Nourishing Nature | Private Tour
The perfect birthday gift, this day is a tailored wellness and culinary journey for you, your family, and close friends.
Experience the magic of Velskov New Zealand Tea Gardens & Food Forest entirely at your own pace. Our Private Tour offers you and your guests exclusive access to our Waitākere Ranges forest farm for a deep dive into nature, wellness, and shared fire cooking.
Guided by our team, your private group will forage for native tea botanicals and culinary herbs while learning about GastroEcology and how forests can rewild your microbiome. As a living legacy of your visit, your group will plant your own private native tea garden on the property.
Afterwards, retreat to our open-air glasshouse for private, fun co-cooking paired with bespoke native tea tastings, tailored to your group's tastes.
Experience Highlights:
Exclusive, private access to the Velskov Tea Gardens, food forest, and open-air glasshouse.
Bespoke guided tea foraging, native tea tastings, and a deep dive into GastroEcology.
Plant your own private native tea garden on-site (with options to consult on supplying a tea garden for your home).
A private open-fire lunch featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
For an additional koha (donation), a dedicated local Māori Co-Host could join your private tour, subject to availability. Cultural knowledge is shared through authentic participation, not performance. Your co-host will weave rich indigenous perspectives and storytelling into the day for a profoundly moving connection to the land (whenua). See booking page for details.
The Details:
When: Available on request.
Price: From NZ$ 1596 for 1-4 guests. Additional guests are NZ$ 399 per person (Children under 12 are free)
Transport: Self-drive (free parking provided), or book a round-trip Electric Vehicle transport from Auckland City for NZ$ 270 for 1-6 guests.
Food options: Vegetarian and Halal options available.
Questions? See the FAQ below or contact us at hebe@velskov.com
Visiting solo or as a couple?
Our Nourishing Nature Shared Tour runs every Wednesday and is a beautiful way to experience the tea gardens alongside a small group of fellow guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our Shared Nourishing Nature Tour (running every Wednesday) is a social experience where you join a small group of up to 12 like-minded guests.
The Private Tour is exclusively for your group, letting you set the day's pace and offering the option to add a Māori Cultural Host to your booking (subject to availability).
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Both our shared and private experiences include:
A guided walk through the Velskov New Zealand Tea Gardens & Food Forest.
Guided foraging for native tea botanicals and edible plants.
Educational insights into GastroEcology and how native plants support your microbiome.
The opportunity to leave a legacy by planting your own sapling in a native tea garden.
Immersive native tea tastings and artisan local produce.
A social, co-cooked open-fire lunch in our beautiful open-air glasshouse. (Optional round-trip EV transport from Auckland City can be added to your booking).
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Yes. To fully participate in the forest walk, foraging, and tea garden planting, guests need moderate physical mobility and must be fit for a short walk through natural, sometimes uneven, forest terrain.
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For your comfort, please wear clothes that you can layer and sturdy, enclosed shoes suitable for walking in nature.
We also recommend bringing a water bottle, camera, insect repellent, and any required medication (such as allergy treatments).
Depending on the season, please bring a sun hat and sunscreen (summer) or a warm rain jacket (winter). We do have a limited number of gumboots and rain jackets available.
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Our experience features daily tastings of wild, foraged ingredients and fresh local produce, so our menu changes constantly.
While we cannot guarantee accommodation for every dietary request, please fill out the booking form or let us know about any severe allergies when booking by emailing hebe@velskov.com.
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Absolutely.
You are welcome to make your own way to the Velskov Tea Gardens (parking is free).
We strongly encourage you to use eco-friendly or electric vehicles to help reduce your environmental footprint.
Please note that there is a brief 5-minute uphill walk from the parking area to the forest.
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Yes, we have a clean, eco-friendly compostable toilet available for use at our off-grid property.
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We understand that travel plans can change.
You may cancel your booking up to 10 days before your scheduled experience for a full refund, minus a 20% administration fee. Cancellations made within 10 days of the booking date are non-refundable.
How Your Regenerative Travel Experience Helps New Zealand
Regenerative Travel is a new concept that goes beyond sustainable travel. While sustainable travel focuses on minimising tourism's negative impacts, regenerative travel aims to leave a positive impact on the destination.
It’s social-led rather than product-led, and gives guests the opportunity to forge a lasting connection. Through community engagement, economic empowerment and education, you'll actively contribute to making a positive impact during your visit.
Community Engagement
You’ll actively engage with and contribute to the local community during your visit, supporting local businesses and respecting local customs and traditions.
Environmental Conservation
You'll leave a positive impact on the environment through foraging, learning about the environment, and tree-planting.
Economic Empowerment
You are benefiting local economies by supporting small businesses and artisans.
Education and Awareness
You’ll learn about the native forest you are visiting and the importance of reforestation, as well as the challenges and opportunities of native forest farming.