Whether you are after a new colour for the walls, the right equipment for a job or even just some advice on anything paint, then Taranaki Paint Factory is the best place to visit for your DIY needs. The team here are so versatile with your needs and if you bring a colour swatch in they will match it almost every time! I love that they’re locally owned and operated (and have been for 15 years), it brings a sort of real quality to their service.

Aim Demolition is a place I’ve known about for years and have always thought it’s the perfect place to reclaim the old and turn it into something new. They open at 8am during the week allowing just enough time before work starts to check out what they have. Doors and windows take up the majority of the place, but they also sell little things like assorted door knobs and draw handles. If you’re one of those people who can get absolutely lost in renovation, you will love this place.

Custom Construction are the “property transformers” of Taranaki. When they say they’re customisable, they really mean it. You can even take your own plans to them and their contractors will do their very best to bring those plans to life. Or if you have no idea where to start and want help along the way, they can do the full build and design process from concept, to Council, to completion.

Rapley Flooring is a great little business that caters to any flooring needs. Their jingle on the radio is very catchy, and they have probably persuaded a few people to choose them to do their floors over the competition. They’ve been used for both commercial and residential jobs and have extensive experience with both and the needs of each. Rapley’s stock has a vast amount of styles such as carpets, vinyl, timber and laminate.

Fairview Hawera builds “aluminium windows and doors that are built to last,” and they really do last. 18 years later, Fairview Hawera is still going strong and has continually grown into a leading supplier of aluminium joinery in Taranaki; that’s definitely something to brag about. Their website is so informative too, any info you’re looking for is probably available there it’s so well written. They offer all sorts of products such as sliding doors and windows, skylights, and awning windows.

Gusto is a personal favourite of mine that I’ve written about before. It has been decorated quite lavish inside but it has a sort of chilled out vibe to it. There’s just something about having lunch by the sea that relaxes you and puts you in a good mood. Pair those vibes with Gusto’s delish menu and you’ve got a winning restaurant. When you go in for your brunch on Sunday try the Balsamic Creamy Mushrooms with Bacon; or if you have more of a sweet tooth, go for the French toasted Croissant with wild berry compote!

Annie Kims Cafe is located in the Richmond Centre, and if you’re a lover of good coffee and are a fan of cabinet food, this is the place for you to come for a Sunday brunch. It’s not one of those fancy overpriced cafes either; it’s great to have a casual brunch or even to meet up with friends. They also hang exquisite artwork on the wall that they put up for sale, and I must say I have been tempted to buy some of them!

Butlers Reef is a classic place to come for lunch where you know you’re going to get delicious food every time. Just looking at their menu gets me excited, who doesn’t love a creamy corn fritter with avocado, bacon salsa and sour cream! That to me screams a perfect start to a Sunday morning. Butlers Reef sits in the village of Oakura, which is only a 20 minute drive from New Plymouth; and to be honest, even if it was longer I would still make the drive!

The Ugly Duck is the best place to go for a nice Sunday brunch. The portions are very generous and very well priced. It’s a comfortable place to bring the family or just have a nice lunch to catch up with friends. For lunch it’s open from 11am until 2pm, giving you loads of time to enjoy some quality food and wine. The lunch menu here is amazing! Being a huge lover of salmon, their Salmon Salad is to die for, and they have Eggs Benedict with homemade potato cakes!

The Fat Cow Café is famous in Hawera for their lovely hospitality and splendid food. It’s a great little stop if you’re taking a day trip around Taranaki or even if you live in the area; either way, you will definitely love this place. They have frequent regulars that come in and have such nice staff who are always welcoming. Keeping in with the cow name, they even have a life sized cow right outside the café; a very smart way to attract new customers!

Waiau Country Estate has been a favourite of mine to wine and dine, especially with my dad. We have bonded quite a lot over sampling each other’s food and wine. Waiau is only a couple minutes away from Onaero and about a 30 minute drive from New Plymouth, and take it from someone who has driven those 30 minutes almost five times in a year; the food is amazingly good. There is a huge dining area (indoor and outdoor), also with a ‘wool shed’ where they can host parties and events for you. Take some time out to enjoy the food and browse the gardens.

To me, having a long lunch means ordering a few little things rather than having a big meal in one go; Mexico is a great example of this style of eating. Their menu consists of tacos which are for one person each; and also shared foods like quesadillas and their special Mexico fried chicken. You can order multiple dishes throughout your lunch and no one will judge you! The style creates a real social environment where you can just take a couple hours out of your day to spend time with friends or family in a lively yet relaxed atmosphere.

Manou’s is rustic, unique, and has a fun and inviting atmosphere. I would rate it as being a great family restaurant or an ideal place to host small intimate events. It overlooks the beautiful breakwater and is the perfect place to relax and take in the sights and sounds of the beachfront. It sits right next door to Chaddy’s Charters which would be a great little adventure to go on before you sit down to your long lunch (if there’s anybody that gets sea sick, definitely make it a trip before your lunch!).

The Good home has always been a favourite restaurant of mine to visit. The place is in a way, like a little house on the inside so the theme is all about relaxing, taking your time, and feeling right at home. They’ve just released some new dishes for those vegetarians out there that sound delicious: a Zucchini burger on a brioche bun, tofu salad and a margarita pizza! They have a rear lounge that you can sit with a wine or cocktail and enjoy a meal.

Decanta is a tapas bar located in the CBD so it’s very convenient to get to. It’s also great for doing beer and/or wine tasting which they can host at your request. Pair this with some food and voilà; you have a long lunch with some tasty beverages thrown in. A great way to toast to the fast coming summer that’s on its way! They specialize in tapas so this is another great place where you can order numerous small meals rather than a big one.

Oakura Beach Holiday Park was the place to go when I went camping. I had the sun, the sea, and the sand, that was what summers were all about back then. Now as I’m older I notice the great things about this place. Yes, it has a beach with a rusted shipwreck at the end of it which was amazing as a kid; but it even has a communal kitchen and the internet! So for people like me who work from home, this is a great destination to take your work with you while you relax.

Opunake Beach Kiwi Holiday Park has 98 sites to choose from, whether it be a camping spot, a cabin or a self-contained unit. It’s a great place for the family to have a little vacation and it’s close to the mountain with quite a good view of it too! One thing that’s really cool is they have an artificial surf reef along with a children’s paddling pool with countless picnic tables and BBQs. If the recent cold weather has put you off doing anything outside, come out for a sunny weekend to Opunake!

Onaero Bay Holiday Park is another one of my personal favourites. It’s only a 30 minute drive from New Plymouth, but it’s well worth it. It has picturesque views of the beautiful Onaero River and is the best place to come if you want to get away from it all. The camp site is just a short drive down the road to Waiau Country Estate, a lavishly decorated restaurant with amazing food. The river is beautiful to swim in; it’s also good for fishing and white baiting if you visit in Spring.

Fitzroy Beach Holiday Park is great for those city-dwellers that want to take a break but not travel completely to the middle of nowhere. It’s located on a beachfront location that overlooks the beach and the beautiful Coastal Walkway. Renovations have just been done this year due to new ownership, so all facilities are modern and clean. Adjoining to the grounds is a swimming pool, a playground, and also the 18 hole Links golf course. For you convenience, the holiday park is only 700 metres away from the Fitzroy Village shopping centre.

Patea Dam is run and funded by the South Taranaki District Council, there’s always something special about locally owned sites like this. It’s a very secluded property and is home to New Zealand’s longest man-made lake. It’s been claimed by the locals who have visited Patea Dam that they have the cleanest facilities ever seen at a camp ground, that’s definitely something to be proud of! If you have a love of hiking and want to introduce it to the kids, there is a 40 minute bush loop walk on the other side of the dam.

Chilando is another food store located in the food court of Centre City. It’s quite a recent addition and it’s all about fresh Mexican food. They offer a selection of soft or crispy tacos of two for only $8 or three for just $10.50, that’s very affordable if you split the bill with a friend. And you can add one of my favourite sides, guacamole, to any meal for only $2.50. If you wanted to go down the healthier route, they have “ensalada” options of chicken or steak with slaw, veggies, vinaigrette and toasted pumpkin seeds!

Café Turkey has two stores, one located in the CBD and one in Moturoa. They even have a little food cart they park up in the Huatoki Plaza for the pub crawlers every Friday and Saturday night. They have the most delicious kebabs around. Chicken, lamb or a mix of the two, they will definitely hold a place in your taste buds! The prices are very decent for the size of the kebabs at only $9 for a medium kebab, which is pretty much a large it has so much stuffed in there! My regular is a chicken kebab with onions, hummus and mint yoghurt.

I’ve grown up always appreciating the Windy Point Fish and Chip shop. Despite it being in Blagdon, and a convenient place not far away from my house, the food (and also the prices) was the best we ever had. The range of things you can order is never ending. Paua fritters, Squid rings, even as far as deep fried Moro bars; they have all sorts at cheaper prices than anywhere else. The family who owns Windy Point have always been friendly as long as I can remember; definitely good customer service. There’s nothing like eating fish and chips on the beach in summer, sometimes they even throw a free potato fritter or two in if you’re lucky!

The Back 2 Basics Tea House is a little café that’s opposite Spotswood Primary School. They do great cabinet food and really lovely coffees. I like to stop in here sometimes while I’m waiting to pick my brother up from school. I usually like to sit down on the chairs outside and sip my iced tea with a mini quiche and watch the world go by; it’s rather relaxing. The cabinet is always stocked full of food, unless they’ve had a busy day which is more often than not. It’s quite a cheap place to get afternoon tea but it still has a nice atmosphere, especially in the summer!

Asuka Sushi is less known here but is seriously just as good as any of the best sushi stores in town. There’s something for everyone; salmon, chicken or even spicy tuna, with the average meal price at $5. Asuka is in the food court in Centre City shopping centre, which is really convenient if you’re with friends and you each want something different. They even sell hot Miso Soup which is a great thing to cleanse the palate. What’s really great here is that they sell mini sushi packs consisting of four pieces rather than the usual eight. This comes in handy when you want something to tie you over before dinner time.

Tank is the ultimate raw food takeaway store. Everything in store consists of either raw foods or precooked meats. This store changed the way New Plymouth started to think about food; by having just a Tropical Tank smoothie made up with, pineapple, strawberries, mango, banana and frozen yoghurt, it can tie those hunger pains over for a few decent hours! All this for under 3 grams of fat. And to add to having a fresh fruit smoothie, you could purchase a wrap or a small salad loaded up with delicious vegetables and great tasting dressings. Definitely a favourite place of mine.

Pita Pit is always busy every single time I enter the store; everybody loves it. In a way it’s similar to Subway, but it’s headed in a more Mediterranean direction. There are several pitas you can choose from or you can make up your own as you go along. They cook the meat right in front of you so you know it’s fresh and hasn’t been sitting out all day. You can choose however many vegetables you like and the best bit about this part is you can add on hummus and baba ghanoush! They go so well in the pita, I always ask for extra!

Fresha is a café and deli located just before you hit the one way (On the corner of Devon and Morley Street). It’s a bit on the pricy side of things, BUT you do get what you pay for so that proves the products they sell are true to its name! They sell things that are great to go out and have a nice healthy picnic now that it’s spring time. Things like fancy cheeses, meats, wine, fruit, jams and chutneys, and pre-packaged meals that are ready to eat. The café has delicious food also and is open from 9 to 5 in case you’d prefer to eat in.

There’s not a heck of a lot of healthy places here in New Plymouth, but Noodle Canteen offers a variety of dishes that are healthy, but also not so on the healthy side. They have a large variety of vegetarian dishes that actually sound really nice like the Vegetarian Mee Goreng or the Vegetarian Singapore Noodles with tofu. If you’re more of a carnivore, go for either the Satay Chicken or Garlic Prawns. They don’t skimp on the ingredients either, and the amount you get for the small price; you feel like your stealing from them!

Hong Kong takeaways is a relatively new shop to open. It may look like any other Fish and chip/ Chinese takeaway place on the outside, but inside it holds food that is a lot healthier for you. This is great alternative for people who can’t go without their fried rice and sweet & sour pork as it’s just a healthier option compared to other takeaway shops. They also have the all you can eat option (which I know, isn’t very healthy), but honestly the value for money is worth it. Come in on a cheat day and fill up your plate, three times if you’d like!