Bagpipes, potlucks, and a warm welcome
When I began planning my 40th, I wanted something curated rather than a big party. Lake Hawea View, just a short drive from Wanaka, offered the perfect balance of indulgent comfort and laid-back ease for fourteen guests. To open the weekend, a bagpiper welcomed everyone on arrival, the sound echoing across the lake, before the group settled into a shared potluck dinner, with everyone contributing a dish.
Wellness, wonder, and a weekend to remember
Mornings brought yoga, a cacao ceremony and walks along the Gladstone Track; the wellness area, with its spa, sauna and ice bath, became the weekend's unofficial gathering place. Saturday night was champagne, canapes and a dinner cooked by a private chef for seventeen. It wasn't just a birthday. It was space to pause, reconnect, and step joyfully into what's next.