High above Auckland, seated around a table suspended from a crane 50 metres above the ground, I experienced the 7pm dinner flight of Dinner in the Sky on Friday February 2nd.
It was definitely a life experience. We enjoyed incredible views of the city by night, and the harbour bridge Vector Lights came on to entertain us even further, and the blood moon rose. Just magical.
So, what happens?
I met at the Dinner in the Sky team at the ground lounge 20 minutes before the flight time, at the ground lounge situated at the end of the Cloud on Queens Wharf. It’s such a great venue as you get the best of the harbour, the Viaduct, the city skyline, Skytower, Harbour Bridge, and over to Devonport.
You are all given a briefing and told to go to the toilet and then walk over to the crane, and very safely strapped in. They have 100% safety record and it felt very safe, as long as I kept looking at the horizon (and drinking champagne!)
The meal is served by two waiters and a top chef cooking it live on a little gas stove in the centre of the rectangular table.
Dinner in the Sky has gone around the world to 55 countries and is currently visiting New Zealand after a stint in Sydney.
The food
Unlike some novelty restaurants where the food isn’t very good, this has excellent quality meals prepared by award-winning chefs. They flew Chef Giulo Sturla of Roots Restaurant Christchurch up to Auckland especially, with two of his own staff team to join him.
Our meal was five small courses: a cheeseboard; tomatoes and raspberry sorbet; lamb tartare; mushrooms, smoked eel and fish; and berries, white chocolate and miso to finish.
On the ground before the flight we also enjoyed a Wine Tasting with Glengarry showcasing four Air New Zealand Wine Award Gold Medal winners.
Things to know
If bad weather prohibits a flight you will be informed directly by the Dinner in the Sky team 30 minutes before a scheduled flight.
Wear secure shoes not slingback mules as you don’t want to drop a shoe.
Definitely go to the bathroom beforehand.
Look at the horizon not the ground if you feel a bit scared.
You can swivel the chairs and even tip the chairs backwards.
Above: the night lights of Auckland City drinking G.H.Mumm at Dinner in the Sky Auckland.
Tipping our chairs backwards. You can see the harnesses strapping us in here.
The table on the ground.
Chef Giulo preparing the meal.
The gourmet food: this is the clam shell course.
The table from below.
Taking photos of the city views. The crane is rotated by a man on the ground so that all guests get a view at every angle.
If you’re able, I highly recommend trying Dinner in the Sky – it’s like nothing else you’ve ever done! You can get tickets at Ticketmaster here.
Megan Robinson
I was a guest of Dinner in the Sky. All opinions are my own.
12th February 2018