Pippa B.'s
Best Thai restaurants
- 12Thai Silk RestaurantHastings CentralThis popular restaurant is regarded as the best Asian Eatery in Hastings. If you like oysters try the crispy fried ones to start and the curries are pretty up there too.
- 22Sri ThaiAhuririIf you’re passing through the seaside village of Ahuriri don’t forget to make a stop here for some wonderful Thai and Vietnam styled food. The fragrance of aromatic Thai herbs and flavoursome fresh produce make the most mouth-watering dishes from salads to spicy curries and stir fries. I am just loving the Thai Fish Cake entrée and Chicken Lemon Grass lightly sautéed in chilli.
- 31Thai HuttNapier CentralGood tasty Thai food served up with a gracious smile on the promenade with excellent stir-fried seafood dishes ad its a good place to get a takeaway to eat picnic-style across the road.
- 41Cafe de LaosAhuririYou get to enjoy some good Thai food and get in some great views down the harbour as well. It’s a Laos/Thai fusion of tastes. They cope well with dietary requests and are a regular hangout for return visitors and locals. Try the sizzling and aromatic garlic prawns.
- 51Thai ChefTaradaleSome years back this Thai eatery was grandly bestowed with recognition from the Thai PM and it hasn’t changed too much and is churning out good tasty quality Thai. It has a local following and is a great place for lunch as well.
Pippa B.'s
Best vegetarian
- 15Little Black BirdHastings CentralThe talented Ben & Lucinda will always create a super-tasty vegetarian option. Actually no matter what your dietary request is I know they will go the extra mile to accommodate. I haven’t got a favourite. It’s all scrummy, tasty and super healthy. Ben says he tries “not to do the generic thing, but create something a little more refined”, based on gluten free, vegetarian and dairy free options, and on what’s in season. “There’s more flavour this way and you can actually taste the vegetable,” he says. Most of the food is organic and sourced locally from The Chefs Garden at Epicurean supplies grown at Waipatu.
- 24The Wholefood KitchenNapier CentralThis organic café, with an emphasis on nutritious food, is serving a “slightly spicy” Marque de Provence pumpkin with cashews and chilli through winter. There will be other daily choices too, and a takeaway Miso soup served with noodles.
- 33Bollywood Star RestaurantGisborne CentralThis tasty indian has a myriad of vegetarian choices on their menu. Vege korma, biryani, paneer to name a tasty few. And my favourite palek paneer.
- 44Ujazi CaféNapier CentralBohemian Ujazi is vegan and vegetarian friendly and serves up tasty big plates and counter food. In fact they welcome anybody to their long line of sunny tables lining Tennyson Street.
- 56IndigoNapier CentralIt’s so hard to choose from Indigo’s superb award-winning menu. Vegetable Manchurian dumplings or share a mixed vegetarian platter for an appetiser and follow with a vegetable kadai or jaffrezi. I’ve never been disappointed.
Pippa B.'s
Best vegetarian
- 117George CafeOmanuEthically grown, organic, wholefood menu, not entirely vegetarian but lots of options and I’m just loving all the fresh salads they serve up.
- 211Tay Street Beach CafeMount MaunganuiThere’s always a healthy vegetarian option amongst their Asian-fusion based cuisine. For a boost of vitality you can’t go past the colourful Tay Street Energy Salad - rooted in a beetroot, carrot, chard, sunflower mix.
- 38Slowfish CafeMount MaunganuiThere’s not much along the Mount Main Beach restaurant strip for people who need a special diet. Thankfully Slowfish cater to gluten-free, dairy-free, arw and organic tastes. The cornfritters are very very yummy served with a avocado salsa and slow roasted tomatoes.
Pippa B.'s
Fun things to do under $20
- 121Mount Hot PoolsMt MaunganuiAt only $10.80 for adults and $8.10 for kids this is a bargain for the family and lots of pools and spas to suit. A wonderful way to finish a day on the beach or walk around the base track.
- 22East Coast PaddlersMount MaunganuiPay $15 and you’ll get half an hour on a stand up paddle. This is a fantastic way to experience the beautiful safe and sandy Pilot Bay and try your hand at this fastest-growing water sport.
- 31Freewheeling ToursMount MaunganuiFor $10 an hour, it’s a great way to explore the beautiful Bay of Plenty. They offer a pick up service and in summer there’s a hire stand in Tauranga city. And with so many trails to choose from cycling around the Bay is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon, especially when the summer sun is blazing.
- 44Marshalls Animal ParkLower KaimaiMarshall Animal Park’s 35-acres is a beautiful place to experience the ways of animals, from the biggest and smallest of the equine family - Clydesdales to miniature ponies and exotic emus and ostriches. Take a picnic and don’t forget to spend some time at Mclaren Falls. Adult entry to the animal park is $12, kids $6.
- 52Kiwi 360Te PukeFind out the fascinating history of New Zealand’s kiwifruit and what makes the Bay of Plenty a perfect growing environment for this furry fruit. Adults squeeze in at $20, seniors $18 and kids $6 and for this you get a 40-minute KiwiKart Tour and the best part - to taste them.
Pippa B.'s
Fun things to do under $20
- 15Morere Hot SpringsMorereImagine immersed in ancient hot water in the middle of a rain forest next to a forest stream. All this absolute bliss for $12 adults and $6 for kids. And if you want to swim head to the lower and much larger pool.
- 21Gisborne i-SITE Visitor Centre & Mini GolfGisborne CentralThere’s no excuse for not having fun if you forgot to pack the toys. There’s plenty of hire stuff at the Gisborne I-site that lets you enjoy fun activities for under $20. You can get your hands on fishing rods, skateboards, sleds, tennis racquets and boogie boards. Go on, get out this summer and enjoy it.
- 33Par2 MiniGolfNapier CentralChallenge your family and friends and have a fun time right on Marine Parade for only $8.80 an adult them hop across to Gelato2U or Lick This for a well-deserved icecream.
- 45Splash PlanetHastings CentralIt might be a tad over $20 at $28 for adults who want to swim but seniors can go for $5 so grab grannie and grandad or maybe mum and dad will just watch at $5. Guaranteed to be the best day forever. Opening in November for the season.
- 52Superstrike Tenpin BowlingFrimleyGet your mates, family or colleagues together for a cheap time out because you can get a couple of games under your belt for $20 and have a ball at the same time.
Pippa B.'s
Where to watch the Rugby World Cup games
- 112Rain Bar & RestaurantPapamoaWith eight big screens Rain Bar will be replaying all the main games from 10am and offering a ‘beer combo’ breakfast from the kitchen. They’ll open in the early hours for the Sunday final.
- 25Latitude 37Mt MaunganuiThis popular hang-out has an application in to open for the majority of the RWC games so it should be all go and of course they’ll play all the best games throughout the day on the big screens.
- 33Mount Mellick Irish BarMount MaunganuiThe Mount local Irish gastropub has an application in to show some of the big games live on their big screen and of course they’re hoping Ireland will feature. There’ll be reruns shown throughout the day, along with an all-day breakfast and a snack menu.
- 412Cornerstone PubTaurangaThere’s always a gig on here or something happening at the sport-supportive local Cornerstone Pub and with six TV screens they’re set to go. They’ll be opening early to show the big games so get down here, tuck into some bacon and eggs and support the All Blacks as they make history!
- 59The Crown & BadgerTaurangaAn English Pub sounds just like the right place to watch the pick of the RWC matches. Opening from 10.30am as usual with their usual all-day breakfast along with their yummy pub food the Crown & Badger will be replaying the main games on their big screen.