All this hype about the Food Truck Garage got me feeling pretty hungry. I was not let down with my first time being filled with top quality hamburgers and fries. I will definitely be back.

My favourite part of Carl's Jr is the help yourself jalapenos and peppers (which will blow your brains out by the way...)

I have been waiting for somewhere you can get a burger and beer at late hours of the night for aaaaages! My prayers have been answered.

If you want an upbeat place to go for a drink and a light meal with a couple of friends, this place is exactly what you're looking for. Calamari, pulled pork, sloppy joes, fish taco, tequila oysters, oooh someone stop me!

Nothing like a burger and fries to go with your massive jug of delicious Macs Gold.

The Portland Public House is a bit of a nostalgia trip for me, back to Dunedin days, with its student flat style retro furniture and kitsch games decorating the walls. We went there for some heart-warming food and boy did we get it. First up was a serving of hand cut chips and maorioli - tom sauce and aioli. The chips were cooked to perfection, crisp on the outside with soft fluffy innards and served wrapped in paper. For the main event I had the vege dhal which was spicy and delicious, with toasted ciabatta. The bacon burger looked like a classic Kiwi burger with all the trimmings and by all accounts was also lip-smackingly good. Chased by a mulled wine, it was the perfect meal on a crisp winter evening.

Brothers Beer have a huge selection of craft beers to choose from and the most affable service around. Take a seat on one of the very retro, very kiwi sofas in the light filled bar or hop on a stool outside at one of the big tables. They have mean cheese platters to go alongside your brew of choice.

Coco's Barretta is the more laid back neighbour to Coco's Cantina and that is just how I like it. Barretta is dark, warm and inviting, with the cute trade mark chequered table cloths and same friendly service as next door. I like to settle down in the comfortable booth down the back either with a group or a more intimate one on one date. You have the option to order from the full Coco's menu but you can also just settle in for a glass of wine and bowl of delicious polenta chips. 

The Golden Dawn is one of my favourite places to catch up with friends for a casual meal and a drink. The food is delicious and are shared plates and there is a great selection of beer and cider on tap. Inside the atmosphere is warm and intimate for smaller groups and outside there are large tables for more substantial gatherings. The staff are friendly and there is always good music playing.

Be prepared for a bit of a wait on a busy night but Mexico in Britomart is well worth it. The food is incredibly tasty and you will want to try several dishes. The fried chicken is a favourite as are the fresh and innovative salads. Wait in the small bar out the back and enjoy a sangria and bowl of house made corn chips.

Fish Fish has the best fish! Lovely and fresh and really competitively priced - even compared to supermarket prices. If you're thinking of cooking at home you can get supplies here - or if you're feeling lazy you can stay and enjoy some fresh fish prepared with love.

  What busy little shop. We stopped on our way home for an early dinner. I got a fish burger that was definitely a great burger. The fish here is cooked in beer batter and cooked so that its golden and crunchy, Yum

My flatmate had a last minute bail out of cooking dinner as planned. So up she went and got us some healthy takeaways from our local. So healthy yet I am so satisfied!

A good night out on the town is not complete without a visit to the White Lady. Burgers are top notch and you tend to meet some interesting characters along the way 

The pad Thai here I still stand by and say that it's the BEST in Auckland. The portions are huge and I struggle to get through a whole box 

Always a reliable place for a boogy on the weekend. Open late, with generally DJ’s spinning hip-hop, funk, soul, reggae and dub. Prices are reasonable. Dancefloor gets started generally a little late (midnight), so can be a good place to chill for the first part of the night, then dance til late!

Great retro decor, good cocktails served in an original way (teapots!), good music and often great live performances here too!

With lots of live acts coming through Auckland, Galatos is really upping their game! The refurbishments over the past few years have made it into a fantastic live venue. The bar staff are polite and quick and the door staff are friendly, which actually means a lot to me! I hate feeling harassed from the moment I get to a bar. These guys are really friendly and only get serious if they need to. Tickets are generally pretty affordable too. The little bar upstairs serves as a welcome breather from the large dance floor downstairs too.

Constantly new acts coming through here. Always an active dancefloor and often they have live music being performed on the weekends. Lots of atmosphere!

Great venue for live music. I had a great dance there last weekend when I went to see Randa perform. He was siiiick! And had a good groove to the tunes they played afterwards too!

Great atmosphere and fantastic cheese selection! Lovely chilled vibe

Unique little bar. Piano in the corner. Evening sun through open window. Delicious punch and relaxed atmosphere. All in all a pleasant little place worth visiting.

Great place, really quirky and cosy. Lots of fantastic live music to be seen here. Haven't tried the food yet but will be back for sure. Highly recommended.

Really liked this bar. Big outdoor and indoor areas, colourful place with lots of people and a really good buzz about it. Fairly reasonably priced tacos and other meals to start your night off right.

Went here last night for after dinner cocktails.  The bar area was busy so the waiter found us a nice cosy  table in the restaurant even though we were only in for drinks.  The staff are really friendly and knowledgeable and the service is fantastic.  We had some delicious cocktails and and a great night.  They have a small covered area outside at the front so looking forward to going back in summer!

Nothing better than enjoying a beer on the balcony of De Fontein overlooking Mission Bay on a sunny day, there's also live music Sunday afternoons.

When I visited Switzerland, I was introduced to beer giraffe towers. The Bluestone Room was the first place I discovered in Auckland that also did them. Try one during happy hour.

Grab a beer and chillax in the library room with the old school leather chairs, you'll feel sophisticated and stylish as!

If you love your rock and need a change from the usual bars and clubs in central Auckland, check out the Ding Dong Lounge. Entertainment is varied and interesting with different guest DJs most nights, and live music on special occasions. You'll hear a good range of rock music from various decades with the edgier stuff later into the evening. Staff are friendly and there's a tasty food menu when the late night munchies kick in, the candied kumara and kenzo fried chicken are delicious!

Certainly a popular place to be early Friday evening, styled like a US diner with slight Euro flair. I popped in for a beer and also ended up enjoying some quesadillas. Surprisingly, the place was very family friendly too with kids enjoying the vibe as much as their parents!

One of my favourite places to eat on any night of the week is Epsom dining icon Gee Gee’s. As well as great salad and seafood they have an amazing selection of what I like to call ‘comfort’ dishes on offer, with my pick being the hearty lasagne with a side of potatoes and a glass of Main Divide Pinot Noir. Gee Gee’s is also super close to the Lido cinema, making it a perfect spot for before or after a movie.

One of our favourite Sunday drives is to the historic Riverhead pub, which on a good day is just twenty minutes drive from the city. It is a comfortable cruise with beers, wines and stellar hot chips to reward the effort, or more bistro- type fare is available in their restaurant area. The car park is also a petrol head’s dream as it is usually packed tight with hot rods, bikes and muscle cars galore.

Michael Van de Elzen’s TV One show The Food Truck was a huge hit for the Auckland chef, and now the industrial style food destination that shares its name is set to do the same. Serving up his trademark delicious, healthy fast food, it is the perfect spot for a hearty lunch or early dinner on the run and thus far the burger offerings are my standout fave. They even have Hallertau beer on tap, or try the homemade honey lemonade and lavender cola for a real taste sensation.

I love a food risotto on a cold day/night, and spend most of the winter trying all I can in the search for the best out there. My latest discovery was on the specials board at Grey Lynn restaurant Delicious, and came with chicken, broad beans and a rich provolone. It was pretty damn perfect and as it was available in entree or main size could be easily snaffled for lunch. Yum.

Not a place to take vegetarian friends or when you’re feeling like a ‘light snack’, El Sizzling Chorizo specialise in hearty, delicious Argentinian barbecue feasts that will keep you full for days. Just the smell will get your tastebuds tingling, so make sure you arrive with an empty belly and an open mind.

Beautiful vietnamese food, fresh flavours and nice atmosphere. Great dinner date

On the beach front, yummiest mexican and strong margaritas just quietly ;)

Now before you say that this this is an immature spot for a date, it is seriously good fun! Try night rides. Dark makes it even more fun.

The ultimate vibey bar in Kingsland - the best in live music, crafties and $6 burgers! All the staff are super friendly and the fit-out is homely. Perfect spot to bring a crew for a big night of live tunes or meet an old friend for a afternoon drink in their back courtyard. Thanks for ticking all the boxes Portland!

Everything you want in a bar right in the heart of Ponsonby. A hidden away, hole-in-the-wall groover of a bar with the best music, great food and even better craft beer. Number 2 on tap - the Hallertau Pilsner is all time!

The best wood-fired pizza with Peroni on tap and an impressive wine selection. Family friendly and a DJ in the courtyard every Sunday. Whats not to love?

Perfect for a sunny day. Good music and lots of beer! The courtyard is an epic spot to meet a crew of friends and enjoy the wide array of Mac’s beer on tap. With live music Friday-Sunday Neighbourhood packs out with people - especially when there is a game on at Eden Park, so be sure to get there early to secure a table in the sun!

I hadn’t been up the Sky Tower in a long time. It was only when I had a friend visiting from Australia that I revisited Auckland’s most famous landmark. We ventured up the tower to the main observation level and checked out the 360 degree view, and what an amazing view it is. The thick glass sections of flooring were a highlight.

It had been years since I last caught the ferry across to Devenport but the day was sunny and it seemed like a good way to spend a lazy Sunday. It cost $11 for a return journey which I considered to be a bargain. The trip takes about 15 minutes and it was nice being out on the water amongst the fresh ocean air. Service is professional and if you’re in the mood for nibbles there’s a small cafe/bar.

Have you ever seen an overweight climber? I haven’t and there’s a reason for that. Climbing is a great way to build your back, biceps and it works your core like crazy. To top it off scaling a cliff side with little more than your own two hands is pretty dam manly. Clip’n’Climb is perhaps Auckland’s premier climbing facility. It is like a theme park for climbers, the walls are all themed and enticing. The auto belay system also has to be mentioned as this makes the whole activity easier! Step up and give it a go.

The last time that I visited Waiwera was on a school trip and I got a blood nose from the black hole. Regardless it was a good time. Since then Waiwera has been through a little bit of a transformation. Over the years it has morphed into more of a health spa. For OSH reasons only two of the slides remain. It may have lost a bit of the fun factor but as an adult it's still a relaxing day away from the big smoke.

Rainbow’s End might be Auckland’s most famous attraction! Located in Manakau, it is the country’s largest theme park. Plus this Halloween they're hosting a Halloween themed event; Night Frights. They're turning off all the lights and letting you ride in the dark, creating an even more fun and terrifying experience perfect for Halloween!

Spectacular place for a night out with the kids playing mini putt golf, super bright neon style. The kids will be talking about this place for ages afterwards and they'll BEG you to please take them again :)

They've got Paradice Ice in the Aotea in winter now and it's a great day out for the whole family. Once you've learned to ice skate it's like riding a bike - you never forget how to glide over the ice and have so much fun

I love wandering through this place filled with so many memories from childhood spent close to the waters edge. The rocking ship's cabin really captivates what it must have felt like below decks and after the kids have had a good look throughout, you can have afternoon brunch in the cafe outside

The best place to spend a whole day with the kids, young and older riding the pirate ship and the log flume and best of all the roller coaster. Fun for the whole family

Perfect day out for the littles - they'll love to wander amongst all the little critters and the interactive farmyard is sure to delight them and for the more adventurous ... croc encounters - they will even let you feed the fish and some of the animals

There's so many cool thrills and spills to enjoy at Rainbow's End. I love the Classic Corkscrew Rollercoaster because rollercoasters have always been a favourite ride of mine. I rode them at this awesome Auckland theme park when I was younger as I'm sure have most Kiwi kids because a school holiday trip to Rainbow's End is a real rite of passage. Today, the rides are more thrilling than ever before with Fearfall - an 18-storey, 80km drop - and the fast-paced, head-spinning Invader.

I love that the Aotea Square Ice Rink has brought a winter wonderland to Auckland's CBD. There's nothing more magical than heading up to the rink on a Friday night after work, slapping some skates and making like you're in the Olympics. I always dreamt of being a professional ice skater and thanks to this awesome Auckland initiative, I get to live out my dreams in the winter.

I used to live a stone's throw from this fantastically untapped trail that winds down into the depths of the verdant bush of Auckland's rainforest - the Waitakere Ranges. Even though you need to be prepared for a hike back up the hill, the road down into the Waitakere Dam is tarsealed so is great for walkers and kids on bikes. Don't miss the side trail halfway down that takes you to the largest Kauri tree in the whole of the Ranges - you can even see this big daddy from the ridges of Piha and Karekare because he's so massive. I also believe that mystical forest fairies like to live in and around his gnarled, gigantic roots. If you're looking for a whole day of activity instead then use this 1.4km walk as your starting point and head either across the top or below the rushing waters of the dam to connect with a host of trails that take you either to Bethells Beach or down into the jaw-droppingly beautiful Cascade Kauri Park, which is one of the only areas of unlogged forest left here. This kind of walk makes you realise why New Zealand is so special!

Within the Auckland Domain lies one of the city's most tranquil hidden gems - the Winter Gardens. I love holing up in the glasshouse on a blustery, gusty day and watching the rays of winter sunlight illuminate the exotic plant life within. When I was a kid, I used to pretend I was a lady keeping court while marveling at the outside lily pad. Whenever I have visitors from out of town, one of my favourite cool season activities is to come for a visit to these gardens.

I've lived in Auckland all my life and until today I never knew how cool this art installation at North Wharf truly is. It's all about showing Auckland's history, as well as being a spot where you can create art and sound by speaking into the installation. Look for the big, silver sculptures sticking out of the ground and then have a play. I hid in one and scared a friend as she walked past. Awesome fun!