Spend Christmas Day above the Hauraki Gulf at Cable Bay Vineyards on Waiheke Island, with the vines, the water and the city skyline in view. Join us for a long Christmas lunch, or for dinner as the light softens.

Christmas lunch, until 4pm: $140 adults, $65 children.

Christmas dinner, from 6pm, served from a slightly modified menu: $115 adults, $65 children.

A 15% public holiday surcharge applies.

Served from three stations, followed by pizza and dessert:

Seafood: poached prawns, smoked salmon with capers, seared tuna, and pickled mussels with tomato and cucumber salsa.

Antipasto: freshly baked breads, cured meats, marinated olives and artichokes, roasted red peppers, seasoned bocconcini, and cheese with accompaniments.

Carvery: glazed Christmas ham sliced to order, whole roasted beef sirloin and roasted King Ora salmon, with mini Yorkshire puddings, beetroot chutney, horseradish crème fraîche and salsa verde.

Bookings essential: cablebay.nz/reservations, bookings@cablebay.co.nz or 09 372 5889. Adults are paid at booking; please add the number of children and any oyster pre-orders in your booking notes.

Getting here: ferry from downtown Auckland to Matiatia, then a 10 to 15 minute walk.