A lovely café on Birmingham Drive, Pure Café is obsessed with all things clean living. It’s all about healthy food and a balance life at Pure. The staff are very zen and the café is closely associated with the gym which they share a building with, so there’s no avoiding working out before lunch!

When I recently found out that King of Snake does takeaways I almost died! This Thai fusion restaurant is nearly impossible to get in to, but takeaways are available every night of the week. And what better way to spend an evening that dining at home with the best takeaways in Christchurch.

For fresh Thai meals that are truly tasty and reflect traditional Thai cuisine then visit Thai Chili in Methven. Expect friendly service, reasonably priced food, and if you choose to dine in for the evening, there’s also BYO. Hooray!

This Ashburton Chinese takeaway is not what you expect from your everyday fast food joint. Ming Wah uses fresh ingredients and no MSG so you won’t be left feeling sluggish. If you fancy dining in there is a buffet option available too!

This is a great Methven-based Japanese restaurant. The food here is super healthy and super tasty. The Japanese cuisine and sushi bar has really lovely friendly staff and of course they have the rather healthy Japanese rice wine ‘Sake’. Mmm …

Right in the centre of Queenstown, you certainly feel as if you’re in the heart of the activity in this ski town. A very stylish hotel with a great outdoor courtyard (with fire place!) and daily cooked breakfasts to fill you up before a big day exploring and partaking in adventure activities. Oh, and there’s home baked afternoon teas, too!

A wonderfully welcoming and warm retreat for you and your loved one, or the entire family, Hereweka Garden Retreat Boutique Lodge has all the facilities you can throw a stick at, including an espresso coffee machine. A tranquil and peaceful accommodation which is world class.

This place has style. With glass walls, French doors and beautiful wooden decks, you certainly feel as if you’ve stepped onto the pages of Vogue Living. You can choose to eat in or eat out with a gourmet luncheon hamper. A peaceful, indulgent and relaxing place to spend spring in Otago.

This is a place of luxury. This world class hotel has it all from super king size beds, fireplaces and heated mirrors!! Eichardt’s is famous for its lunches and tapas using organic and locally sourced produce, so on the best from this hotel, of course!

A sophisticated hotel offering everything from fully equipped kitchenettes and ski storage to private breakfasts on the balcony and views of paragliders. Located right next to Lake Wakatipu, this is the place to stay in Queenstown, whatever time of year!

A luxurious accommodation provider in Franz Josef, Te Waonui Forest Retreat has the best of the best. Can you believe they have their very own personal pillow menu?! The environmentally sustainable building is warm and cosy and is a great place for the family to relax after a long day climbing the glacier. There are loads of activities to enjoy including native bird watching, horse riding and eco tours.

A warm and welcoming resort, only 15 minutes from the Hokitika airport, this accommodation has it all from a lovely English-style garden, spa and amazing views of the West Coast seascape! And you get free cookies on arrival, nice. A great place for a romantic West Coast getaway.

Want to watch pukekos from your bedroom window? Well you and the fam should definitely stay at Paramata Lodge in Hokitika. Wake up to lovely espresso, home baked bread and jams, and the home cooked meals features produce mainly grown in the backyard.

A luxury boutique lodge, this is a place where you get away from big city life and just relax. The Lodge is a very accommodating place. Your hosts will ensure that your days are packed with activities, from fishing tours, rafting and canoeing to golf and horse riding.

A contemporary holiday cottage set in the heart of North Canterbury, Dry Paddocks Country Retreat offers an accommodation experience like no other. The focus here is on indoor outdoor flow, so expect sunny decks and private outdoor courtyards for the family to enjoy.

This lodge is amazing! It features super Californian-king size beds, LCD flat screens and floor-to-ceiling windows. Located in the Hanmer Basin, this is a place of luxury. The chef cooks everything fresh and feature only local produce. A stunning lodge in a stunning location – that’s hard to beat!

A well hosted lodge in Christchurch, this is a spacious complex complete with a heat pool / spa complex. Expect fresh flowers in your room, chocolate and even a platter of fresh fruit! A great family getaway particularly as Clearview is near Willowbank, the International Antarctic Centre and Orana Wildlife Park.

An amazing crafted log house which looks over Lake Pukaki, this is a very private lodge/resort. If you stay here then you’re never far from civilization, as Twizel is a short drive away. There’s even a world class boating area nearby on Lake Ruataniwha!

Well-known from Lord Of The Rings movie set tours, this luxury lakeside lodge is an incredible place to stay to drink in the beauty of the Southern Alps. Great for spring, summer, winter or autumn, you’ll have fun here all year round. You’ll be located right by a very large pond where you can feed the ducks and fish – a great family activity!

An excellent way to spend time with the kids these school holidays, hire bikes from Fox Glacier Bike Rental and take a trip through the spectacular landscapes of Fox Glacier, the township and the surrounds. Explore rainforest, mountains and glaciers which will have your kids in awe of Mother Nature

Get the kids back in touch with nature with the White Heron Sanctuary Tours. Explore the nature reserve which is located 100km south of Hokitika. Discover the beauty of the White Heron, and if you get lucky you might get to see a mother bird on her nest.

Jump on a horse at South Westland Horse Treks and explore the wonderfully wild West Coast of the South Island. There’s a whole range of experiences to choose from, from one hour long trips to three hour adventure treks. Whatever your kid’s ability, there’s definitely an opportunity for them to build their confidence on a horse.

Take your kids to Ross on the West Coast these school holidays. The little town has a population of only 300 but has had a whole load of history. Originally a gold mining town, the Goldfields Information and Heritage Area has a whole load of information about the heritage of this little spot on the map. A great way to keep the kids entertained.

For the little motorheads in your life, send them to Highlands Motorsport Park. There are loads of cool events your kiddies can participate in, like go karting and they can even wander around the Highlands National Motorsport Museum. This place will keep your sprogs busy all day long.

For a great day out these school holidays head to Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The school holiday programme this summer is epic – there’s a real focus on kids films. The Borrowers, The Lost Thing, Ponyo and Kiki’s Delivery Service are all screened on the big screen. A great way to keep the kids occupied.

There’s loads on at the Otago Settlers Museum these school holidays. A crowd favourite is the ‘Make your own Periscope Workshop’. The kids can build their own periscope from mirrors and recycled materials, then they get to test them out with some awesome periscope challenges.

With over 24 years in the business, Back Country Saddle Expeditions are highly experience horse riding instructors. They use Appaloosa horses bred to the conditions of the Cardrona Valley and is the longest standing operation in NZ! So you can be safe in the knowledge that your kids are in good hands.

Part of the NZ Cycle Trail, Trail Journeys is a great way to spend time with the kids these school holidays. Offering bike hire and guided packages, as well as personal railtrail itineraries and transport, you’ll be well and truly looked after with Trail Journeys.