Jasmine J.'s
Fun things to do under $20
- 14The Parrot PlaceKerikeriThis place is cheap yet awesome entertainment. It usually costs an adult $10 to get in but if you go in a group of more than 15 then it’s only $8 per adult - sweet! Kids under 14 are $5. The birds are amazing to look at and provide a solid half-days activity.
- 21This little community pool has been through it’s share of hard times. A little while ago it was going to close until the community stepped in and revamped it with gorgeosu art work. The centre includes the Te Papawai Community Pool, a squash court and weights room. It’s only $3 to get into the pool and kids under 5 are free - it doesn’t get cheaper than that!
- 33Ngawha Hot SpringsNgawha SpringsEveryone loves a good long soak in the Ngawha hot pools. It’s a sure crowd pleaser and easily slides under the $20 mark. Just make sure you wear your least favourite pair of togs as it’s pretty hard to get the sulphur smell out of them after!
- 41At $10 a pop (or $8 for kids) this place is easy entertainment for hours that will stick well below your budget. It’s a 18-hole mini putt course with great picnic areas for lunch. Then if you get bored of that you can nip across to the nearby Antique Toy Museum to squiz at toys as old as the early 1900s!
- 52MY MovementWhangarei CentralWho doesn’t love bouncing around like crazy and tumbling into a foam pit?! It’s great, and awesome exercise while you’re at it. At only $13 per person (or $10 on special days) it’s like purchasing a movie ticket except it’ll entertain you for way longer and you get a work out while you’re at it.
Jasmine J.'s
Where To Watch The Rugby World Cup Games
- 13Pioneer Restaurant & BarWaipapaThe Pioneer is a great rustic old bar in Waipapa. It’s mostly known for their incredibly popular Wednesday quiz nights. And they also screen the rugby. You can find out what games and what time they’ll be on by checking out their facebook page.
- 22TMO Sports BarPaihiaThis is such a classic sports bar with good brews, tasty bar snacks and an amazing amount of sports trophies dotted around the room. They’ll be playing the rugby world cup games if it’s the last thing they do! And here you’ll be sure to find a welcoming, passionate crowd that will be almost as much entertainment as the games!
- 33Split Bar and RestaurantWhangarei CentralSplit has awesome atmosphere that’s good for anyone - not just the hardcore fans. I love how you can inside or outside in fair weather and they have lots of tvs so you can always make sure you get the best spot to watch the ruggers. I love their potato skins loaded with bacon, sour cream and cheese - delicious!
- 42Jovial JudgeWhangarei CentralCheck out the RWC games here while you tuck into a hearty meal. The Jovial Judge has mean feeds (and a mean name!). I love their bountiful plates of ribs and chips. They’re so generous you could even share it between two. Pro tip: if you’re going to drink more than three glasses of beer I recommend ordering a jug as it’s cheaper!
- 53Parua Bay TavernWhangarei HeadsSet in Whangarei Heads Parua Bay Tavern is a great place to go if you want to breath in the fresh salt air while watching the boys in black bring the trophy home. They’ve got a great menu with something to please everyone, I love the seafood chowder and garlic bread - yum! There is also a TAB machine, two pool tables and four pokies if that’s your jam.
Jasmine J.'s
Best Garden Centres
- 12Northland PlantsMaungatapereNow spring is here it’s time to get cracking in the garden! Northland Plants have an amazing range of delicious edible plants that will flourish in all sorts of environments. I love how they focus on fruits and veges as that’s exactly the sort of stuff I like planting in my gardens.
- 22Kerikeri Daffodil WorldKerikeriDaffodils are the ultimate symbol of spring, along with the calves and lambs. Kerikeri Daffodil world totally embrace that and sell all things daffodil. You can get big bunches of the gorgeous blooms or buy your own bulbs to have the spring emblems popping up in your own garden.
- 33Palmco KerikeriKerikeriI love that Palmco has a cafe! Garden centres have such an awesome smell and everything is just buzzing with growth. Palmco is super elegant and beautifully taken care of so to lunch amongst the palms is pretty dreamy. Plus you can browse the seedlings after coffee - perfect!
- 41Kwan Garden CreationsKerikeriThese guys have an awesome range of seedlings, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds and sprouts for you to unleash on your garden. The staff are super friendly and have good knowledge on what sort of plant will fit your garden as well. And they’re super close to a really yummy bakery which you can pop into after to refuel before all your planting.
- 51Longreach NurseryRiversideLongreach nurture lots of beautiful native plants to a stable size. They’re ready and waiting for you to scoop up and transport to your garden or property. I’ve always found the seedlings to be good quality and take really well once I plant them in the right place.
Jasmine J.'s
Best European Restaurants
- 13The ItaliansKerikeriThis place is amazing. The extensive menu, rich flavours and generous portions are a food lovers dream. I got the Filetto ai Funghi last time which was ridiculously yum, perfectly cooked steak and a rich creamy mushroom sauce. And it was only $32 - pretty good for a steak I reckon! Also the chef makes the pasta and gelato by hand; as well as his own sausages, bacon and cured meats.
- 24I love coming here for Black Olive’s extensive pizza menu. It’s great because you can get small, medium or large pizzas depending on how many people you want to feed. One of my favourite ones is the kiwi pizza because it has pineapple - my favourite!
- 34Reva's on the WaterfrontWhangarei CentralReva’s has such a relaxed atmosphere. It’s lovely to slowly devour a pizza on the deck of their large ornate villa and watch the world go by. They mostly have Mediterranean food although they’ve also incorporated a bit of a twist like their American cheesecake - so yum!
- 43Amici Italian RestaurantWhangarei CentralAmici does Italian food so well. The meals are rich, delicious and authentic while the atmosphere perfectly resembles a piazza in Italy, it’s just missing the Italians! The service is great and you can tell the staff really enjoy being there as they always look like they’re having fun.
- 53Ruffino's Pizza & PastaPaihiaCheese is used in copious, gooey quantities here and it is SO divine! They have some of the yummiest pasta in Northland that will see you transported to carb-laden fantasies of Europe. There restaurant is spacious and good for big groups as they have movable chairs/tables and you’ll love the fairy lights at night.
Jasmine J.'s
Best Bars
- 17Opononi Hotel LimitedOpononiOpononi Hotel is one of the best places to party in rural Northland. South Hokianga is so sparsely populated and beautiful you’ll be surprised to see this bar buzzing and bustling amongst the still, serene sand dunes. Not to be missed!
- 28The Old Stone Butter FactoryWhangarei CentralI would say this is the coolest haunt in Whangarei. It’s frequented by an eclectic, alternative lot and they have kooky events to match! From burlesque nights to open mic poetry and ‘gong night’ where people can stand up and do anything. Get amongst the city’s grooviest gang - you’ll love it!
- 32Alongside BarPaihiaThis has got to be one of the Northland bars with the best view. You get stunning vistas of Paihia and surrounding islands from the comfort of one of those big tropical resort couches. They have umbrellas so you can even kick back there when it’s raining. On a sunny day in mid-summer it’ll be super busy so make sure you claim your seats early!
- 44La Taza Del DiabloKerikeriGood food, mean drinks and a relaxed chatty atmosphere. This is where I take people most often to have a casual after-work drink and gossip. I love coming here because there’s always someone new to make friends with and it just has a great vibe.
- 51Horeke TavernHorekeTaking ‘shabby chic’ to a whole new level the Horeke Tavern is a gorgouse and interesting place to come. It’s got that old colonial elegance with chandeliers and amazing views but is pretty run down now… in a cool way though! I love taking guests here for a taste of Northland’s character.
Jasmine J.'s
Best Women's Clothing Shops
- 11Enz of the EarthKerikeriGet lost in the many racks of brightly coloured clothes Enz of the Earth stock. They have an amazing range of women’s clothes sourced from various countries. I love how the clothes are separated into colours so you can browse items based on the shade that suits you best.
- 21Malletts - Defining FashionKerikeriMalletts offer slightly higher-end fashion in Kerikeri. They have a wide range of modest and classic wardrobe pieces that will keep you looking sophisticated and stylish - even if you live in the sticks!
- 31Pagani KerikeriKerikeriPagani stock trendy but waller-friendly clothes. They always have shimmery, brightly coloured clothes tempting me in their store windows. I love this place because I can find everything from cocktail party dresses to work clothes here, and very affordable!
- 41Heike Designer ClothingKerikeriThis shop has got some awesome funky threads. It’s a good place to go if you want something colourful or a little bit out of the norm. Although they have all the basics too. I got a really cool one-shoulder peacock dress that I just love!
- 51River NZ Designer ClothingKerikeriThere’s no need to go without the flash city brands all the way up in the Far North! Thanks to River NZ Designer Clothing we get the hottest apparel up here too. I love going here for a special treat and to remind myself that I’m not totally a country gal!