Pippa B.'s
Best summer shape up classes in the Bay of Plenty
- 11Tauranga Yoga CentreTaurangaLoving this beautiful place like my second home. This amazing community space has been going since 1972 and continue to bring affordable yoga classes to as many people as they can. They cater to everyone and share a variety of yoga disciplines and workshops every day. It's my happy place.
- 21CrossFit TaurangaTaurangaA great way to shape up, feel powerful and get fit. We all know we work harder in a group so the sweat and hard slog don’t seem to matter as much. With all the gear and surrounded by great coaches and programme it’s a no brainer.
- 31Chase’em Up The MountMount MaunganuiWe all love our iconic mountain and a lot of us run, walk, abseil, or paraglide on it. Mount Maunganui Surf Life Saving is holding a fundraising team challenge up the Mount, or take the individual fun/walk around the base track. There’s a cost but our surf lifesavers are worth it.
- 41CITY ON ITS FEETTaurangaWalking can be much more fun in groups. City on its Feet has been going for 10 years and is free, fun and healthy and there are groups all over the Bay of Plenty.
- 51Ceroc Dancing TaurangaTaurangaLove the music. Love the rhythm. Ceroc’s fusion of jive, and salsa with a few other influences is an easy dance to learn and a great way to meet people. Classes run all the time at the Mount and Tauranga venues, just roll up and have a good time.
Pippa B.'s
Best markets in Hawke's Bay
- 12Black Barn Grower's MarketHavelock NorthIt doesn't open until December but this is my absolute favourite summer grower’s market. It’s rustic, boutique and medieval in style with canvas-topped stalls set in a circle under whispering plane trees and where the locals buy their produce. So get in early on Saturdays at 9am and sample some of the nicest asparagus, strawberries, artichokes and organic vegetables ever. You’ll also find freshly-baked breads, locally-roasted coffee, fresh flowers, meats, pickles and olive oils.
- 21Napier Sunday MarketNapier CentralThis is a very local market with a lot of bric a brac, collectibles and a few food stands. Occasionally you’ll pick up a good retro piece. The vegetables and fruits are good value grown mainly from market gardens in the area. It’s worth a visit or call in while you’re passing on the Marine Parade walk/cycle way.
- 34Hastings City Night MarketHastings CentralIt’s just about time for the summer night markets in the mall to start up again alongside daylight saving on October 1. It’s a multi-cultural tasting feast. Come along and get a taste of local – street food, crafts, entertainment and community.
- 44Napier Urban Food MarketNapier CentralVisiting the local Farmer's Market on Saturday morning is a fantastic way to casually introduce yourself into a relaxed weekend and buy some good healthy fresh Hawke's Bay produce in season. Shop for coffee, fruit and veges, breads, local cheeses and some good food all to the sounds of live music.
- 59Hawke's Bay Farmers' MarketHastings CentralFresh produce is what Hawke’s Bay does best and the summer Hastings Farmer’s Market under the old trees in the A & P Showground – one of the originals – is not-to-be-missed. Local organic cheeses, wine, olive oil, fresh vegetables, herbs, fruits, juices, figs, hot coffee – you name it and it’s there. If you can’t get to Hastings, try the Napier Urban Food Market, or the Gisborne Farmer’s Market.
Pippa B.'s
Best markets
- 119Tauranga Farmers MarketTaurangaNow the days are warmer if you haven't been a frequent visitor now is the perfect time to capture a really good local morning out at the historic Tauranga Primary School. The new season's produce is starting to roll out - Hass avocados, asparagus, strawberries and tomatoes at a reasonable price. All that yummy freshness and goodness just waiting to be made into a delicious meal.
- 214Little Big MarketsMount MaunganuiAn awesome quality and very community market full of everything – cool food trucks, art, fashion, vintage, gifts, talented craftsmen and artisan wares and of course music.
- 38Mount Mainstreet Farmers MarketMount MaunganuiCruise down to this fantastic food market every Sunday morning right in the middle of The Mount downtown. Local artisans and growers present their fresh home grown delicious wares and produce. Lots of yummy breads, pastries, cheese, smoked fish, oils, chutneys, juices, plants, honey, flowers, a wonderful reflection of why we’re called the Bay of Plenty.
- 41The Tauranga Night MarketBayfairFood is at the heart of every family and what better way to share it than here every Saturday night from 6pm. As well as some delicious street food from all over the world there’s arts and crafts, jewellery, clothing, fashion accessories, technology accessories, and fresh produce with live entertainment, performances and as every market should have – fortune tellers.
- 51Dinner in the DomainPapamoaPapamoa’s Dinner in the Domain is summer’s answer to winter’s Food Truck Friday at The Mount, although no one wants that to stop so who knows it might just go on? It starts up weekly again on Thursday November 26. Start to wind down into the weekend and go along for an amazing evening at the beautiful Papamoa Domain on the beach.
Pippa B.'s
Best night classes for adults
- 11Hawke's Bay Ukulele UndergroundNapier CentralStrum a beat or a fix for ukelele addicts the Ukelele Underground have regular help for beginners at Napier’s night spot, The Cabana. It’s a fun night and easy peasy even for those who weren’t brought up on You are my Sunshine and Bye Bye Love and then there’s always the monthly strum-a-long and sometimes blues sessions.
- 21NZ Sign LanguageHastings CentralHow cool would it be to communicate with those who can’t hear or to be able to sign in Maori? NZ Sign Language is used by 24,000 NZ’ers daily and is the 12th most common out of 190 languages used here. Hawke’s Bay Deaf Club and the HB District Health Board regularly run courses so get in touch.
- 31Hilton Brown Swimming Havelock NorthHavelock NorthIn this country where we have a wealth of rivers and beaches its a good idea to keep your head above water. Hilton Brown will take adult non-swimmers and those not so confident through the moves. Summer’s rolling out and swimming is the best way to cool off and enjoy it.
- 41The Keirunga Gardens Arts & Craft SocietyHavelock NorthThere’s no time like now yo pursue the creative spirit in you, The Keirunga cultural hub is Havelock North’s home to a lot of the arts and painting, photography and drama are just some of the activities available. It’s set in the grounds of Keirunga Park, a magnificent 17 hectares of formal gardens and parkland.
- 51Salsa Hawke's BayNapier SouthSandy and Evan will take you through the moves. These two Napier-based, dance-loving, award-winning accomplished Salsa dancers take the time to make sure you have mastered the Latin beat.
Pippa B.'s
Best night classes for adults
- 11Tauranga Laughter ClubMount MaunganuiWho doesn’t love laughing especially when it gets to sock us right in the belly and I bet we all could have more of this powerful, infectious, feel-good, immune boosting and stress busting "happy pill". Contact Laughter Yoga with Jamie Chick/Facebook for class times or Laughter Yoga in the Bay of Plenty.
- 23Although there’s a lot of fun things here to do, Learning To Play Steel Pan And Perform In a Band takes my fancy. Marion will take all frustrated musos off the couch and make music - no instrument or reading music necessary. At the end of eight weeks the place will be rocking.
- 31Kingfisher Cakes and CraftsTaurangaGiving a home-crafted gift is an expression straight from the heart. If you’ve ever wanted to create beautifully coloured iced cup cakes, or a novelty cake for a special person on their special occasion why not learn how from the experts. Gaye’s next eight-week evening course is starting on October 14.
- 41Community Computing ClassesTaurangaTauranga Library offer a range of computing classes starting with basic keyboard and mouse skills through to advanced Microsoft Office and how to get the best out of Trade Me, YouTube and blogging. It’s an excellent way to learn for those who didn’t learn about it at school or wanting to upskill between jobs.
- 51Getting stuck in another country and not being able to communicate is frustrating. Sometimes even getting the courage to travel in a foreign land is difficult, but there’s a range of levels in German, French and Spanish offered by skilled speakers on offer here. Equally good if you don’t want to loose fluency and an excellent social opportunity. There may even be a chance of finding a like-minded travel companion.
Pippa B.'s
Best Thai restaurants
- 13Collar & ThaiTaurangaThis authentic Thai restaurant is always cooking up a bit of heat with lots of style and grand service. The food is delicious and there are daily lunch and dinner specials. It’s a good spot to catch a bit a to eat before a movie at the Rialto theatre.
- 28Thai Thani RestaurantPapamoa BeachThe gracious and friendly staff serve you up a scrummy Thai feast at this authentic restaurant and takeaway. I love to get an entree taster of BBQ Prawns and finish with ginger stir-fried duck. Yummy.
- 31Taste of AsiaMount MaunganuiRight on The Mount’s main street this Thai restaurant has a diverse and extensive takeaway menu, which crosses borders into Vietnam, Malaysia and China. I can’t go past Thai garlic spinach prawns followed by steamed whole snapper Ma-nao done to perfection with ginger, lemon grass and kaffir lime.
- 45Thai 2 GoMount MaunganuiThis is a very cool place to eat or grab a takeaway. It’s popular but if there is a wait it’s worth it. The food is suburb, options galore and so many fragrant and spicy dishes to choose from.
- 55Dui's Restaurant of Fine Thai CuisineMount MaunganuiFantastic place in the heart of The Mount for yummy authentic Thai food, who will cater for different diets and lots of people. In fact I think they thrive in being able to show how much they care.