The Tauranga cafe scene has really come up in recent years. Once a sleepy seaside regional town known only for its beach, the city is now bursting with rad cafes, expert baristas and unique coffee roasters.; Fusion Coffee being one of the main contenders. Fusion coffee is bloody awesome; I swear by it. Look our for cafes that serve Fusion, or you can order beans online and have then delivered for free! Support local.

I’m sure almost every Kiwi kid remembers the Hairy Maclary books by Tauranga’s own Lynley Dodd. The Tauranga city council has commissioned a set of bronze sculptures that immortalise some of your favourite characters from the books. The sculptures have been created by artist and Swiss expat Brigitte Wuest who moved her family to NZ in 1999 to work with Weta Workshops on Lord of the Rings… and well she never left! Get down to the site now and visit with Hairy Maclary and his friends.

OK, so writing a bout a beach resort in winter is a bit strange, but the Papamoa Beach Resort have just received the highly sort after Excellence Award from Trip Advisor. Their accommodation is top-notch, whether it be the perfect campsite or a cozy cabin, every little detail is perfect for the budget traveller. Oh and the location is bloody amazing! Papamoa is a stone’s throw from The Mount but is not so touristy and flashy and just a spectacular.

Nourish is a short little trip out of town in Te Puna, and is a great little escape from the hustle bustle. They have a stunning outdoor area, a killer cafe and a great little "corner store" selling gourmet food products. I don’t get out here enough, but when I do I always love it!

Major Tom’s is that secret little hideaway you take pleasure in introducing your friends to. With its endearingly kitsch vintage decoy and awesome live music line-up Major Toms never dissapoints.

The trendiest and the most helpful butchers in Tauranga! These guys know their stuff; and it doesn’t just stop at meat… they can give you awesome meal ideas and great tips on cooking different cuts. I always pop in here I’ve been for a shop at Bayfair, it’s just across the road!

I’m obsessed with the Blackforest Gourmet Butchery. If you're looking for something a bit left-of-centre or even a bit fancy then this is the place to go. It's kind of like a butchers/deli hybrid where you can pick up all sorts of Euroepan goodies such as gourmet sausages, cheese, small goods, salami and tinned goods. Pop in now and pretend you're shopping in Germany.

Cambrian Meats is pretty damn special. Not only a butchery, but also a grocers who specialise in eco-friendly products and organically grown meat and vegetables. It feels good to shop ethically and well it just tastes better too!

An awesome variety of raw and cooked deli meats; but boy oh boy their steaks are really something! Get in there now and taste what all the fuss is about.

Super-friendly guys who have an amazing knowledge of meat. Always happy to have a quick chat about whatever; whether it’s a gossip about some of the locals or sharing an awesome recipe suggestion for dinner.

It’s something that loads of people always talkj about but never actually get round to doing… LEARN TO KNIT! Ok this winter is the time to teach yourself. The place to start is Creative Yarns & Knits; this place is the one-stop-shop for all your knitting needs and expert advice. But if all else fails they also have a rad selection of scarves, blankets and sweaters that have been lovingly knitted by others. There is nothing more awesome than supporting locals crafts people and buying something knitted.

Winter is coming! I know, it sounds foreboding, but really it doesn’t have to be. Get into Creative Heating and sort out some decent heating to keep you toasty over the winter months. They have absolutely any heating solution you can think of from log fires through to under-floor and solar heating, plus much, much more.

OK, forget about the crappy thermal wear in the mainstreet department stores, do it properly this winter and head into Camping & Outdoors to get some expert advice and some top-notch thermal clothing. Whether you want something hi-tech using the latest textile technology or maybe you wanna stick to the tried and tested merino wool thermals, they have a huge selection to get you sorted this winter.

I don’t know about you, but I live in a beautiful little spot nestled amongst bush in a little valley, and yeah it’s fab in summer but in winter it get horribly damp. I went to Harvey Norman to sus out a dehumidfier, and to be perfectly frank was a bit overwhelmed! I honestly have like 30 different models to choose from! The guy that helped me out was great; I told him what I needed and my budget and he lead me in the right direction.

Santa Fe has an awesome product called Thermacell Blinds. I think the name is pretty descriptive; but yeah they hold in the heat using cells, or air pockets in the blinds. It’s like a puffa jacket for your windows! Also they look damn stylish for something so practical. A great investment for insulating your home this winter!

Firstly, who doesn’t love an all day breakfast?! I know I do, I’m so not a morning person. And secondly, yes, this place has wifi AND a little internet cafe corner. Super-popular with the tourists, obviously. A good spot to pop in and flick off an email and grab a feed.

Haha, OK I think Fat Dog Cafe has been on a bout a billion of my lists! But hey, it’s just so good. Yup, they have wifi here, hence me adding it to this list. Awesome atmosphere, food… and FREE wifi! Yay.

OK, so I’m not a Starbucks fan… yes, I am a hipster! But when it comes to a reliable spot to get some wifi, I’ll pop into Starbucks; and secretly order a sweet, giant coffee with loads of cream. Don’t tell anyone!

The second favourite spot for tourists (after the king of all Rotorua cafes, Fat Dog) yes, of course Zippy has free wifi! Another ace place to surf and and get your caffiene fix.

One of my fav cafes. I love that they have free wifi too! Just ask the staff for the password.

This is by far the hottest spot in Rotorua. The brainchild of the Rotorua City Council, Eat Streat is a newly-developed pedestrian-only, covered dining precinct positioned at the lake end of Tutanekai Street. Locals and visitors alike have flocked to the area in record numbers and the development has been a roaring success. This is by the far my favourite place to go to eat and I feel dirty if I even step outside the precinct to eat elsewhere. This place has the buzz of a big European city in a small regional one! Way to go Rotovegas!

Literally one of the "hottest" spots in Rotovegas! Te Puia are now offering a unique lunch experience called "Steambox". You get entry to their thermal valley and an awesome box of steaming kai next to the Pohutu geyser… boy it doesn’t get much cooler (or should I say "hotter") than that! There is one catch… you have to cook the food yourself… in the geothermal earth, known by the Maori as a "hangi". This is handsdown the most amazing lunch experience you’ll ever have.

People don’t often equate Rotovegas with fine art, but damn they should start! Elim Gallery is a great little find amongst the trashy tourist trap outlets clogging up Rotorua’s main streets. Give your eyes and mind a treat and head into Elim and view their stunning collection of artworks.

This has got to be one of the sweetest spots in the Rotorua region. Nestled amongst native bush on the shore of Lake Tarawera, The Landing Cafe & General Store has an amazing casual all-day dining menu that belies its quaint appearance. Whether you want a romantic dinner overlooking the lake and mountain, or you want to pop in for groceries, you’re sure to love The Landing!

I’ve mentioned Rotorua’s new outdoor dining precinct "Eat Streat" many times, so I won’t digress; however I am gonna let you in on a little secret: Atticus Finch. Atticus Finch is the latest addition to Eat Streat, opened quietly but now garnering a reputation that is making A LOT of noise! Atticus Finch offers gourmet cafe-style food, amazing coffee and innovative cocktails. Get down to Eat Streat and check this little gem out!

This place has a huge selection, the decor is pretty spiffy too; not like your usually smelly, cold concrete-encased seafood bars. Their fish is ethically sourced through the Te Arawa Trust. Get in here now and sample the goods!

What I love about this place is if you’re too lazy to cook your own dinner, well they can do it for you. Neptunes is not just a fresh seafood bar, but is also a takeway shop. Their fish n chips are just as awesome as their fresh fish! Yum.

Ngongotaha Ocean Seafoods is in just the right spot, ironically it’s NOT by the sea, haha, but hey this is Rotorua, we have lakes instead. This place is a quick stroll to Ngongotaha Reserve, so you can grab some fish n chip and head to the lakeside, or grab some fresh fish and go home and cook your own.

Te Puke may be famous for Kiwifruit, but damn it should be famous for it’s fresh fish! Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the seafood mecca of Tauranga, Te Puke Seafood is a must for scoring a fresh off the boat seafood bounty.

This Countdown is HUGE and it’s stand-alone seafood bar is awesome. My Mum worked in the seafood bar here when I was a kid, and even though I moaned about her coming home smelling like fish all the time, I never complained when she cooked us up a delicious fish meal!