USA SOTHEBYS MAGAZINE | NEXT LEVEL INTERACTIVE DINING

THIS EPICUREAN DESTINATION ALLOWS YOU TO CATCH, GATHER, AND PREP YOUR OWN MEALS IN STYLE

Globe-trotting gourmands can take their culinary credentials to another level by seeking out unique, interactive experiences in which they truly work for their meal. These notable luxury resorts, clandestine restaurants, and innovative tour providers let amateurs try activities such as white-knuckle sport fishing, traditional truffle hunting, and digging for giant clams, with an added bonus of being able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Whether you're looking for an immersive foodie challenge, or a hands-on educational experience, you'll want to add these travel-worthy experiences to your culinary bucket list.

Hidden among 2,500 acres of native forest in Rotorua, Treetops Lodge & Estate offers a Maori food trail in which guests slip into the wilderness in search of native plants and herbs, while learn­ing about the nutritional and medicinal properties, as well as ties with Maori cultural traditions. Participants sample what they find and harvest it for chefs to use at the resort. There's also a ''wild food" cooking school, where guests for­age for native ingredients, then gather at the kitchen table to share a unique cooking and dining experience.

A Standout Experience: Treetops Lodge & Estate, Rotorua, New Zealand
Tucked into 2,500 acres of pristine native forest in Rotorua, Treetops Lodge & Estate offers more than just stunning views and five-star hospitality—it’s a culinary and cultural immersion like no other.