Samantha Brown's Places to Love

Auckland, New Zealand

Samantha sails Auckland Harbor aboard the 2007 America's Cup winning Team New Zealand sailboat and talks with Peter Lester, a former cup competitor, coach and current sailing commentator. At the popular Gemmayze St., Samantha joins Chef Samir Allen at his traditional Lebanese restaurant that delivers with a modern twist. Only a 15-minute walk from the city center, Samantha explores Auckland Domain, a stunning park, with Paora Puru, a local Maori guide, and learns about its volcanic and Maori history. First of its kind in downtown Auckland, Samantha visits the Four Shells Kava Room and Shop and learns about the significance of this misunderstood root-based Pacific drink. Samantha then joins the Vodafone Warriors, where she plays rugby with this gritty women's team. At Giapo Ice Cream, husband and wife Chefs Giapo and Annarosa dazzle Samantha with their artistically inventive take on ice cream. Surfing is culture in New Zealand, Samantha leans this firsthand at Piha Beach where she chats with teen surfing champion, Gabby Paul, and then takes to the water boarding waves herself.