The Best ... in New Zealand
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@chimoaus said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best Birdwatching experience is Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Like going back in time with all the native birds. South Island would be the Kaikoura Pelagic to see Albatross and lots of seabirds.
Motuara Island at the top end of Queen Charlotte Sound was amazing when we called in doing Outward Bound some mumble3 ... years ago. Hopefully still is.
Not sure how you'd get there though.
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Best place I recall swimming was at Hatepe south of Taupo with Mrs Boo (who avoids swimming). This was very dependent on the weather. It was absolutely pefect. Flat calm. Early evening. Beautifully warm. Crystal clear. Shear fluke we were there at the right time, right place.
Marima Domain near Pahiatua is pretty cool. Worth a picnic and a swim in the River.
Similarly Ashley Gorge inland from Chch.
Can't fault the trip to Cape Reinga. Went about 6 years ago and me was completely wowed.
Waitangi Treaty House too.
Oh yeah, you were asking about food and stuff too ...
Mangonui Fish Shop was awesome, after being subjected to Aussie feesh for 12 years.
Recall having awesome fish and chips back in the day from a shop over the river/estuary in Whakatane.
For the best mussels ever try the Tutu 4wd bus trip from Kaitaia across the Ahipara gumfields. They stop (at least they used to) on the reef around the corner (south) of Reef Point and tell you to knock yourself out. We weren't that adventurous (bigger ones the further you ventured out) but they were the tastiest mussels ever. Try them with Kaitaia Fire (local chilli sauce).
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@booboo said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mangonui Fish Shop was awesome, after being subjected to Aussie feesh for 12 years.
Funny you say that as I think their fish is cooked Oz style rather than NZ style. Don't get me wrong, it was nice, and the pineapple rings were awesome, but I had to have some local fish and chips in Hastings to scratch that fish and chips itch when back in NZ over winter.
@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
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@Bovidae said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
For fish 'n' chips, anywhere near the sea. Thames is very good, as is Raglan wharf.
If you are travelling on SH3, stop in at Viands in Kihikihi for pies. They have won plenty of awards.
So this - Viands is awesome (hometown!) as is fish n chips at the wharf at Rags.
I personally think that the Kawhia fish shop is better though, if they have fresh snapper.
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@booboo speaking of gumfields, the Matakohe Museum is worth the visit if you are in the area.
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@taniwharugby said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@booboo speaking of gumfields, the Matakohe Museum is worth the visit if you are in the area.
Do they still have the cafe across the road that sells those enormous burgers?
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Great Fish and Chips places
Lockies in Hampden. Best Blue Cod and Chips (I promise)
Kaiaua (as @crucial said) Order and then grab a table outside on near the water and enjoy.
Thames Bait shop F&C. Really good but views a bit average of a tidal mangrove estuary.
Tauranga Wharf fish and chips. Really good and popular. Sometimes they have greenbone/butter fish. If they have that, buy it! You can choose your pieces of fish. -
@gt12 said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Bovidae said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
For fish 'n' chips, anywhere near the sea. Thames is very good, as is Raglan wharf.
If you are travelling on SH3, stop in at Viands in Kihikihi for pies. They have won plenty of awards.
So this - Viands is awesome (hometown!) as is fish n chips at the wharf at Rags.
I personally think that the Kawhia fish shop is better though, if they have fresh snapper.
Agree about Kawhia too. We had fresh hapuka there and it was delicious. Mangonui was OK but didn't live up to the hype.
The best fish 'n' chips I've had in recent years was in Bluff. Blue cod.
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@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mustn't have wanted to venture into Hastings.@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
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@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mustn't have wanted to venture into Hastings.@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
I saw the words Massamum Curry gelato on there so I'm quite happy for Rush Munros to not be involved in that.
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@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mustn't have wanted to venture into Hastings.@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
I have never been a big fan of Rush Munros.
Apart from looking for good quality vanilla IC occasionally as a base for something else I actually find that the good old Tip-Top classics are hard to beat. Hokey Pokey and Boysenberry Ripple are kiwi culinary classics.
My once a year road trip special is a cone of Rum and Raisin (single cone two scoops). Just always hits the spot on a sunny day.
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Just realised that we are missing the important recommendations for coffee while on the move.
In years of travelling north from welly I have never had a bad coffee from the Streetwise cart at Sanson. Always well made.
If doing the Rotorua to Tauranga/Mount run then Okere Falls Store is worth a stop as well.
A recently discovered (for me) little place for a convent stop before/after the Desert Rd is this place in Turangi http://creeltackle.com/creel-cafe/
Small fishing tackle shop with a cafe inside. Has a really interesting vibe and good food/coffee -
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I think the Mangonui shop changed ownership a few years back, at which time things did change slightly.
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@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mustn't have wanted to venture into Hastings.@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
My once a year road trip special is a cone of Rum and Raisin (single cone two scoops). Just always hits the spot on a sunny day.
Hatiest flavour ever!!!
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@Hooroo said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mustn't have wanted to venture into Hastings.@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
My once a year road trip special is a cone of Rum and Raisin (single cone two scoops). Just always hits the spot on a sunny day.
Hatiest flavour ever!!!
I seem to like everyone's haziest flavour stuff. Turkish Delight, Cherry Ripe, R&R
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@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
I have never been a big fan of Rush Munros.
Dead to me ... and I hope CM lose for eternity, yes even to the Poo and BoP!
Not everything from the bay of Hawke is awesome
RM is nice ice cream but just doesn't have a wow factor that equates with its price or hype. A little too solid and not creamy enough for my tastes.
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@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Hooroo said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Mustn't have wanted to venture into Hastings.@Toddy said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Best ice cream
Rush Munros in Hastings, you can have some real fish and chips nearby too.
My once a year road trip special is a cone of Rum and Raisin (single cone two scoops). Just always hits the spot on a sunny day.
Hatiest flavour ever!!!
I seem to like everyone's haziest flavour stuff. Turkish Delight, Cherry Ripe, R&R
I no longer feel so bad, clearly your taste is at toilet level. You'd be a good friend to have around Xmas to eat all the Turkish Delights and Cherry Ripes. I've got about 6 of each in the vegetable drawers of my fridge and I'm actually unsure how long they've been there.
@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Not everything from the bay of Hawke is awesome
Wash your mouth out with soap.
Although your comments over solidness suggests you've never actually had Rush Munros. -
@Nepia said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
@Crucial said in The Best ... in New Zealand:
Not everything from the bay of Hawke is awesome
Wash your mouth out with soap.
Although your comments over solidness suggests you've never actually had Rush Munros.I've had plenty. One of the early places out of HB to showcase it in was in Cambridge when we had our restaurant there. They kept trying to supply it to us and kept giving me samples.
We only used our own recipe though and used to get it made by Kapiti (back before Fonterra brought them out).
Awards — NZ Ice Cream Association
