This fine dining destination restaurant is tucked away at the end of The Strand in a building which sits out over the water. The view is stunning on a warm summer’s evening and you can dine outside on the deck. The food is always beautifully presented and cooked to perfection and the staff are friendly and efficient, without being intrusive. It’s long-established reputation means you do need to book, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. If you do try your luck and walk in unannounced, there’s a nice spot next to the dining area to sit and enjoy a drink while you wait for a table to come free.

This quaint little restaurant is set on rural cottage grounds, just north of Tauranga, and has a very relaxing atmosphere. The cottage is cosy and better suited to couples rather than large groups. The food is reliably fantastic and the service efficient and professional. It’s a great place to treat yourself to real dining experience.

This popular Tauranga restaurant moved around the corner to the main dining strip on The Strand about 18 months ago. Their menu is extensive and affordable and I’m yet to try a dish that wasn’t delicious, fresh and flavoursome. This one is a great place for larger groups and the staff - in particular co-owner Rachel - really know how to make diners feel welcome. They also play a hilarious birthday song for the birthday boy or girl and serve them up a yummy free dessert - what more could you want?

This cute little restaurant offers the full dining package in a central Mount Maunganui location. Next to Astrolabe Brew Bar, Post Bank’s menu features fantastic fish, beef, pork and venison mains as well as an impressive and complex list of decadent desserts. The restaurant is a class act offering a nice ambiance, beautiful food and great service.

This is one of my favourite Tauranga restaurants to enjoy lunch outside in the sun. They serve a tapas menu so you can sample different foods and flavours without feeling weighed down by a big meal. The seafood or meat platters are great to share with friends over a wine and the crispy calamari is a must order every time I go. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and there’s often some live music playing on a Sunday afternoon.

Ask Bay residents why they love living here and they’ll tell you - the beach and the lifestyle. It’s difficult not to put a visit to one of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches at the top of a things to do list. A stroll along the boardwalk or walk up or around the Mount (Mauao) are some of the most beautiful and relaxing things to do in the Bay. Just around the corner is the harbour beach, Pilot Bay, which recently got its own boardwalk, and is a great spot for a family picnic or barbeque while you watch the cruise ships come and go. It’s also a safer option than the main beach as a swimming spot for kids.

I am a complete sucker for a hot soak and one of my favouite things about living in the Bay of Plenty is the amazing selection of hot pools it offers. Fernland Spa is a favourite for one reason - atmosphere. It’s located in a bush-filled gully and the large outdoor pool is surrounded by ferns. I’ve never found it too busy or rowdy, making it a great place to relax. There’s also a nice covered area and BBQ so you can enjoy a meal together before or after a dip.

This is a great place to spend some time with friends or as a family. You can learn to kayak and head off down the Wairoa River or stay near the park base to play on the ‘The Blob’, paddle boards or kayak slide (yes it’s a waterslide for kayaks). If you’re into something a little more subdued these guys also run a fantastic glow worm evening kayak on nearby Lake McLaren.

I love the atmosphere at markets. There’s something about being out in the sunshine and wandering from stall to stall, chatting to the stall holders that makes it more relaxing than shopping in retail stores or supermarkets. The best thing about the Little Big Markets - which are held once a month in Tauranga and more often leading up to Christmas - is the selection of beautiful crafts, homewares, foods, jewellery and clothing on sale. A lot of the market has a vintage / retro flavour and you can always find something a bit different for a great price.

You can’t spend time in Tauranga without taking the opportunity to see it from the harbour. Deep Star provide a range of fishing and diving trips, boarding in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui and specialise in helping you bring home Snapper, Tarakihi or Hapuka for tea. But if you’re more of a sit back and relax on the water type of person, Tauranga also offers opportunities for sailing, dolphin watching or cruising on a party boat after dark.

This pizza place’s reputation preceded its arrival in town. Those who had sampled a Pizza Library pizza at their Rotorua restaurant knew to expect good things when the doors opened at the Mount. I’ve been there twice and both times sat outside on the vintage furniture , enjoying the sun and people watching. The pizzas are HUGE and flavoursome, without being over the top. The service is swift - just what you want you’re hungry enough to eat a large pizza.

This little pizza shop has been across the road from the Mount Hot Pools for years, and with good reason. They sell pizza with bases that taste like freshly baked bread. As far as pizzas go the fact that they are not greasy at all gets my ‘healthy’ vote.

This cosy little suburban restaurant is close to the beach and a great place for a relaxed summer dinner after a big day relaxing. They sell tasty pizza and pasta at reasonable prices and offer good old fashioned service. As well as attracting the holiday crowds they also have plenty of local regulars.

This restaurant on The Strand has a reputation for a great woodfired pizza. For between $20 and $25 there’s a selection of classic margarita, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetarian or a meaty feast-type pizza. Brooklyn also has a great atmosphere on a summer’s evening where you can sit outside and enjoy a wine in the last of the sun.

This turkish restaurant opened a couple of months ago at the Cherrywood Shopping Centre in Otumoetai. As well as the usual range of Turkish greats - like kebabs and iskenders - they also make a great pizza. Already becoming known around the suburb for their fresh, hearty portions and great service it might pay to ring your order ahead - there are lines out the door at times!

Everyone knows a wine is a great way to break the ice on a first date and a visit to the tasting room at Mills Reef also gives you something to talk about while you relax. The tasting room is open 7 days a week - from 10am to 5pm - so it’s better suited to a lunch time or afternoon date.

This is a well renowned Date Night favourite among Tauranga locals, especially among men looking to make a real impression. It’s fine dining - with the prices to match - so best saved for date three or four. The setting is rural setting is beautiful - especially during daylight savings and you can walk off your meal with a stroll in the garden. The atmosphere is quiet and romantic with candles on the table and no screaming children.

It’s difficult to be terrible at mini golf so if you’re looking for an ‘activity date’ without embarrassing yourself through lack of fitness or experience, it’s a good option. It offers the competitive aspect - allowing men to prove their prowess - but is also something that someone with very little experience can unexpectedly shine at. Either way it’s a fun thing to do together on a summer’s day.

This date is well suited to people with plenty of body confidence (under 30s). It’s romantic to sit under the stars and soak in the natural spring water. The pool is big so there’s still plenty of places to have a private conversation. The "I’m getting too hot" comment also offers an easy escape clause if the date isn’t going too well.

I can’t leave this restaurant off the list for one reason - its location. The food and service are amazing - in fact they have to turn punters away most Friday and Saturday nights - but the romance factor lies in the location. The balcony is built over the water and the view spans the Tauranga Harbour across to the Harbour Bridge. Even inside the light and view are still amazing.

We trekked back and forth three times from this place on Saturday, buying fill for the backyard. Their prices were reasonable and the staff really friendly and helpful. They have an easy drive through yard when you're lugging a trailer around and professional, modern payment facilities.

I can remember my dad going off to Pedlars to hunt out bits and pieces 30 odd years ago. This well established Tauranga business sells a range of recycled and factory second building materials, great for a renovation project. In the age of upcycling they are a great place to pick up second hand doors, roofing iron, plumbing supplies and handles and locks.

Gardenscape Papamoa offers the landscape materials you need to get your property in shape. In 2005 they were one of the first businesses to begin trading at Papamoa Junction and are hoping to be a part of the massive growth going on in the area. They offer everything from pebbles to mulch and sleepers.

These guys make awesome wooden outdoor furniture. Their pieces are made of heavy handcrafted wood, offering character you won’t find buying flat packs from a chain store. One of my favourite features is their kids range which includes outdoor play grounds and picnic tables for little people. They have also been known to create some quirky peices including a hobbit house.

If you’re looking for a plumber to help with renovations, this local family business encompasses three generations of knowledge and experience. Started in 1939, the Bell family know the area - and its reticulation - like the back of their hands. Their longevity in business speaks for itself really.

I love this bustling Mount cafe on a Sunday morning. It is always busy but the tables flow out onto the footpath, so you can dine in the sunshine. My addiction to their amazing hash stack means a can’t vouch for a whole range of their dishes, but I’ve never heard any complaints from my fellow diners. The have an extensive blackboard menu and a good selection of cabinet food - if you’re too starving to wait.

This place is a favourite for a relaxed brunch in a spot slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of Devonport Rd or The Strand. The cafe itself is spacious and light and there’s a large, well groomed courtyard out the front where you can relax in the sun. The cabinet selection includes amazing salads and pastries for a tasty brunch.

This cafe has a slick, modern, big city feel. The kitchen is open so you can watch the chef’s at work and the spacious area provides for couch, table or outdoor dining. There’s a great brunch menu and it’s only a short stroll to the main shopping area once your hunger is satisfied.

I don’t think it would matter too much what they sold me here - I love the location that much. Tay St - which used to be marked only by a dairy and a good surf spot - is now also home to this great cafe. I love sitting outside, smelling the ocean air. The relaxed environment makes it a great place for a good gossip session with friends.

The last thing I ate from this cafe was a banana and chocolate chip muffin. Without a doubt it was the best I’ve ever tasted - mostly due to the generous chunks (not chips) of chocolate. I’ve been going to Sidetrack for years and Petra-Lee and her team never disappoint. The cafe is cosy and friendly - with the staff making an obvious effort to get to know the regulars. Definately a great place to stop after a walk around Mauao.