Sipping red wine in woollen jumpers with friends, is one the heart felt joys of winter. After months of laying low at home, the craving for connection and an excuse to pull on some fancy clothes, calls for a classy themed candlelit dinner party. Dust off the decanter, gather the foliage, light the fire and heat up the oven for a night of laughter and tales. Be prepared for this gathering to lift and carry your spirits through the remaining dark winter days.

Tina Duncan loves winter hosting because it invites everyone to slow down and savour. Parsnip in every form is her favourite and you can’t go past using room-temperature dishes to keep hosting stress free. Her biggest tip is to lean into hearty, comforting dishes that can be prepared well ahead, like a beautiful soup that becomes the star of the evening. She often skips a heavy main altogether and finishes with a warm, nostalgic dessert. Tina reminds us that guests come for connection, so preparation is your best friend. Have everything ready, light a few candles, and enjoy the cosy chatter while the pot simmers.

Everlasting beauty

Winter is an ideal time to enjoy dried flowers gathered through the warmer months. Kate Williams encourages you to create beautiful arrangements from the likes of strawflowers, statice, hydrangeas, amaranthus and interesting seed heads.

If drying your own, harvest stems at their peak and hang them upside down in small bunches on coat hangers or string in a cool, dry, dark place to help preserve their colour. For those with limited garden options, supplement with foraged greenery such as branches, pine, eucalyptus or evergreen foliage. Pairing dried stems with a small amount of fresh seasonal material instantly softens the look and brings warmth and texture to winter tables. Dried flowers are wonderfully long-lasting, forgiving and nostalgic, making them a perfect choice when the garden is quiet and you still want to create beauty indoors.

Comfort of Family

Winter pulls us into our inner circle, returning to the comfort of the familiar – family. For those far from home, a winter visit is less about formalities and more about gathering around the fire and eating piping hot stew in your slippers. If home is where the heart is, this gathering is a gluttoness delight to be enjoyed without judgement but with wholesome contentment. Prepared in advance, we are loving this for an après-ski or long winter weekend away over Kings Birthday or Matariki.

Retreat to the Cabin

Make the most of a special occasion in Winter to book that cosy cabin in the mountains or on the beach, like the Bearded Poet at Camp Bay, Banks Peninsula as featured in L& L Winter 2025. Disconnecting from all devices and enjoying a long weekend away playing cards, snuggling under lambswool blankets while dunking cookies into hot chocolate, is a perfect way to gather with family.