Lisa B.'s
Best Comfort Food
- 12The Tea House on the LakeNew Plymouth CentralThis is the cutest little café in the middle of Pukekura Park, and they’re famous for their amazing Wisteria Fudge! You can just ask to try samples instead of buying any but you’ll seriously want to after you taste it! They have this amazing Panini with cranberry and brie that they cut up into quarters for you, the café has got a really nice homely vibe to it when they add little touches of personality like this. It has a large cabinet filled with delicious looking cakes, pastries and other baking wonders, and in summer when the Festival of Lights is on, they open their kiosk until 10pm!
- 22Mountain CafeInglewoodNoted as the “highest café in Taranaki”, the Mountain Café is situated 1000 metres up Mt Taranaki, giving you a unique and surreal experience. They can provide mountaineers with picnics on their day trips while they are exploring the area and enjoying the scenic forests. They serve freshly baked cakes and muffins from their kitchen daily that would go perfect with a hot chocolate or coffee in the middle of winter. They also provide accommodation for people who want to stay on for a couple of days to fully achieve the mountain experience.
- 31Cafe Botannix at Palmers New PlymouthWaiwhakaihoI’ve been to Café Botannix multiple times in the past year and have never once been disappointed. The staff are all friendly and location of the café is beautiful as it overlooks all the plants that Palmers sells, it kind of makes you think you’re in the middle of nature! The have a really nice menu of breakfast/ lunch items to order, or a full cabinet of food to choose from. I love their berry smoothies, they’re so delicious! Indoor or outdoor, Café Botannix is a great place to sit down and release those winter blues.
- 45The Good HomeNew Plymouth CentralWarm and welcoming is what perfectly describes the Good Home. “Make yourself at home” is their motto that they standby and produce throughout the whole business. A quirky little café and restaurant, they have a letterbox by the front entrance that says ‘Menu please take one’. And the interior actually looks like the inside of a house, with bookshelves and picture frames hanging on the wall, and even a fireplace! This will be sure to warm you up on those cold winter days or nights!
- 53VolcaNo View Grand Cafe & RestaurantInglewoodOne thing about this place is that the coffee is to die for, and in winter it is so much better! I would drive all the way out there for this coffee. If that’s not enough to bring me out of town, the menu will. There are insane amounts of things to choose from, pancakes or waffles for breakfast, and for lunch grab a burger or a seafood chowder. I love how they don’t pretend to be fancy, they just cook from their hearts. They facilitate for the kids so well too, with a playground, pedal carts, and a big food menu; the kids won’t want to leave!
Lisa B.'s
Best School Holiday Programmes
- 11Rumpus Room New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralThe Rumpus Room is a family fun centre that provides several holiday programmes to take the kids off your hands for a while. They strive to ensure that everyone who takes part in the programmes are safe and happy. There are morning programmes from 8.30am to 12.30pm, afternoon programmes from 1.30pm to 5.30pm and the all-day programmes (that include a hot lunch) that go from 8.30am all the way to 5.30 for the extra busy parents. They also accept WINZ subsidies and if you book in before the 27th of June, you’ll get an early bird discount!
- 21Powerco Aquatic CentreHaweraThe Powerco Aquatic Centre in Hawera has a 25metre indoor heated pool, a hydro slide and a 50metre outdoor heated pool. For the kids, it has a toddler’s splash park and an indoor learner’s pool. They run a range of different programmes over the holidays including the Crash Courses, where beginners start to learn the basics of how to swim. The Super Stroke programme focuses on swimmers who are struggling in a particular area, good for kids that want a confidence boost. They also offer a programme called Krazy Kayaks where kids are taught basic turning, paddling and stopping through fun water activities.
- 31Childcare Centre YMCANew Plymouth CentralThe YMCA runs a well-established holiday programme every holidays without fail. The focus on the kids enjoying their time off from school and mix a variety of different activities so everyone is catered for! The YMCA can offer care from 7.30 am, where they provide breakfast for an additional cost, to 5.30pm. The kids can choose activities they know they will have fun doing, if your child is into sport, mountain walks, climbing walls and indoor sports like netball are available to do. They can also travel to other venues such as the Art Gallery and Chaddy’s Charters
- 45Puke ArikiNew Plymouth CentralThere’s a school holiday programme on every single day at Puke Ariki. These programs were designed to stimulate the children’s minds, but also to have fun at the same time. Why not let your child go on the Ruru Scavenger Hunt where the mission is to find certain objects around the museum, there’s even a hunt for the under-5s. Or on Saturdays and Sundays take a tour of the Richmond Cottage that starts at 11am and finishes at 3.30pm, it has lots of information about the settler family life, and the best part is it’s free!
- 51A Simple WishNew Plymouth CentralA Simple Wish is a place where dreams come true for the young ones. They provide programmes in the school holidays that revolve around dress ups, and what child doesn’t love to dress up! On top of this, they can do baking, puzzles, games, and arts & crafts. A Simple Wish also offers themed birthday parties where you can hire costumes and also buy them to take home for memories! All their programmes are Oscar approved.
Lisa B.'s
Where to watch sport on a big screen
- 13Crowded HouseNew Plymouth CentralCrowded House is located right in the middle of the main road through town. It has a really nice atmosphere and is great for the girls as well as the guys. They feature upcoming sports events (including the All Blacks World Cup Games) whenever they are on and have big man-sized meals. Crowded House has ten TVs including a projector, six large plasmas, two 50 inch flat screens and even one in the men’s room! They really have thought about the needs of the man, and they won’t miss a minute of the game!
- 25Treehouse Restaurant and BarNew Plymouth CentralThe Treehouse is a great place to go after work to watch a footy game with a few beers and some great mates. It has two sky decoders and two giant projector screens that are used whenever there is sport on; so all the time in the evenings! It also served gourmet meals from its kitchen of four chefs; my favourite is the chicken and bacon sandwich. It’s a very popular bar and restaurant, and has several weekly game nights, such as bingo on Tuesdays, quizzes on Wednesday and free Pool on Sunday nights.
- 31Icons Sports BarNew Plymouth CentralOpen for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Icons is the well rounded sports bar where everyone is welcome. It sits in the CBD so is easy to get to straight after 5pm if you work in the city. They have a sky decoder and play all the live sport games as well as boxing matches. After the game you can play a game of Pool, or even try some Karaoke! Sometimes they even throw in some half time nibbles when the rugby matches are on, if that doesn’t tempt you I don’t know what will!
- 42Sporty's Cafe BarFitzroyWith a relaxed and sunny outdoor area and a cosy atmosphere inside, Sportys Café and Bar is great in the cold winters and in the hot months of December and January. They serve delicious pub meals to go along with the rugby games they play, pair that with an ice cold beer and you’re set for a great night in with the game. I really like the nachos they have here, but there are so many things to choose from. It’s wheelchair friendly so it’s perfect to bring your ol’ dad for a good bonding session!
- 55Stumble Inn & Cafe MerrilandsMerrilandsSunday roasts go great with watching sporting games, and there is one here every week at Stumble Inn. There is even a playground so it’s suitable for you, your spouse, and the kids. They serve great food to go with your game, from snacks like wedges and pizzas, to full on meals like the surf and turf. I am a sucker for chicken fettuccine and they do an amazing dish of it here. They also have quiz nights which are a laugh then the sports are always on afterwards, so on Tuesdays; it’s a win-win scenario!
Lisa B.'s
Best Italian Restaurants in Taranaki
- 112Arborio Restaurant, Cafe & BarNew Plymouth CentralArborio sits right on the edge of the Puke Ariki Museum, overlooking the coastal walkway. It has a beautiful, Italian inspired menu consisting of pizzas, pastas, and risottos. They do an amazing angel hair pasta dish tossed with tomato, red onion and kalamata olives, topped with basil and parmesan; it’s to die for! The pizza is so good too; they offer a diverse range from the typical Margherita to a seafood and chorizo combination. Arborio also features a special every Monday; if you buy one pizza, you get the next on free, a great offer to take advantage of! It’s a nice Italian restaurant suitable for children, and they offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy free meals. It’s a great spot for a first date.
- 23El Condor RestauranteNew Plymouth CentralThis is one of my favourite places to go to for pizza. It tastes of home comforts but with that twist of something you can’t quite achieve with your own cooking. El Condor Restaurante has been opened since 1993 and is still going strong. They have this amazing pizza called the ‘Pollo’ which consists of chicken, cheese, onion, and fresh tomato served with guacamole on the top; it’s amazing what avocado can do to a simple pizza! El Condor also let you BYO your wine if dining in to make it easier on your pocket, or you can choose from a range of house wines. They offer a takeaway menu which is smaller and have cheaper options for you to devour in the comfort of your own home.
- 33Portofino New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralPortofino’s is a much underrated little Italian restaurant and its intimate dining atmosphere is the best. Their aim is to create Al Fresco dining reflecting Italian tradition with the freshness and abundance of New Zealand. I came here for a friend’s birthday and wow was the food good! I ordered the very popular Chicken Fettuccine which I could not fault, and my friend opted for the cannelloni filled with ricotta and spinach smothered in a tomato and béchamel sauce; it looked mouth-watering. You’ll have to sort out bill payment before unfortunately because there is only one account per table, but on the upside, you know its authentic Italian food when you can’t pronounce half the items on the menu!
- 44Bella VitaNew Plymouth CentralBella Vita is relatively new to New Plymouth, but that hasn’t stopped them from being one of the most fully booked restaurants in the city; so booking will be essential if you want to grab a table. In 2012, they were in the top 10 Taranaki Daily News Top Shop awards. When you walk in, the smell is divine and it just lingers around you. Even if you’re walking past outside, it beckons you in. It has outstanding service as well as reasonable prices for what you’re getting which is a very decent portion! The bruschetta with tomato salsa is a popular starter that is delicious, and for a main, the aged scotch fillet is a definite top pick of mine.
- 53Numero Uno Euro PizzasStrandonNumero Uno Euro Pizza sits just outside of the CBD in Strandon. It’s famous for its green, red and white painted building that are the colours of the Italian flag. Open for lunch and dinner, this is a great place to go to for pizza. They have lots of different varieties and sizes of pizza, even featuring an Indian Butter Chicken pizza! But their main speciality is Italian inspired pizza, very generous portions too! The service is always friendly and there’s not much of a wait time for the food to be ready. I would go there any day as it’s become one of my sneaky dinner spots!
Lisa B.'s
Indoor Activities for Kids
- 12Chipmunks Playland & Cafe New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralChipmunks is the ultimate kids playground. If you’re a busy mum that has too many things to do in the school holidays, this is the place to take your kids. Chipmunks provide all day care for your children aged from 0 to 11 years old. Even if you’ve got a free day to spend with the kids, there’s a café with many places to sit including an adults area upstairs to watch your child run wild! They not only provide daily care, but can also host birthday parties and have several packages sizes available at great prices! It’s always filled with laughter, and is a trustworthy and safe place to leave your kids.
- 22Naki Nitro Indoor KartingBell BlockIf speed is what your child’s into, this is the perfect place to bring them. Naki Nitro Indoor Karting is just mini motorsport in a safe, controlled environment. They really accommodate for everyone with the Cadet karts for kids aged six to nine, the Racer karts for ages ten and up, and even dual karts for the younger children to ride with their parents. The track is over 140m long, and with the benefit of being indoors, can be enjoyed in any weather. Naki Nitro is ideal for birthday parties for your little adrenaline junkies, big or small!
- 39BowlaramaNew Plymouth CentralBowling has been a favourite for kids for as long as I can remember, and Bowlarama not only has sixteen bowling alleys, but it also features an eighteen hole black light mini putt course! There’s always been something awesome about wearing white under a black light and seeing everything glow, that’s the experience with this mini putt course. If that’s not enough to tempt your kids, Bowlarama also has included two pool tables, air hockey and an arcade games area. Bring out your inner child and spend a day here with your kids, guaranteed to make them behave for the rest of the night!
- 42New Plymouth YMCANew Plymouth CentralThe YMCA is a fantastic environment to trust with your kids. They have a range of activities for kids aged from preschool to help develop their learning and cognitive skills, including the Kindy Gym held in the Indoor Stadium. Conveniently, it also offers before and after school care to agree with your work schedule. If sports are a hobby of your child, that’s no problem, the YMCA can provide popular sports such as badminton, soccer, basketball and squash. Don’t forget about the holidays! The YMCA has various programmes starting from 7.15am through to 5.30pm that enable the children to attend outings every day like swimming, the cinema, arts and crafts, and also trips to out of town venues like Topec and Stoney Oaks. They also allow some costs to be subsidised through WINZ.
- 52Event Cinemas New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralA classic favourite with the kids, the cinema or ‘the movies’ is what it’s more casually called, was one of the most exciting experiences for me as a kid. Going somewhere that had a giant TV bigger than the whole living room at home was a real treat. Located in the middle of New Plymouth CBD, Event Cinemas has 5 viewing rooms, including an upstairs 3D projector. It always has up do date and exciting new releases for your kids to spend on a rainy winters day. And after the movie there’s still more fun with the arcade game area. Recently remodeled, it’s a modern and fun venue that hosts a variety of ‘mini games’ such as Air Hockey, car racing simulators and the claw games.
Lisa B.'s
My top 5 favorite restaurants
- 13Mexico New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralLively, warm and vibrant. These three words explain exactly what Mexico Restaurant is all about. With their shared food experience, it gives a sense of intimacy and ‘what’s mine is yours’. The food is unbelievably good, they provide a vast range of authentic Mexican food (with spice optional) and it leaves a great first impression. Not only is the food amazing, but they have over 70 different tequilas to sip, shoot, or through into your favourite cocktail. One thing they haven’t skimped out on is the decor, the walls are covered in Mexican dancers, sugar skulls and old Mexican art. They are open for both lunch and dinner, seven days a week so make sure to try a prawn taco or two!
- 23Kassaba RestaurantNew Plymouth CentralThe perfect place to try Turkish, Mediterranean or even Egyptian food, there’s no where else like it. Located on Gover Street in New Plymouth’s CBD, it’s an easy walk for after work or if your planning on going out after dinner. I like to think of this place as an undiscovered gem in the city, as it is extremely underrated. They offer buffet style or a la carte menu, boasting heavily on ethnic food to encase your taste buds.
- 35GustoNew Plymouth CentralIf you want sea views while enjoying dinner with a nice glass of wine, Gusto is the place to be. It is very relaxing to be eating one of their scotch fillet wellington, or the pan roasted chicken breast and watch while the sun goes down. Gusto stresses a really nice atmosphere that’s welcoming and warm, with amazing breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even acts as a wedding venue.
- 44India Today Bistro & TandoorNew Plymouth CentralIndia Today is the very best and most authentic place to go for Indian curry and cuisine. You are guaranteed a great meal every time, no matter if it’s a famous Chicken Korma curry or the more underrated mixed platter. They also have a large selection of vegetarian and seafood dishes available. The service is impeccable and they always make sure the meal is up to your standards. To enhance your experience here, they have decorated their restaurant beautifully with tables and chairs actually imported from India. You’ll almost think you’ve caught a free trip to India itself!
- 513Elixir CafeNew Plymouth CentralLocated almost right next door to Event Cinema, Elixir cafe is the best little place to go before or after the movies for dinner or a late night dessert. They make the best baked New York Cheesecake I have ever tried, pair that with a delicious meal and a caramel latte and you’re all set for a great night in. Elixir like to used free range, locally sourced and sustainable products, creating an experience of home away from home. You can bring along the kids for lunch time as there is a kids menu and they even host live bands at night and allow BYO after 6pm.