Booking.com has teamed up with one of New Zealand’s culinary stars, Chef Kia Kanuta, to offer a once-in-a-lifetime bookable holiday home experience celebrating seafood delicacy, kina (sea urchin).
Located in picturesque Tutukākā in New Zealand’s Northland, the Booking.com Kina Cottage will offer one lucky pair of Genius members an unforgettable retreat that uncovers the distinct flavours of New Zealand, while helping to look after the local marine environment.
Northland is known for its pristine beaches, lush forests, rich Māori culture, and proximity to one of the world’s top dive sites – the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. It is also one of the regions most affected by ‘kina barren’, a growing ecological challenge in New Zealand and around the world in which excess kina population strips healthy kelp forests.
Global Delicacy
The Booking.com Kina Cottage will first offer guests a unique experience with Dive Now, heading out on the pristine coastline by boat to sustainably hand-harvest kina. The catch of the day will then be served from ocean-to-table in a multi-course, private dining experience by Kia Kanuta, inviting guests to savour their harvest while uncovering the stories behind this global delicacy.
Guests will then relax and enjoy the private clifftop cottage, with a vineyard and olive tree grove, sweeping ocean views, a deck made for enjoying kina fresh from the ocean, and its own mermaid pool complete with a resident octopus.
The stay comes at a time when more people are seeking more sustainable travel experiences. Booking.com’s 2025 Travel and Sustainability report* highlights that two-thirds of Kiwis (67%) want to leave destinations better than they found them.
Further Booking.com holiday home travel trends data** also found that food is a top motivator for travellers, with over 70% of Kiwis choosing destinations for cuisine and over half (54%) considering farm / ocean-to-table experiences as desired options when staying at holiday homes or local baches.
Traditional Maori Flavours
Known for his passion for local ingredients, inventive seafood dishes, and bringing traditional Māori flavours to modern dining and global audiences, Chef Kia Kanuta said:
“Some of my fondest memories are of school holidays spent gathering kina with my whānau, enjoying them fresh from the ocean. Those experiences shaped my love for ingredients that connect cuisine and culture. Teaming up with Booking.com on the Kina Cottage experience is meaningful to me because it brings together kaimoana (seafood), tradition, and the chance to share New Zealand’s coastal flavours with the world.”
The Booking.com Kina Cottage will be available for booking on a first-come, first-served basis on 23 October at 12pm NZDT for one Booking.com traveller and a guest, for a stay between 20-23 November. For just $20.11 – guests will experience a once in a lifetime itinerary including:-
- A personalised hosted kina diving experience with Dive Now
- A bespoke dinner menu featuring the kina catch of the day, prepared by chef Kia Kanuta
- Daily breakfast and snacks provided by local makers, producers and chefs
- Return flights (domestic or international, depending on Booker’s location) and car rental or transfers
- Three nights’ accommodation at the Booking.com Kina Cottage between Thursday 20 November and Sunday 23November 2025
Todd Lacey, Regional Manager, Oceania for Booking.com commented: “Aotearoa’s Tutukākā Coast is one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, rich in nature, cuisines and culture. We are proud to showcase New Zealand’s unique destinations and holiday home options to the world through the Booking.com Kina Cottage. This sumptuous bookable foodie experience at one of our best holiday homes is a chance to welcome the world into our corner of New Zealand, to enjoy our kaimoana (sea food) at a breathtaking destination. Food is at the heart of many quintessentially Kiwi bach stays, and the Kina Cottage exemplifies this trend amongst travellers today.”
For more information and to book the Booking.com Kina Cottage, visit https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/the-kina-cottage.html.
