If you like Chinese food but don’t like to eat meat then give Ocean Chinese Restaurant a try. They have loads of vegetarian dishes including my favourite, vegetable stir-fried rice!

For a fresh and light meal or snack, give Pita Pit a go. I love the falafel wrap which is so filling, delicious and vegetarian.

An awesome place for vegetarian food, Olive Tree Cafe in Te Anau has a fab veggie curry and quite possibly the best pavlova in Southland!

For a real taste of India in Invercargill, head to Bombay Palace.I love their amazing spices and flavours, as well as their delicious vegetarian meals. My favourite is palak paneer.

I love the Green Room Cafe because they cater to vegetarians. My favourite meal at Green Room is the vegetable pies … they are full of fillings and taste so darn good.

I love Lotus Heart because not only are they serve entirely vegetarian food but they use organic and local ingredients where possible too! This place is a peaceful haven in the central city of Christchurch.

You gotta love a Chinese restaurant that specialises only in veggie food, woop! The guys and girls at Welcome Vegetarian are also sympathetic to gluten intolerant peeps too. What’s not to love about this??

So fresh, delicious and vegetarian, Dream Garden is a favourite of mine because they also cater to vegans too. My favourite dish is the mock duck - it’s briliant!

A fantastic vegetarian food house and grocery in Rangiora, The Organic Food House is also vegan friendly. This locally owned and operated place is pretty great and family run too.

Dux Dine is a fabulous place if you’re a vegetarian or vegan. From breakfast through to dinner, the Dux is a real highlight. I particularly like the lentils and beans and crispy tofu red curry. Yum!

Stuck for something to do on the cheap which will entertain the whole family? Splash Palace may just be the answer to your woes. Try some lap swimming or aqua jogging if you are wanting to burn some calories!

This fantastic museum has it all from a movie about the Riverton Area, art gallery and information centre. It’s a great way to explore Southland and be educated on the Historical Society.

For a cheap activity, head to Te Anau Mini Golf, Quadricycle & Bike Hire for a game of mini golf. Enjoy the sights of Te Anau and practice on your putt while you’re at it!

For a mere 5 bucks you can play mini golf at Wallacetown Mini Golf until your heart’s content! It’s located in a private garden so you’ll see the beautiful fauna and flora of the area whilst you play.

Tour the fantastic Monteith’s building for only $20 and enjoy some beers at the end of the tour. A great way to gain an understanding of the history of Greymouth, its beer and Monteiths.

Want to see North Island Brown Kiwi or tuatara? What about giant eels over 100 years old? This place is the best for wildlife and it’s only $22 to see it all!

For $20 you can explore the West Coast rainforest for an hour and a half on the Charleston Nile River Rainforest Train. It’s an awe-inspiring trip which will leave you thinking you’ve bagged a bargain!

Check out bees working in glass hives for free at the Junction Café and Honey Centre. There’s a 45 minute show with free honey tasting. A great way to experience the habits of live bees!

Okay so it’s slightly more than $20, but paying an extra $6 to experience the Glacier Hot Pools is worth it! You’ll find yourself bathing in beautiful rainforest and will no doubt rejuvenate your body and soul!

Want to be terrified? The Fear Factory is a live horror experience. If you’re a kid you can experience Fear Factory for only $20 and is well worth this ghost busting tour. The perfect Halloween activity for families!

I love this Puzzling World. It’s an eccentric way to spend your time with rooms of illusion and a rather complicated maze. For the combo of Illusion Room and Great Maze it’s only $20 and a great day out!

An excellent value Queenstown activity, you can go ice skating for only $19! Take to the skates without breaking the bank and for as long as you want. It’s great value for money and is a safe family activity.

If you’re on a budget in Dunedin you can still see the sights of Larnach Castle and for only $12.50. The “peasant’s price” allows you access into the café, gardens and historic outbuildings and stables. A great outing without the price tag!

For a steal at $15, you can play mini golf at an awesome place. I love Caddyshack in Queenstown for its unique 18 holes. It’s great for the young and old and you can take your ball up mountains, buses and airports …

Go for a romantic punt down the River Avon or hire a canoe, kayak or paddle boat for as little as $10 an hour. The view of Christchurch is spectacular and you’ll meet a lot of feathered friends along the way.

Get your groove on at the Dance-o-Mat for only two bucks! Put in your two dollar coin in the laundro-mat machine, select your music and boogie away!

If you fancy seeing Christchurch on two wheels, let me recommend to you, the Vintage Peddler. Home to vintage bicycles and passionate cycling people, you’ll find a bike to love here and they start from $15 an hour.

For $14 - $16 you’ll be on stitches. Scared Scriptless is a hilarious improv show which takes place on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s fast pace and there’s even a little bit of audience interaction …

A Canterbury Museum exhibition, Quake City is an extraordinary display of Christchurch during the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. For only $20, it’s a fantastic exhibition and an excellent way to understand what locals went through during this period.