I love Diacks because not only do they sell epic plants and flowers but they also sell greenhouses and garden sheds, as well as hydroponic supplies. They guys rule the agricultural roost in Southland!

Great staff, excellent nursery, this gem of a nursery is located 25km away from Te Anau. It’s well worth the trip for exotic trees and shrubs, as well as native ferns and ground covers.

A stunning place to explore, I love Maple Glen for their woodland, wetland and nursery. This is the place to get beautiful exotic flowers like Iris and Red Hot Pokers. A real delight!

If you live somewhere cold, damp and dark but still want a beautiful, green and luscious garden then let me introduce you to Pukerau Nursery in Gore. They specialise in cold-hard natives which will turn your garden into an urban oasis!

If you’re after only one thing and that thing is roses then you should most definitely take yourself to Southern Roses. These guys and girls know their roses and are incredibly helpful when it comes to offering advice.

Portstone Garden Centre wants you to love your garden. So they’ve made it easy for you to do so by selling a whole load of awesome plants which are also (mostly) organic! I love their organic philosophy and hard-to-beat customer service.

When I’m thinking plants for my garden there’s only place that springs to mind .. Southern Woods. This rad nursery is huge and the knowledge the team has on botany is unbeatable. The discounted natives are always look too.

Riverside Horticulture is the place to go for all things green for your garden. They specialise in everything from ground covers and grasses to trees and hedging. I love their range of natives!

If you are buying your plants in bulk and want to save some of your cold hard cash then Timaru Wholesale Plants is a great place to go. If you’re lucky you may find yourself stumbling across one of their epic sales.

This place is the best if you’re looking for anything from roses to tomato plants. They sell seeds, seedlings and full grown plants, along with all the tools and equipment you need to plant them!

An absolutely delightful cafe / restaurant in Greymouth, the portion sizes here are huge and the meals are so delicious. A kind of European / Kiwi mix, Maggie’s does English-style fish and chips (with vinegar) perfectly and their steak sandwiches are superb!

The fish and chips at The Beach Hut Restaurant are to die-for. Probably the best time of the year to dine here is during the warm months, but feel free to brave this restaurant in the winter if you dare! I could quite happily say that these were the best fish and chips I ever had. Thanks TBHR!

With a name like Cray Pot you should only expect one thing … crayfish! And boy, do these guys and girls know how to cook it. The very friendly place will no disappoint and if crayfish ain’t your thing then you can settle on the classic fish and chip option. Either way, you’re going to be impressed!

There’s a lot to say about Woodstock Hotel Restaurant … their meals are fabulous and big; the service is wicked and fast; their decor is old school but pretty darn neat. The Sunday roasts are an absolute highlight and are big enough to share with your buddy.

A fabulous British / seafood restaurant, Ocean View knows how to cook fish, and they’re pretty great at chips too! An excellent establishment to put your feet up, knock back a couple and enjoy the view at Ocean View.

This fantastic restaurant has it all from fast and friendly staff and a lovely wine list to beautiful European-style meals in massive portions and a great decor! If you get the privilege to dine here, let me recommend to you the creme brulee!

If you’re after a touch of Mediterranean-style flavour in Invercargill then you must visit Mevlana Kebabs Restaurant! Whether dining in or taking out, service is always top notch and I find their kebabs are hard to beat. The falafel one is my absolute fave!

A gorgeous and quaint restaurant in Invercargill, Magnolia Tree Cafe is a must visit if you’re craving European-style food in the deep south. Does Scandinavian twice cooked pork belly sound good to you? What about spicy chorizo pasta? Thought so

Buzz is an interesting combination of European and Indian style dishes. Expect meals like seafood, curries, pizza, ribs and salads. I particularly like the pizzas which come in all sorts of flavours but my favourite is DEFINITELY the salmon and cream cheese.

An utterly delightful European style restaurant in the heart of my favourite town Te Anau, Josswood is a great place to dine. I particularly like the pizza and pasta options and the soup of the day is always delicious, whatever the flavour.

This restaurant is truly impressive! The Spanish tapas are superb and so are the cocktails and extensive wine list. I love the impeccable service and stylish decor here - just take a word of warning … make sure you have a reservation before you show up!

A stunning classic European-style restaurant in Wanaka, there isn’t much this place doesn’t have. With spectacular views, a superb chef and amazing menu, there is a lot to love about this place! I’m totally obsessed with their approach to food … it’s all about local and ethical here!

This place is so popular you’ll be lucky to get a seat if you don’t book ahead. The Italian food here is truly authentic and the Italian wine list is impressive. My favourite dishes are the gnocchi and tiramisu - classic Italian dishes!

This place is SO good. Always packed with people, that great thing about Riverstone is that you’ll always find a seat whether it’s inside or out. The chef’s tasting menu is a highlight and so are the peacocks outside!

I love the pizzas at Zucchini Brothers. The sophisticated restaurant caters to everyone and their pizza oven is the highlight of the space. Churning out beautiful pizzas every minute, you’ll be hard pressed to find your favourite flavour - my favourite is the salmon!

This elegant restaurant in the heart of Christchurch is a favourite of mine for their top notch service, food, wine and cheese trolley. Expect only the best here. In terms of dishes, my favourite is the citrus cured salmon … it’s divine.

This restaurant is truly delightful. The free range chicken with truffle polenta, mushroom and pink peppercorn sauce will blow your mind! The atmosphere in this tiny restaurant is always fantastic too.

Cortado is a fantastic Spanish-inspired restaurant in Beckenham. I love it for their fast and delicious lunches and awesome service. If I’m there for dinner I always go for the ceviche as it super fresh.

A European / Kiwi restaurant, expect awesome service and super delicious meals. EVERYTHING is made on site here (including the ice cream!). My favourite dishes are beef short ribs and pork belly.

I love Belgian Beer Cafe! Not only do they have an amazing selection of European and Belgian beers, but their food is some of the best European fare in Christchurch. I love the braised pork shin the most.