One of the nicest things about visiting Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty is the combination of two of the greatest holiday pleasures: relaxing at the beach and indulging in great food and coffee. There’s no shortage of cafés in Mount Maunganui, from a selection in the main street to beachfront cafés along Marine [...]
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After starting the day in Nelson, I drove west across the northern coast of the South Island, through Mapua and around Tasman Bay to Motueka. Once a sleepy rural town, this little settlement is now the buzzing service centre for a myriad of popular destinations further west – Kaiteriteri, Takaka, Collingwood and, of course, Abel [...]
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Whale watching had long been on my ‘bucket list’ of things to do and while touring New Zealand, I was advised Kaikoura was the place to make it happen.
However while the whole experience was absolutely incredible, it’s strangely always the little seafood stand on the side of the road half a kilometre from the seal [...]
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Searching for a great coffee or lunch spot in central Rotorua? On my way out of town today I spotted local favourite Fat Dog Café on Arawa Street and headed in to check it out. With its wooden floor, mismatched chairs and tables, walls crowded with pop art and the Black Eyed Peas on the [...]
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After a great night’s sleep at Ascot Park Hotel, I headed out in search of breakfast in Invercargill, and what a rewarding search it was! At a laid-back and unassuming café called Rain Espresso on Kelvin Street (the main street in the town centre) I took a seat and soon found myself enjoying a really, [...]
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Where did you spend Waitangi Day? For many Kiwis, the annual public holiday meant a long weekend and a great opportunity to escape to the beach or the lake – and the weather was certainly superb for such things – but Mum and Dad were visiting Auckland so we stayed in the city.
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After an early morning trip to Omaha (just over an hour’s drive north of Auckland), it was too soon to stop for lunch on my way back through Matakana so I decided it was the perfect opportunity to try morning tea at the Brookview Tea House. Standing apart from the other Matakana boutiques and eateries [...]
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Napier is a pretty happening town in general, but the Ahuriri area – tucked discretely around the other side of Bluff Hill – is particularly so! Here you’ll find a cluster of upmarket bars and restaurants, along with quaint little B&Bs, and high quality hotel and apartment accommodation, all in a charmingly historic area bordered [...]
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I first discovered Kaimai Cheese Company with a wedge of cheddar cheese bought from a stall at the Parnell Farmers’ Market in Auckland. The story of how an old dairy factory was resurrected as a new gourmet cheese company and café in the heart of New Zealand’s dairy country was a fascinating one and I [...]
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I am eating my way around Waikato! And driving my way around Waikato. The morning started in Rotorua, but it’s an easy drive from there across to Tirau and I’m in the village of corrugated iron animals and cabbage trees by 10am. First coffee of the day is at Alley Cats Café at the northern [...]
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