you’re getting a Mains Ticket you have an option to purchase the vegetarian option. Our Taste Trail Treats menu has a range of options and is sure to have something to suit most dietary requirements. If in doubt, check in with the café/restaurant on site on the day.
Is the event family friendly? Yes! The event has been designed with kids in mind, so while some stops are more adult friendly (two Happy Hour events to end the day? Don't mind if I do!) others have an action packed schedule for the kids. Think patting animals and watching cows being milked at the Bagrie Dairy Farm, or a tractor ride at Woodhaven Gardens. All sites have wheelchair and pram access, and all sites have baby change facilities. Check out our map for more details.
What producers are part of the Horowhenua Taste Trail? Horowhenua boasts some excellent food producers! We are proud to have producers on the Trail that demonstrate nothing but the best. This year, we welcome new producers Waikawa Fresh, Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms, I & G Silver Olive Oil and Soul Sisters Kombucha. It is excellent to see so many new budding foodie businesses! We are also excited to have Ōhau Wines back on the Trail.” The thirteen producers on the Trail for 2019 are Turk’s, Lewis Farms, I &G Silver Olive Oil, Bagrie Dairy Farm, The Baked Dane, Waikawa Fresh, The Ultimate Egg, Genoese Pesto, Thoroughbread Foods, Woodhaven Gardens, Soul Sisters Kombucha, Ōhau Wines and Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms.
I hear there are extra events being run this year... what do these look like?
Before the Day - Friday 22 November
Horowhenua Long Table Dinner - Te Takeretanga o Kura- hau-po, Levin | 6-10pm | Cocktail dress | Tickets: $80 Includes cocktail on arrival, canapes, two course dinner and entertainment
On the Day - Saturday 23 November
Start your day off in style and take part in the Breakfast & Bubbles at Lewis Farms, Classic Breakfast at Genoese, or Breakfast at the Farm at Bagire Dairy Farm.
End your day with a bang at Lewis Farms or Genoese Pesto Happy Hour. Click on the event name for more information.
Why haven't I heard about this event before? We’re only new and still growing. 2016 was the inaugural event and was a huge success! It has been one of those "good ideas" one of our clever board members thought about a while ago!
Where can I find more information? Have a look around on our website and make sure you like us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with our latest news. If you have any further questions, please get in touch. We are always happy to help...
I haven’t done the event before? What are you top tips? To ensure you have a fabulous day on the Trail, make sure you pack:
Horowhenua Taste Tail map – so you can find your way around between the sites.
Cash - while we try to have EFTPOS at each site, because of our rural location this is not always possible.
Chiller bag – to help keep all your produce fresh throughout the day.
Reusable cup – we are always thinking about the environment. Pack a resusable cup to use for your wine, beer, or coffee – guilt free.
Covered footwear - for Bagrie Dairy Farm and the Ultimate Egg Farm Tour.
Picnic blanket – while there is plenty of seating available, you can’t beat enjoying your food in a picnic style.
Phone / camera – you will want to capture the memories from your great day out. There will also be a prize up for grabs for photos captured on the day and shared on social media, so get snapping!
I love using Horowhenua produce. What are your favourite recipes? Each year we also offer a recipe cards set. Our 2019 recipe card set once again has one recipe for each of our producers. On the day, pick up a recipe card from each stop, and build your collection.
Are dogs allowed? While we love dogs, you are entering food processing sites and working farms so dogs are not permitted.
Who organises the event? The Horowhenua Taste Trail is a not for profit organisation governed by the Horowhenua Taste Trail Trust. Find out more about us here.