Jasmine J.'s
Best Value Icecreams
- 12Letz CafePaihiaI scream, you scream… Letz Cafe!! They have an incredible range of gourmet gelato flavours that aren’t to be missed on any top ice cream list. I suggest you grab your favourite flavour (or try a new one) and head down to the picturesque beach and lap it up while watching the glassy-ocean shimmer around the many islands.
- 23You know you’re always going to have a great ice cream with movenpick… even if they aren’t the cheapest! I love popping down to these guys for a sneaky after dinner treat when there are no goodies in the cupboard. The double chocolate flavour is the absolute best and the perfect way to earn my brownie points!
- 310Bennetts of MangawhaiMangawhai"Locally grown ingredients, rare New Zealand flavours and a focus on hand crafted quality" and that’s from their website. Are you sold yet? These guys are professionals at making the tastes your tongue has been lusting after. Their ice cream is soft, delicious and flavourful. I always go for chocolate but that’s just because I’m boring, feel free to branch out with one of their fruity flavours which I hear is just as amazing!
- 42Bush Fairy DairyPeriaYou feel healthier just by walking in to this place. It’s a bit of an anomaly in Kaitaia but it’s treasured by the health-focused locals and soon to be treasured by you too! As well as their generous creamy ice creams hand-scooped and served in crunchy waffle cones they have an awesome range of homemade meals and desserts with lots of vegetarian options thrown in. You’ll love it!
- 52Blue River OrchardKerikeriAnytime I spot their caravan I make a beeline for it. Blue River Orchard do THE BEST blueberry icecreams, sorbets and smoothies. Everything is bright purple with tasty berries. It’s delicious, reasonably priced and healthy too. Just think of all those anti-oxidants!
Jasmine J.'s
The Best Fish & Chips
- 19Mangonui Fish ShopMangonuiThese guys are iconic, and for good reason too. Their chips are golden brown and crunchy, their fish is not too heavily battered and always fresh. It’s our must-do when we’re up Mangonui ways, infact it wouldn’t be a trip up to this gorgeous spot without the perfect fix of fish and chips from Mangonui Fish Shop!
- 22North Indian Food KawakawaKawakawaYou wouldn’t always pair Indian food and fish and chips together, but this joint seems to get them both right. Plus it means if you’re a motley crew with different tastes there’ll be something to please everyone. Or you could even try mixing it up, get a big side of fries with your butter chicken or some rice with your crisply battered fish? Either way you’ll leave this place with a full and happy belly!
- 33Highway 10 Seafood TakeawaysWaipapaGuilty treats are Highway 10 Takeaway’s speciality. I went in to buy a coke and came out with oysters, chips, fried chicken and a massive ice cream - so delicious! Their food is definitely not for keeping it slim over summer time. But hey, everyone needs to indulge every now and then… and this place is great!
- 42Bidz TakeawaysAhiparaI was lucky enough to catch some tender, tasty snapper on our last camping trip to Ahipara. Gathering sparse dry wood, lighting a fire and BBQing them seemed like a big hassle after our long, hot day on the water so I was stoked when I found out Bidz Takeaways could cook it up for us! They battered it lightly, which was exactly what I wanted because our fish was so fresh it would be a shame to mask all the deliciousness in thick soggy batter. Our fillets turned out brilliantly and were perfectly complimented by a large serving of chips!
- 51Hokianga TakeawaysRaweneLocation, location, location - Hokianga Takeaways have it! located right down by the water it’s all too easy to grab some deliciously fresh fish and chips from this well-loved local joint and camp out on the wharf to watch the ferry come in, fisherman zip out on their boats and the community bustle about.
Jasmine J.'s
Best Restaurants
- 11The Gables RestaurantRussellA meal accompanied by a sunset is one of the best ways to eat. That’s exactly what you get at this ravishing Russell restaurant! The Gables have exquisite views that look out over the glassy harbour and idyllic mountains. Their service is attentive and knowledgeable while their menu and wine list are flawless lists of flavour and flair. I shared the rib of beef for two with my partner which was tender and juicy, plus we got a jug of pimms - yum!
- 23Amici Italian RestaurantWhangarei CentralThis sweet courtyard complete with burbling fountain will take you all the way to the cobblestones of Italy - they’re the real deal! I shared the cheese platter with my partner then had the fish of the day (salmon) for a main. Both were superb, the cheeses were mouth-wateringly yum with fancy crackers and dried fruit accompaniments while my tender salmon was cooked perfectly. If you get the chance dine al fresco here - it’s amazing!
- 32Indian Aroma Restaurant WhangareiWhangarei CentralEveryone needs a good go-to Indian restaurant. Indian Aroma cater for just that. They’ve perfected a tasty tandoori, fluffy rice, buttery naan and beautiful butter chicken. Step into their restaurant and you know you’re in safe hands!
- 41McCool's Restaurant & BarWhangarei CentralI’ve never had such speedy and attentive service! These guys knew exactly when I wanted to order then bought my food out so fast they must’ve had a chef just waiting to cook our meal. I’d like to specially mention their curly fries - a delectable naughty treat and only $2!
- 51Stakeout Bar and GrillWhangarei CentralVisit Stakeout if you want to stagger out the door overwhelmingly full. It’s your own doing of course, you can’t stop eating because it’s so damn good! As their name suggests these guys are connoisseurs when it comes to meat - seafood, lamb, chicken, pork and ribs are their specialities. Ribs are definitely my favourite, although maybe not date friendly!
Jasmine J.'s
Best Pizza
- 14I go here because I can taste Italy in their pizzas. I often grab a pizza from Black Olive when I’m on my way home from work on a Friday. They have perfectly crisp and light bases. They’re the absolute best with an incredible rich Italian tomato sauce. These guys know their pizzas.
- 21These guys are a flavour bomb! Being both an Indian takeaways and a pizza place they kind of combine the two and bring epic Indian spice to each pizza. My go-to when I’m there is their hot and spicy just because I love the heat and they’re very generous with their toppings. However if you’re an adventurous eater they also have great flavours like Apricot Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Butter Chicken and Garlic Prawns to explore!
- 31Mr PizzaKaitaiaMr Pizza is your one-stop shop to taste-bud heaven! Particularly if you’re vegetarian. They have a great range of vegetarian pizzas, instead of just a token one like most pizza shops. They have Veggie Delight, Cheese and Cheese, Garlic Cheese and Supreme Wedge which sounds the most enticing with their Italian-inspired locally made 100% mozzarella cheese, capsicum, potato wedge, mushroom, spinach, olive, pineapple, red onion & fresh tomatoes - yum!
- 43Ruffino's Pizza & PastaPaihiaEveryone needs a gourmet go-to when it comes to their local pizza joint. I highly recommend you hit up the excellent pizza cuisine at Ruffino’s. Their pizzas are absolutely laden with toppings (just the way I like them) you’ll walks away with mountains of dripping cheese, piles of prosciutto and tonnes of tomatoes on your perfect pizza. You can even make up your own pizza if you want complete creative control - give it a go!
- 51Hell Pizza - WhangareiRegentThere’s nothing like indulging your seven deadly sins and taking a trip to hell. Here I particularly like to get in touch with my greed! While Hells doesn’t do the true blue Italian pizza it does the greasy stuff perfect for a hangover or lazy Sunday. I really like finishing off my pizza pig out with one of their dessert pizzas. The "unearthly" one is my pick :)
Jasmine J.'s
Great Date Spots
- 12Ake Ake VineyardKerikeriWant a local honeymoon with your honey-bee? Dine out at Ake Ake Vineyard, it’s everything you wanted and more. Set amongst the lush green grape vines you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Italy. With a chilled glass of pinot gris and an antipasto spread out before you, the afternoon is yours to wine and dine your sweetheart. While it’s a little bit more on the flash side of the budget it’s definitely worth saving it for a special occasion.
- 25Schnappa Rock RestaurantTutukakaNothing says romance like harmonious harbour views. This is where Schnappa Rock Restaurant delivers ten-fold. They offer an idyllic setting where you can stare at the ocean during the day or eat mesmerized by fairy lights at night. Their food is bountiful and so fresh, they try and get most of it from the garden! Bring your date here for a relaxed, intimate evening - they’ll love you for it.
- 32Bloom FlowersWhangarei CentralWant to really spoil them rotten? Take them to Bloom Flowers to pick their very own bouquet made out of their favourite blossoms. Trained in Auckland and Sydney, developed in London and refined in New York means director Julie Smith knows exactly how to perfect a posie of possibilities for your gorgeous date. With a bunch of blooms in their hands they’ll be mooning over you all night.
- 42Matauri BayMatauri BayThis is an absolute must-do activity to explore with your beau. Matauri Bay is gorgeous, a long stretch of pink-shelled sand, rolling waves and a pa that holds a magnificent view and the rainbow warrior memorial are some of the elements you can enjoy here. I recommend packing a picnic and a blanket and carry it up the hill to the rainbow warrior memorial. Here you can lie down on the thick grass, relish nibbles and the panoramic view that encompasses many miles of coastline.
- 52Kauri CliffsMatauri BayThere’s no way around it - Kauri Cliffs is FANCY. This colonial-style lodge is lavished in luxury and appears to be something out of an old-fashioned romance novel. While it’s particularly suited to those who’d like to play a round of golf on the world-class course their are plenty of leisure activities for non-golf playing love birds. Simply relish the chance to be alone in their luxury suites or indulge in fine cuisine in their restaurant. A trip to Kauri Cliffs is sure to get you in the good books for a very long time.
Jasmine J.'s
Best DIY Shops
- 11Coastal HomesCoopers BeachThese guys are professionals at meeting and exceeding expectations! Whether you’re looking to build or renovate you can call in this troupe of experienced construction artists and they’ll make your dream home a reality. One of their builders, Kyran Vaniperen even won second best apprentice in New Zealand - WOW!
- 21Want to embrace the eco way of life? Just talk to Gerd from Marine Electrics & Renewable Energy North. operating throughout the Bay Of Islands, he’s a tech-savvy German who can fit you out with the latest in solar energy or marine electrics. He’s a trained electrical engineer, brilliant problem solver and deals in solar panels, batteries, wiring and much more. Whether you’re keen on harnessing the sun or getting the most our of the sea Gerd can make sure your wires aren’t crossed and set you sailing smooth.
- 31Brian Oliver PaintersOnerahiNothing freshens up a home like a lick of paint. I’ve found Brian Oliver Painters extremely easy to deal with and they can tackle any painting job I throw at them. I got them to paint my kitchen and living room - which they did flawlessly - then I found out they painted boats! So now they’ve painted up our little dinghy too which was in a terrible state of disrepair beforehand. If you need anything painted just give these guys a call!
- 41IES Construction LtdKerikeriIES Construction were there for me when I needed them. We had sprung a leak in our roof/wall over the holiday period and it seemed like most builders were taking time off. These were the only guys who could come out and do the job and they did it efficiently and promptly, which saved us a lot of stress! It hasn’t leaked since so clearly they did a brilliant job at ensure our bach is cosy and water-tight. Thanks very much IES Construction!
- 51Anita Murray DesignKerikeriIt doesn’t matter how well built or renovated your house is, if the interior design is not spot on, it’ll all be for nothing. Anita Murray has a really thorough consultation process where she listens to exactly how you live, what you need and what you like. She’s a genius when it comes to style, colour and the latest trends. I’d trust her with my life! So if you want to redecorate or are building anew, give Anita a call and she’ll suss your new stylish home in no time.