What a delight. A pop-up shop open until Christmas in Goddards Arcade, central Tauranga full off ephemera-inspired replica, vintage, whimsical and Victoriana gifts and managed by wholesaler www.littlelane.co.nz

The annual Christmas Light Trail showcases the best of the Bay’s festive lights from Waihi to Te Puke. It’s best to drive out at dusk to catch them glowing in their best light.

Welcome Bay Vets put on a wonderful festive show transforming into a glittering animal-lovers theme every night. There’ll be dog-o-claus and his dog-deers with a sled full of doggie treats. Fluro cats, rocking chair ponies and a candy lane add to the show.

Plover Place turns on the community spirit every Christmas when the cul-de-sac turns into a colourful fairy wonderland.

The suburb of Bethlehem boasts a name signifying the birthplace of Jesus – the Post Office is a great place to get your cards posted – and the biggest Christmas tree in the Bay, which takes pride of place in Bethlehem Town Centre.

This relatively new Four Square in Papamoa East is fantastic value for the community. Not only does it have the local beachy-family crowd in mind with good competitions and specials it’s got a very friendly crew and good coffee. Fresh produce, good selection of wine and more than the basic supplies.

Great local grocery store with very friendly and helpful staff. They stock most supplies and being right in popular Greerton Village it’s busy.

Although this great store is just a stones throw from big daddy New World its perfectly situated for a quick park to pick up a few things without queuing or fighting supermarket trollies. It’s right next to a am amazing fresh produce shop too.

The only dairy servicing the crowd at both Mt Maunganui Main Beach and Pilot Bay. Just the place for ice creams, sweet snacks and crisps, as well as the staples and the morning newspaper to have with your coffee.

Another good local, especially for cold drinks and ice creams with lots of freezer space. It’s the nearest food store to Papamoa Domain and surf beach so it’s very popular. Easy pull-in parking of the main road.

It’s the local food supplier for this beach side country village and right on The Water Ride Cycle pathway around the coast to Te Awanga and Clifton. I remember it for big ice creams.

Best known for its fish n chips it’s also the local store. After a day at the beach call in and feast on fish n chips on the outside tables. There’s plenty of ice creams and cold drinks on offer too.

Just the best little supermarket in the beach-side town. It has all the basics, fresh coffee, pastries and a good selection of fresh produce and deli items.

The local for organically-source and BioGro certified produce. Stocking fresh fruit and vegetables, dry and bulk goods as well as gardening, herbal and pet products.

A great country general store and tea rooms which masquerades as the post office. A delightful piece of olden times in a historic village and the place for provisions.

Perfume Point appropriately named after the historic abattoirs that used to reside here, although there’s no trace of them now, and the Ahuriri foreshore have extensive grassed areas to set up for a barbecue. There’s room to kick a ball around, cycle on the paths and picnic and barbecue by the north end rocks and lighthouse. The channel is an ideal place to throw a line in and the Ahuriri beach is small, but one of the few sand-covered ones around the city.

Stunning views across from Mahia Peninsula to Cape Kidnappers, sunny Hawke’s Bay weather (mostly), the sound of crashing surf and ease of accessibility make the free barbeques, landscaping and picnic tables near the Manga Pacific water feature and kid-friendly area a must for a family barbeque. With more revamp going on along Marine Parade right now it’s only going to get better.

This long stretch of pebble beach has expansive grassed areas at the Napier end. There’s numerous spots to erect a barbecue and depending how the surf is rolling it can be a spectacular spot for surf casting and swimming and safely controlled by lifeguards in the summer months. On a calm day you can see across from Napier Hill all the way to Mahia Peninsula.

Tucked away behind the Waimarama Beach Surf Lifesaving Club is the domain, with public toilets, showers, playground and barbecues. After a day surfing, building sand castles in the white sand and swimming the calm oasis of the domain is ideal to wash away the day and fire up a big nosh on the barby.

One if the most stunning beaches in Gisborne. Its urban and accessible and absolutely stunning with views across to Young Nicks Head. It’s classed as a safe swimming beach with a wide grassy foreshore so is ideal for a barbecue.

There’s some wonderful gas-fired barbecues under the trees near the mini golf. And there’s so much to do in this park for kids and a fantastic place by the estuary to relax. For visitors there’s overnight freedom camping further along past the rowing club for the first-in six self-contained camper vans.

Just along from the mad-frenzy of main beach are free gas-fired barbeques, and you’ll find them on three spots right from through to Tay Street on the roadside foreshore It’s a wonderful spot to pull in for a meal on the griller. It’s first-come first-served but you can take your gas barbecue to any park, reserve or foreshore - just no open fires.

Patrolled by lifeguards, this beautiful sandy beach has all the amenities at hand. You can picnic or set up a barbecue under the big pines on Papamoa Beach Reserve. Depending on the swell coming in it’s a great space for surfing, body boarding and swimming.

A heavenly retreat just out of Tauranga city alongside the lake. It’s perfect for a picnic or barbecue. There are several gas-fired barbecues in the park.

With views across the harbour to Mount Maunganui Mauao and sheltered from the predominant westerly winds it’s a truly amazing spot. There are a couple of public barbecue one near the toilet block, another close to the front gate. The beach can be tidal so isn’t the best for swimming.

This is a great country pub, family-owned and some good ‘ole Irish hospitality with an extensive menu and something for everyone, without being overwhelming. There’s a choice of seafood and dietary needs are catered for. Even Molly’s Mini Meals, for the under twelves have been thought out. Pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fish bites or for the sophisticated a seafood basket.

There’s always lots on here for grown-ups and kids. It’s a nice open bar/restaurant with a good menu and they have a kids menu for brunch, mains and dessert - even speciality drinks. Okay there’s the, always on the menu, fluffy but what kid could resist a Pink Panther or a brightly coloured Traffic Light.

The East Papamoa cosy local and kids are welcome. Burger, chicken wrap or fish and chips if dad or mum didn’t catch any that day on the beach. Amazing seafood chowder too.

Extended families are very welcome. There’s a senior’s and a kids menu with exotic cocktails of green slime in this ultra family-friendly restaurant with kids toys and entertainment. So may desserts and not too many vegetables to be off-putting kids.

Good options here for anyone as well as families because they take care of everyone and serve up some good nosh. Kids are entertained with activities and colouring placemats. And a menu for young and big kids.