New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern continues her Australian holiday by drinking local beers and wines – amid calls for her to replace embattled Australian leader Scott Morrison
- Jacinda Ardern and her fiance wined and dined in regional Queensland on Friday
- The couple were photographed at a winery before going cheese tasting
- A waiter said they were ‘down to earth’ and traveled without a security entourage
- Many people have called for the New Zealand leader to replace Scott Morrison
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been spotted enjoying local beers and wine on holiday with her fiance in Australia.
Ms Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford went wine tasting at Mason Wines on Tamborine Mountain in South East Queensland on Friday.
Her visit to Australia comes as many people have called for her to stay and replace embattled Australian leader Scott Morrison over his handling of the bushfire crisis.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (centre) has continued her Australian holiday by drinking local beers and wines in regional Queensland on Friday
Mason Wines host David Wistow shared a picture of himself and co-host Anna along with Ms Ardern, who gave a big smile to the camera.
‘Anna and I were honored to get a surprise visitor, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern,’ Mr Wistow captioned the post.
‘She enjoyed an hour or so of peace and quiet on the stunning Mason Wines deck.’
The same picture was shared to the official Mason Wines Instagram account, with a caption that hailed her as ‘one of the world’s most impressive leaders’.
Later in the day, the couple were treated to a private tasting platter at Witches Chase Cheese and tried craft beers at the nearby Fortitude Brewing Company.
On Monday night, Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford (right) dined at Fins Restaurant and Bar in Kingscliff, prompting people to say she should replace Scott Morrison as leader
One hospitality worker who served Ms Ardern and her partner said they were ‘very relaxed, friendly and genuinely down to earth’.
‘If you didn’t know who they were, you would just have thought they were a regular couple out for a stroll,’ he told The Courier Mail.
‘There was no entourage or security crew, just the two of them enjoying themselves on the mountain.’
The couple have been holidaying in Australia for about a week.
An additional 22 New Zealand firefighters sent to help tackle the Australian bushfire crisis (pictured) touched down in New South Wales to a hero’s welcome on Thursday
On Monday night, Ms Ardern and Mr Gayford dined at Fins Restaurant and Bar in Kingscliff on the New South Wales north coast.
After a photo of Ms Ardern at the restaurant was posted to Facebook, people called for her to replace embattled Australian leader Scott Morrison.
‘Jacinda there is an opening for you in Canberra hun, just head on down there,’ one person wrote.
Another wrote: ‘Run down and grab her please. I’ll get Scomo on a flight to NZ.’
While Ms Ardern has been praised for her support during the bushfires, Scott Morrison (pictured) has faced a onslaught of backlash for his handling of the crisis
Ms Adern has received praise for her leadership skills during the catastrophic bushfires that have ravaged Australia this month.
Whereas, Mr Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has faced a onslaught of backlash for his handling of the crisis.
On Thursday, an additional 22 NZ firefighters landed in New South Wales to help tackle Australia’s bushfire crisis.
This comes on top of the rotation of more than 150 New Zealanders who been working at the fire fronts in Australia since October.
Mr Morrison was heavily criticised before Christmas when he took a Hawaiian holiday as bushfires destroyed communities.
He was forced to flee a NSW town destroyed by bushfires after furious residents hurled abuse at him during a visit.