Who doesn’t love sushi? Especially if the sushi is from Hikari Sushi on George Street. The inspiring flavours will have you coming back every lunchtime for your fix. Our favourite is Teriyaki Chicken Rice Paper.

For a cheap food fix, Aurora Cafe has some excellent options - from toasties, sushi and pies to roasted vegetable salads, cheese rolls and soup. Based in the heart of the Mosgiel CBD, this handy little spot is a great place to catch up with friends.

A buffet restaurant, you’re bound to find something that will make you happy! There’s a great choice of salads, sushi and hot food (steak and fish chips) as well as an impressive range of Chinese, Japanese and Thai meals.

Not only a great little hotel, Ocean Beach is also a bar and restaurant. A great spot for travellers on a budget. The service is prompt and friendly too.

Located in the Warehouse is a cheap little cafe that is great if you need to rest your weary legs from too much shopping. The fish of the day is a local favourite and the coffee is pretty good too!

The slightly kitsch interior, friendly staff and hustle bustle of Joyful make this somewhere fun to come for dinner with friends. Head along once and you’re bound to head back again.

Located next to the picturesque Avon River, grab a cheap bite to eat at this lovely cafe before jumping in a kayak. The cafe food is super good and the place is always packed with tourists and locals. There is even a resident cat to hang out with!

Sitting next to the Untouched World clothing store (which is all about sustainable fashion – awesome!) is the stunning Untouched World Café, where the focus is on organic food, made using fresh, local produce. You can be sure that the food here is flavoursome, since all of the produce used is harvested at its peak.

Keo Thai is a fantastic and el cheapo restaurant! As well as having a good selection of beer and wine on offer, Keo Thai is BYO, and if you’re after a perfect venue for a big group dinner, this is the place – you can even book out your own private dining room.

This is a craft shop / craft classes venue / (as the name suggests) café. Not your ordinary café, here you can hire a sewing machine and work away on altering an op shop find or fixing your dress hem while you sip on a flat white (made using Hummingbird beans) and eat a macaroon.

Part of Heartland Hotel Croydon, you’re in good hands at Blazing Copper. With a great range of meals and bar snacks, there is something for every budget. Try the seafood chowder ($13) or Chicken Bombay Aloo ($14.50).

A very laid back cafe in Gore, Howl at the Moon has quite possibly the best name of any business in Southland! The food is famous for being delicious and reasonably priced - the homemade pies are a favourite.

Open all day (and night long), First in Windsor should be your stop for cheap and tasty goodies. Choose from anything from a shared cheese platter, set menus for one or two people, bruschetta steak and chicken cannelloni.

Health and environment are two key themes at Niagara Falls Cafe. The locally sourced produce is hand-picked by the owners and everything (bread and slices included) is baked on site! Located right by the countryside, enjoy the fresh southern air alongside a nice coffee and good hearty food.

A great family lunch spot, Magnolia Tree has recently been renovated. Try the French toast with crispy bacon, blue cod or just the hot chocolate with cake. The reasonably priced food will have you coming back for more!

For something cheap and delicious, Stella Cafe has a great selection of pastries and sweets. For something a little more hearty and easy on the pocket, go for their famous omelettes!

On your drive through Arthurs Pass, stop at Wobbly Kea Cafe for some eggs on toast ($9.50) or soup of the day ($12.00). These cheap meals will fill you up to keep you go until you reach the West Coast. Be sure to take around Arthurs Pass if you can - it’s a beautiful spot.

For fish and chips by the sea, Dulcies Takeaways should be number one on your list. The fish is fresh and the chips are perfectly cooked. The simple decor and menu is deceiving - you won’t be disappointed!

Built way back in 1870, this place has a whole load of history. Offering kids meals seven nights a week (plus goodie bag!!) as well as amazing deals for the adults (two for one Tuesdays and all you can eat Fridays!) this is the place to spend your evenings if you are a bit short on cash..

Warm up in the beautiful Glacier Hot Pools this school holiday. The kids will love you for it! Located in (literally) a rainforest you and your kids will relax and under wind before school starts again!

With an amazing selection of objects and photographs all relating to the West Coast’s history from 1850 to 1940, Shantytown is an attraction that will inspire and amaze. There’s a particular focus on the area’s gold rush period and you even get the opportunity to mine for your own gold!

A fun family experience, treat your kids these school holidays with a treetop walk in Hokitika. Start your walk in the bush cafe which also marks the start of your treetop walk. Fun times all around!

Speed your way down the rugged West Coast beaches on a quad bike and feel the adrenalin pump through your veins! This activity is bound to get the heart racing and is the perfect way to spend quality time with the kids in the school hols.

There are some fun school holiday activities on at the Invercargill Public Library. What are these activities you ask? Well there’s a make your own instruments workshop, storytelling sessions and a make your own board game workshop!

Check out some of the fun education displays and activities at Southland Museum and Art Gallery. Although there is no dedicated school holiday programme, you’re bound to be educated and entertained anyway. There are some fun visual art workshops to participate in which will have you wanting more!

The Southland Aquatic Centre, aka Splash Palace is a whole load of fun for the whole family these school holidays. The school holiday programme including organised activities is a must for any energetic kid.

The largest museum of retro trucks in the world, this place is well loved by kids and petrol heads the country over. At present there are 230 trucks and 150 petrol bowser. The museum is by appointment only.