The Coastal Walkway is another popular choice of fishermen, I’m not sure if they catch a lot but I have a sneaky suspicion it has something to do with the spectacular view; especially if they’re there before the sun so they can watch it rise. Of course they’d have to get their feet wet as the line wouldn’t go far at the top of the rocks, but this just makes the experience more “real” and genuine.

By far the most popular spot to bring kids to fish, or even if you’re a beginner just starting out with the sport, Lee Breakwater is the place to come. There are several spots such as the end of the wharf, or even jet out on a boat just outside the breakwater, but the main area is the floating jetty where you can simply sink a line and wait for fish to bite. Hunting and Fishing is just round the corner so you can just scoot round to them if you need any advice!

Onaero Beach is somewhere peaceful to come and get your catch of the day. One thing that is really special is if it’s in the right season, you can fish for whitebait! Pure NZ white gold, it could give the average fisherman some great return on his efforts, or he could freeze it for later when the fish are gone! The views are amazing on cloudless days.

Waitara River Mouth is a kind of hidden gem for fishing for those who are unfamiliar to the Waitara area. There are always locals down there trying to get their fill, and why not? The river mouth has an abundance of different species of fish, especially kahawai. Be aware that this river doesn’t advise swimming so use it as a great fishing spot for yourself and a few mates.

Iona Dairy is the very epitome of ice cream heaven. From the outside it may look like your average run-of-the-mill dairy, but inside it has many different flavours; some that I’ve never even heard of before! My favourite will always be Cookies & Cream, but they have a Maple flavour that I tried not too long ago and I thought I had found a new love! The value for money is really worth it, the ice cream really gets packed on top of the cone!

Lush is the King of desserts, having won several awards for their gelato to date; their Rum and Raisin flavour won a silver award in 2010 and Irish Cream won silver in 2011. It’s such a great place to visit if you’re a sweet tooth as you can have gelato while you’re there sitting out in the sun, or you could take a tub or two home with you. Grab a half a litre for only $8 or a one litre for only $14, that’s quite cheap for such great quality.

Paradise Valley Berry Farm is the ultimate place to go for anything Berry related. They make their own ice cream from the berries they grow on the property, with no nasties and hidden chemicals or preservatives. I love how you can go and actually pick your own produce; they grow strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and blueberries! At only $4.50 per tub, your ice cream can be any one of those flavours or a mix of all four.

Tinklebell is similar to Mr Whippy, and is a well-known ice cream truck by kids and adults of all ages. The truck does the rounds in the more common summer months and also in March when the weather hasn’t completely cooled off yet. It also does gelato and frozen yoghurt too if you were in the mood for something different. With ice creams starting at a dollar, it’s a very affordable way to treat the whole family.

The Black Harp’s take on fish and chips is a little bit different; fancy could be another word to use! First of all, they don’t batter the fish (which I love sometimes!), it’s pan fried and seared to perfection. And I have three words: Lemon Caper Butter. It’s also served with a slaw and hand cut chips. It sounds mouth-watering, and for only $25.80! They do still cover the classic beer battered fish and chips, but I personally want to try this pan fried version!

Port View Takeaways is one of my favourite takeaway shops to get my fill of fish and chips. I don’t know what it is about this place, it could be the batter, the actual fish, or the oil they cook it in, but the fish just tastes amazing whenever I order from there. Another thing I love is that the chips are always crispy and aren’t brown and soggy like some places are known for. Great that it’s so close to the beach too!

Stumble Inn is a well-loved bar and restaurant in the Merrilands area. They do a fish and chips that is your classic ‘pub grub’ meal, but the quality of every meal is unfaultable. If succulent Gurnard with a beer batter coating isn’t enough to get you interested, you can also choose between a green salad or their signature coleslaw to go with your fish and chips. And of course every fish and chips needs to have tartare sauce on the side!

This is another one of my top takeaway shops in my area. Spotswood Takeaways, especially on a Friday and Saturday night, are always busy; even into the wee hours of the night. This is a fantastic place to come if you’re planning a picnic or just a simple ‘fish and chips on the beach’ type of lunch. Now that it’s basically summer, the demand for this shop only gets better, as more people want that Kiwiana experience of eating some battered fish on the beach with a side of chips.

Salt for me is like the fancy restaurant of Taranaki. The presentation, food, decoration and service are all very 5 star (even if it is only 4 stars). They serve you fancy meals that aren’t just for a tiny piece of meat; there’s actually something substantial on the plate, and that’s what I love most about this place. It’s also very convenient to have a hotel attached to it for a nice weekend away from it all, or just for an overnight stay.

If you’re looking for a place to get very generous portions that are actually affordable, Lone Star would be the place to go. What I love is that they offer half sizes on their menu for a cheaper price; and for someone like me who can’t fit in as much as I used to, this is such an amazing thing! The Johnny Cash Stash is a popular dish with single or double stuffed chicken breast served with their famous buffalo chips and coleslaw.

Arborio has won my heart as one of the best Italian restaurant that I’ve been to. I actually have a new favourite dish here; the creamy balsamic mushrooms with feta and rocket pesto (if you’re feeling naughty they also let you add bacon). Arborio have even won an excellence award this year for their quality beef and lamb! Another benefit of this restaurant is that they have enough space to host a wedding of up to 170 people seated, and it would be such a beautiful reception with the views; and of course the food!

Okurukuru just screams peace and tranquillity just by where it’s situated, which is pretty much smack bang in between Oakura and New Plymouth. It’s definitely well worth the drive out, because it my opinion, this is one of the best places to have lunch, dinner or to host an event. It’s a family owned business so you can tell with that the service will be impeccable but friendly. Because the restaurant is located on a vineyard, they make and serve their own wine which is such a lovely touch.

India Today has won several awards for themselves every year since they came to be in 2008; and once you taste their food, you will agree with the critics. Whether you want a vegetarian, seafood or meat curry, you have a variety of choices they have on offer. If you’re not in the mood for a curry, they also do plenty of other Indian meals such as Tandoori chicken pieces, a platter for two, and salads! It’s very easy to see why they have been one of our top restaurants for years on end. They also deliver if you want the Indian experience to enjoy at home!

The Mayfair is the most recent place I’ve discovered that does great pizzas, and at such affordable prices as well. This place also doubles as a night club on the weekends; it would be perfect to come in on a Saturday night with friends for a pizza date then dance the night away afterwards. They have this pizza there called Pizza of Pi with tandoori chicken, cashews, minted yoghurt and mozzarella, if that doesn’t sound mouth-watering I don’t know what will!

Numero Uno is a local pizza shop that gives quality service and pizzas every time, it’s one of those places you can always count on. It defiantly lives up to its name, Numero Uno meaning number one in Italian; and it’s so good, I’m writing about it twice! They have a giant menu board on the wall consisting of so many pizzas; every time I go I want at least three different ones, but I always get the Butter Chicken!

Hells Pizza is a classic favourite throughout all of New Zealand, and New Plymouth is no exception to that. They’re always coming up with new offers and specials for their customers and have a giant following. Their pizzas are delicious, I have they Mayhem then add on pine nuts, mushrooms and chilli, it’s hot but I like it that way; that’s the great thing about Hells, you decide what you want, and they can deliver it on your pizza.

El Condor will change the way you think and feel about pizza forever. I can still remember my first encounter, I had the Pollo – chicken and fresh tomato with guacamole on top. They have 13 different pizzas to choose from, each one I could eat and be totally satisfied. They do vegetarian options as well as a 3 cheese pizza with blue vein, mozzarella and parmesan. What I love is that they do thin crust pizzas, they’re my favourite!

Being a café, you wouldn’t expect this place to be open for dinner, but Sugar Juice Café is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and they do amazing pizzas! Visitors have described the café to be quirky addition to the Opunake area, and the food is just delectable. The décor is quite retro looking but it makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. The pizzas are all home-made that they stuff full of ingredients, and the small size would be the size of a large back in town!

The Snug Lounge specialises in Japanese food cooked off of a Yakitori grill, as well at first class cocktails (which some of them are even Japanese themed). It’s perfect place to go for first dates as it has a relaxed atmosphere. If you’ve been seeing your date for a while, and you have enough confidence, try the Snug Lounge Chow Down which is all you can eat for only $29.50!

Italian food just seems to ooze romantic no matter where you go, and Bella Vita is no exception. For one, the atmosphere here is so lovely, I would be comfortable in any situation, it’s so great to come here with your partner and take in all the décor. I LOVE seafood, and their Seafood Linguini is literally to die for, I wanted more after my first serving because of how delicious it was, despite me being so full!

Marinovichs is like a gourmet fish and chip shop. You can dine in for a nice romantic seafood night, or even take the meal away and go eat it on the beach; the weather is getting nicer after all. Either way, it will definitely add a romantic touch to your date night. I love their Fish Burgers, which is something I wouldn’t usually go for, but they are so good! They also do oysters which are a well-known aphrodisiac.

Juliana’s Restaurant is a little more on the expensive side, but is THE place to go if you love delicious meals and don’t mind spending a few extra bucks. Juliana’s is the restaurant in the Auto Lodge, so you know it’s going to be fancy. The even come round with a giant grinder and ask if you want cracked black pepper! I had the Salmon from here, which was meant to be an entrée but they gladly ungraded it to a main for me.

Portofino’s is another one of my favourite Italian restaurants to go to. It’s a small place but it’s nice and cosy; perfect for any kind of date, whether you’ve been together for years or if it’s a new flame. They stress that it’s a comfortable setting that can be enjoyed for any type of date, from casual to one where you might pop the question! You will be spoilt for choice as the menu is huge, but that’s not to say that they skip the quality, try the Risotto di Pollo, which is chicken and mushroom sautéed with fresh herbs in a tomato crema!