Maria R.'s
Beaches & DOC Campgrounds
- 13Waikuku BeachWaikukuMy favourite beach in Canterbury is Waikuku. Great surf, amazing beaches that go for miles and a service station nearby to grab the obligatory ice cream. This place is perfect for camping and picnicking too.
- 22Leithfield BeachLeithfieldA beach that definitely deserves a mention in this list is Leithfield. Great for surfing, swimming, sun bathing, picnicking and camping … this beach has it all. AND it’s very close to one of my favourite cafe, Pukekho Junction!
- 31SpencervilleNorth BeachA favourite spot for Canterbury locals, Spencerville is a classic Christchurch beach. Located at North Beach, Spencerville is the perfect spot for camping or just spending a day. I love the community atmosphere here and close proximity to New Brighton.
- 41Taylor’s MistakeSumnerA short drive from Sumner Beach, Taylor’s Mistake is an absolute classic Canterbury beach. A very secluded area of Christchurch, it’s the best spot for catching a wave or some rays.
- 51Tumbledown BayLittle RiverYou can find Tumblesdown Bay in Little River. It’s a delightful place for a swim. It’s very rarely used by the public so is the perfect secluded spot for the family over the summer holidays.
Maria R.'s
Best classic Kiwi pubs
- 14Hilltop TavernLittle RiverI love the Hilltop Tavern. Not only do they have the best pub views in Canterbury, but their live music and entertainment never disappoints. Their sharing plates are amazing and include polenta fries, salmon bruschetta and calamari.
- 26Pomeroy's Old Brewery InnChristchurch CentralArguably Christchurch’s most loved pubs, I love Pomeroy’s for their old English and Kiwi-style pub fare, service and their amazing selection of craft beers. There’s a pool table and even a small library to relax in.
- 33The Brown PubMethvenIf you want to experience the ultimate in Kiwi hospitality then there’ only one place to go … The Brown Pub in Methven. It’s a true Kiwi pub only selling local beers and delicious Kiwi-style fare. A great place to unwind after a day on the slopes at Mt Hutt!
- 45The Blue PubMethvenThe more sophistiated cousin of The Brown Pub across the road, The Blue Pub is a great spot for dinner, a boogie, watching the big game on the TV screen. The ingredients the chefs use in their meals are always fresh, local and yummy.
- 53Rose & ThistlePapanuiThe Rose and Thistle (aka, The Rat) is an amazing pub, perfect for watching sport on the big screen, great value pub meals (served all day long!), an interesting range of tap beers. The DJs on Saturday nights rock too!
Maria R.'s
Best Classic Kiwi Pubs
- 12South Sea HotelStewart IslandThe South Sea Hotel is New Zealand’s southernmost pub. I love it for it’s fantastic weekend entertainment, live music and quizzes! The fish and chips are some of the best in southland, and the beers are diverse and delicious.
- 22Winton's Middle PubWintonWinton’s Middle Pub is a real hit. I love this pub for its warm and friendly atmosphere, TAB service, bottle store, hotel upstairs and, of course, the amazing Kiwi-style meals. The fish and chips are always the best in town!
- 31Aparima TavernRivertonRiverton’s iconic pub re-opened this after after two closed due to a fire. Now renovated and better than ever, Aparima is the place to be this summer for it amazing bar, game machines, pool table and live music. This place is simply great!
- 41Appleby TavernInvercargillA lovely Invercargill tavern, Appleby is always packed full lof locals and visitors. There are pool tables, large TV screens for watching the latest sports games. The meals are definitely my favourite including chicken kebabs and blue cod served with salad and fries!
- 51Balfour Tavern and MotelBalfourThis tavern is a fantastic place for a few drinks, dinner and then stay the night. The hosts are perfect and always make you feel welcome. The drinks are always strong, delicious and are great to pair with their famous hearty meals.
Maria R.'s
Beaches & DOC Campgrounds
- 14Oreti BeachInvercargillThis beach has a whole load of history – it was the location of Burt Munro’s race track, all 26 kilometre’s of it! In 1957 he set a New Zealand Open Beach record of 131.38 mph on this beautiful beach which is now used for family fun activities like mountain biking and horse riding.
- 23Gemstone BeachOrepukiThis beach is famous for its ever-changing state. From sand and stones to storms and tides, there’s always lot happening at one of my favourite beaches in Southland! You can even find quartz and garnet on the beach – a fun activity to be had!
- 32Monkey IslandInvercargillMonkey Island is a beautiful place to spend Christmas. The island has a lot of interesting history and is a favoured spot for freedom campers. The island can only be reached by foot at low tide is a very excluded place for a picnic or camping!
- 41Maori Beach CampsiteStewart IslandThis Stewart Island campsite is truly superb! The sandy dunes, vast open spaces and spectacular beach are the perfect places to spend time with friends and family.
- 54Mavora Lakes ParkTe AnauThe location of the Lord of the Rings filming, Mavora Lakes Campsite is my favourite place to camp. There are mountains, beech forest and grasslands to marvel at, and there are beautiful native birds to watch too.
Maria R.'s
Best Kiwi Pubs
- 17Theatre Royal HotelKumaraA classic Kiwi pub slash hotel, I love the Theatre Royal in Kumara for its awesome service, décor and gold mining history. The starting point for the Coast-to-Coast and on the track of the South Island’s West Coast Wilderness Trail, there’s a lot to love about this place!
- 23Pioneer HotelHokitikaThis Hokitika pub has been around since 1866 making it one of the country’s oldest pubs in New Zealand. Expect old fashioned service plus amazing pub food at the Pioneer. I love this old style pub!
- 31The Recreation HotelGreymouthI love this hotel and pub for its genuine Kiwi hospitality. Expect to be greeted with a smile on arrival every time without fail. And if the night at the pub gets a bit much for you then you can stumble out of the pub and into one of the 30 self-contained rooms upstairs!
- 42Jackson's Historic TavernGreymouthThere is no better place to spend your time in the winter than at Jacksons Pub. The roaring fire and delicious beverages will keep you warm and toasty on a wild West Coast day. You’ll love the amazing range of pub food too – their steaks are epic!
- 52Star TavernCape FoulwindAn amazing pub located near Cape Foulwind, there is a lot to love about Star Tavern not to mention their amazing mince nachos, free pool table, jenga and even ping pong (yes, really!).
Maria R.'s
Beaches & DOC Campgrounds
- 16Hokitika BeachHokitikaHokitika Beach is my favourite West Coast beach. Located right next to the township, the beach is a beautiful place for a picnic or bonfire – it’s covered with driftwood, shells and stunning New Zealand jade.
- 22Bruce BayFox GlacierA small and private bay, Bruce emerges from the forest canyon so you can expect only one thing … a beautiful coastal view of the Tasman Sea. I love the wildlife and birdlife in the area and is the perfect pit stop on your West Coast highway drive.
- 32Okarito Lagoon and BeachOkaritoOkarito Lagoon is huge unmodifed wetland, and I love it! The coastal lagoon is home to an amazing number of bird species which I thoroughly enjoy watching in their natural habitat. There are kayak and eco-tours to partake in too!
- 41An aswesome swamp forest to truly experience the West Coast and all its wonders, I love this part of New Zealand. The remote Monro Beach is home to penguins during winter and spring so make sure you keep a watchful eye out for them!
- 51Jackson BayHaastThe farthest point of the West Coast’s road network, Jackson Bay is a perfect spot to spend the day. I love the fishing port as it’s a fantastic spot to catch crayfish. It’s in isolated spot of the West Coast and is great for taking time out over the summer break.