Lisa B.'s
Best Fried Chicken
- 12Deluxe Diner New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralIf you are really in the mood for greasy fried chicken but you wanna feel like you have a bit more class, Deluxe Diner has one of the best Southern Fried Chicken Burgers I’ve ever tasted! It feels like it’s been double dipped in batter to get that extra crunch that all fried chicken meals deserve! This burger comes with all the salad trimmings, and a strangely good mango and peach chutney!
- 25Blagdon Hot Bread BakeryBlagdonBlagdon has a special something in their shop, not only do they do amazingly seasoned fried chicken, but they give you the option of having it on its own, in a snack box with chips, or in a bun with lettuce, mayo, and cheese to give you the ultimate hangover cure! Although this is probably some of the greasiest fried chicken, that being said it’s not overly greasy and it’s perfect when you get that unhealthy food craving!
- 313Elixir CafeNew Plymouth CentralFor someone who has never tried chicken and waffles, this blew my mind; 100% guaranteed it will blow yours too! This southern fried chicken is absolutely beautiful, it has just the right amount of crispiness and not a lot of grease! The chive waffle is something awesome, I’ve never had a savoury waffle, and I’ll never go back! These two components along with the poached egg and the chilli hollandaise marry so well together!
- 41Roast 2niteVogeltownIf you have never tried buttermilk fried chicken, you need to get your butt down to Roast 2nite and get some into your belly! Roast 2nite is one of those places you wouldn’t expect to have amazing food, mostly because it’s a hidden gem in the suburbs, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised! It’s the fried chicken version of a roast, with peas, carrots, and creamy mashed potatoes with a delicious gravy,and it comes in four different sizes!
Lisa B.'s
Drinks With A View
- 13Waiau Country EstateOnaeroWalking into Waiau Country Estate is like a breath of fresh air. Internally, it has the essence of a mountain house, with a log wood roof, and a real homy feel without escaping the fine dining. But the view from outside is just amazing, so much that it has been home to multiple weddings over the summer months! Kick back with a glass of wine and take a stroll around the grounds and avocado orchard!
- 25GustoNew Plymouth CentralGusto is a restaurant that displays exactly what its name is, gusto! They enjoy what they do and it shows in their food and wine with finesse! Overlooking the breakwater bay, this restaurant has something special that I can’t quite put my finger on, but whatever it is, I always find myself enjoying my visit here, probably due to the awesome view outside, especially if it’s a sunny day!
- 32Mountain CafeInglewoodWhat’s better than having a crisp sauvignon blanc up in an awesome restaurant on the side of Mount Taranaki? Not a lot can beat the natural view of the beautiful native New Zealand bush and mountain, that’s why this is one of the best places to come and relax with a beer or wine and take in the view. On perfect days you can even see out to Mount Ruapehu in the central North Island!
- 46If wine tours and tastings are your thing, Okurukuru is a place you need to experience for yourself! With a never-ending view of the west coast, there are many vineyards filled below with grape vines that are used for the restaurant wine itself! I love the Pinot Noir they produce, it’s absolutely perfect when you’re sitting outside on a sunny day taking in those rolling hills and vineyard landscapes!
- 55Salt RestaurantNew Plymouth CentralThis is one of my favourite views ever, it’s what home is to me and Salt displays a bloody good view of it! It overlooks the main entrance to the coastal walkway and you can see the coast quite a bit up North! It’s right in the centre of town too so it’s a lovely hotspot for brunch; try one of their house wines with their seafood, it definitely really suits where it’s located!
Lisa B.'s
New Openings
- 12Bubble Waffle New ZealandNew Plymouth CentralBubble Waffle has been all the rage in the past few weeks with it just opening and being so busy! Everyone is talking about it as it’s such a new thing here in Taranaki! On their first day, all the waffles were SOLD OUT, with the most popular being the vanilla with snickers inside; this would have been my favourite too! This is the first cafe of its kind to enter Taranaki, and there’s no doubt it will be sticking around for a while!
- 21Into the WildNew Plymouth CentralInto the Wild is a collaborative business between ‘Petal & Prickle’ and ‘Amanda Keat Art’. Together they’ve created a space in the middle of town that shows of their awesome talents! At the front is the florist, manned by Sofie with a charming display of flowers and pre made bouquets to choose from. Out the back is Amanda’s studio, where she creates her awesome art work, some of which is displayed in the front of the shop for sale! It’s such a beautiful little shop that deserves so much recognition!
- 31BirdieNew Plymouth CentralBirdie has taken the place of where Sandwich Extreme used to be, but with so many awesome improvements! They cabinet selection is delicious, with healthy choices made so easy for you, they have salads that will fuel you up for the day, and panini and sandwiches to tantalise your tastebuds! Their baristas that they have are incredibly talented too, making latte art look like breathing!
- 43The ArizonaNew Plymouth CentralThe Arizona has been closed for a fair while now but it has finally been re-opened! The long awaited re-opening has gone without a hitch, so many people are loving their new food and drinks menu! Their milkshakes are some of the best in town in my opinion, and I’ve heard that you can turn whatever burger you order into a salad! I love their chips too, they’re personally a favourite of mine!
- 51Fairfields Shed CafeHighlands ParkThis cafe has only been open for less than a month and already it’s one of my favourites and has had some really great feedback from the customers! What’s really cool is that they have their own cafe garden within the Fairfields garden centre, I love that they grow their own food; it’s local and it’s great for the environment! Everything tastes so fresh, and their seasonal vegetable platters look so appetising!
Lisa B.'s
Best Classic Kiwi Pubs
- 15The Good HomeNew Plymouth CentralI believe this pub is classic kiwi because of it’s interior. It’s suggests a laid back, no worries type of pub, which is exactly what us kiwis are about! It feels like you’re at home having a great meal with your mates, with the added bonus of the friendliest service around! I’m a huge pizza fan, and The Good Home do great ones; even if you don’t eat meat they have this delicious gourmet vege pizza!
- 23Colonel Malone's Bar & RestaurantStratfordI’ve been loving this pub a lot lately, although I don’t swing round for a visit as much as I’d like, it still holds a special place it my heart where I know I always feel welcome. They don’t even know me, yet the staff treat me like a best mate; with some of that great kiwi attitude! Their meals are definitely a winner for me too, with the portions huge for a decent price, that’s what makes a good restaurant in my books!
- 33Frederic's No 34 on EgmontNew Plymouth CentralFrederic’s I would say is more of a fancy kind of restaurant/ pub if that’s your bag, and sometimes that’s all you feel like. Being wined and dined by their awesome wait staff has been a great memory for me, and their food is delectable! They stress that their beers are always cold and waiting for you, with an impressive selection of craft beers and ciders; which I must admit has become a new obsession of mine!
- 42Salty Dog Cafe & BarNew Plymouth CentralI don’t know about anyone else but I often feel like a full on roast meal in summer, it’s very weird but I’ve finally found a pub that does them! The Salty Dog have them available on Sundays from 5 until 7.30pm for only $12! That is such an awesome price for all that food, I can only imagine the prep that goes into all of those meals! They have all the classic kiwi beers on tap like Tui and Export Gold so it’s well worth coming down!
- 56Butlers ReefOakuraThis pub is not only great for the food, beer and wine, and friendly kiwi atmosphere, but in summer they are a host to heaps of live music including bands that are nationally famous! They love to celebrate local talent that’s paired with you enjoying a kiwi beer and an awesome meal like their famous fish and chips! It honestly puts some seafood specialists to shame it’s that good!
Lisa B.'s
Beaches & DOC Campgrounds
- 15Back BeachSpotswoodI feel like Back Beach is somewhere that has something for everyone. Whether it’s the waves for surfing, the hot black sand for sunbathing, or for your dog to give them an energetic run around; the only thing it’s missing is an ice cream stand! They only thing I can warn is to keep an extra special eye on the kiddies as the waves can get quite strong here at certain times
- 22Onaero BeachOnaeroAlthough Onaero Beach is more renown for it’s fishing capabilities, the swimming is very fun; especially when you have kids to play with! The waves for the most part are nice and gentle so it’s perfect for the kids to swim for splash around in! It’s has a really nice walk as well, with a decent enough length that you get some exercise but don’t get too tired for a swim at the end of it!
- 31Waitoetoe CampsiteUrenuiThis campsite is beautiful, it’s an awesome way to wake up in the morning and look out along the Waitoetoe black sand beach. Many people may not agree with me on this one, but I love that it has no power outlets, it’s the perfect excuse to get away from all the online malarky and just reconnect with the natural being that you are! The best part? It’s absolutely free to camp here! There is a four night maximum, but four nights without power is probably enough!
- 41Waiinu BeachWaitotaraThis little beach is nestled right before the border of Manawatu-Whanganui. I like to think of it as a little hidden gem as it’s so far away from everything that you would definitely miss it if you weren’t in the know! This beach is great for a nice long walk as it stretches for quite a while! If you’re traveling from New Plymouth on Highway 45 (which is a great scenic route), it will take around 2 hours, but make it into a road trip!
- 51East End BeachStrandonIf you’re a surfer or love to dive under those waves like I do, East End would be one of the best beaches for you to visit! In summer I love to be a beach junkie and visit lots of different ones for variety, and this one never leaves my list! You can feel safe while you’re having fun too as they have the surf life saving club right up further inland!
Lisa B.'s
Bush Walks & Waterfalls
- 11Ratapihipihi Scenic ReserveNew Plymouth CentralThis has got to be one of, if not the most, beautiful bush walk I have ever seen! You’re surrounded by sub-tropical trees like nikau palms and kohekohe, those alone make you feel like your on an island somewhere far away! At the end of the walk, you’re rewarded with the scene from a movie, a beautiful little waterfall with a picturesque stream that runs alongside the trail; it is truly such an inspiring place to be!
- 21Mt Damper FallsUrenuiThis waterfall is very close to the border of the Manawatu-Whanganui region, but luckily Taranaki has managed to snag this beauty! I believe it’s one of the tallest waterfalls in the North Island at 74 metres high, and it’s also been put on New Zealands must see waterfall list, so it is definitely worth the trip! The walking track to get to the waterfall is about a 40 minute easy walk on a gravel road with plenty of interesting foliage on the way!
- 31Curtis FallsStratfordIf you’re up for a bit more of a challenge and don’t want the journey to be too easy, make your next tramp to Curtis Falls. The hike takes about 2 hours, perhaps 3 if you’re enjoying the scenery and going at your own pace, but at the end you win a look at not one, but two beautiful waterfalls where the water is cast out wide to make it look even bigger!
- 44Dawson Falls RoadendEgmont VillageDawson Falls is often a popular tourist attraction and people are always wanting photos with the breathtaking waterfall behind them, I know I’ve had my fair share! At 18 metres high, it’s not the highest waterfall in New Zealand but it’s still pretty big for ol’ Taranaki! The Kapuni stream is what flows into this waterfall and is used as a renewable energy source, powering the Dawson Falls Power Lodge!
- 51Lucy's GullyOakuraLucy’s Gully is like a base for multiple different walking trails in the Oakura area, after all it is right on the edge of the Kaitake Ranges! It’s a pretty little secluded picnic spot with a picnic bench provided, but who wants that when you can throw a blanket on the ground and dine like when you were kids! Although this area is child friendly, some of the walking track aren’t so keep an eye out to make sure they’re not getting into any mischief!