This vineyard was a great way to end your day in Waiheke Island. There were 4 vineyards in this…read morearea #7 on your hop on hop off tour. We chose this place even we walked for 15 minutes . The vineyard has a great view of the grapes, the rough road with lustrous trees to take pictures. At the end of the road this very quaint restaurant was so beautiful. Rustic feeling yet serene when you look around. The staff were very nice. The wine was excellent. Agnes was our attendant, she was nice but not too attentive. We have to looked for her to give our orders. Waited for so long. We tasted their Red snapper so divinely tasteful. The fish was cooked to perfection. The sauce was amazing . Mouthwatering. We got their freshly baked focaccia with olive oil roasted garlic and balsamic vinegar so good. The best Their house salad was excellent. I loved the way all the leafy vegetables weren't cut by a knife. It looked like peeled by hands. So fresh and crunchy when you bite. The wine was good. We got 3 different wine my choice the Shiraz. Even the wait was long I still give them 5 for the view and excellent cuisine. Kudos to the chef.

We visited this winery as part of a wine tour. The tasting was 4 wines, a white and 3 reds. My fav…read morewas the Te Monty Kokoro. Our guide was well versed in the history of the winery and the making of the wines. Husband isn't as much of a wine drinker so it was nice that our guide offered him some lighter, more mild wines to taste. The tasting room was smaller and very busy with a casual vibe. Great stop.

This is funny but sad because we wanted to have some wine at Game of Rhône's. We followed the map…read moreon yelp and where it took us was an empty building. I ask the hotel we where staying at if they knew what here it was and they had no idea. So if you want to go there maybe call them. I love yelp and use it all the time but somewhere there is a miss communication.

A wine tasting with a massive twist... A Game of Thrones twist! And the first time that it has…read morecome to NZ after three years in Australia. A great collection of vineyards represented, some very well known, some lesser known vineyards from across NZ and also Australia. All the vineyards were presenting the best of their Rhône Valley wines, so it was a fantastic way to sample a range of Syrah, Viognier and Grenache varietals. Was very impressed by the effort put in by the wine merchants to dress up. Really added to the atmosphere. Fantastic location as well, as it really suited the theme. Beautiful views of the harbour as the sun set. Got a couple of Riedel glasses to boot. Would have been amazing to have had a few more food options available, as was very easy to stay on for a long time. Great event!!

Wonderful winery near Matakana and Warkworth with the owner / winemaker on site. We loved our short…read moretime here tasing their different wines which are made with Sangiovese Italian grapes. We opted for a tasting plus purchased some cheese and crostini for a snack. David was a joy to speak with and had a lot of great insight on places to go and things to do in the area. If you're in New Zealand, don't miss this spot!

We went in a group of 6 with a reservation. You'll need to make a reservation or you might not get…read morein. This is owned by an Italian so you'll see menu items similar to visiting in Italy. We had pizzas, drinks, appetizers. Loved it all! Service was fast and friendly. Loved the sampler of wines and Italian drinks, like spritzers.

Make a booking in advance and try to get the 1st time slot of the day. We were the first ones at…read morethe restaurant and did a wine tasting. It was really peaceful. After 2 hours there were more and more people that showed up. Get the Solo Carne pizza. It was incredible! I am back in the states and still thinking about it!

This is a Indian spice heaven tucked away from the main drag in Pukekohe. I noticed they have a…read moregood range of Gluten free goods as well. Need to try some of their must have ingredients.

Our stop here was by chance. We were quite hungry and looking for a quick lunch on our drive from…read moreAuckland to Rotorua. We pulled into an unassuming building and were greeted by some wonderful smells inside. We tried a sampling cheese plate and a selection of other goodies. The inside was a bit spartan, but had everything we required. Service was a little on the slower side, but it was off-season. To be honest, it gave us just the break from driving we needed. Everything was delicious, service was friendly, and we bought a little cheese for the road.

Few food options for sale (it was fall there so maybe they put out more in the busier summer…read moremonths) but they do have foodservice options, great coffee and pastries...and oh so important - free wifi for which they give you a code on a slip of paper and once entered the code us good for an hour. Nice stop between Coromandel and Taupo.

For 12 years I was happy to buy American food and things like toothpaste with peroxide and baking…read moresoda not otherwise available in NZ from Martha's. During those 12 years one of the owners frequently went to America to buy the stock. And for many years they got special orders for me. But ever since the pandemic they have lost the plot. They refused to accept special orders and their shelves rarely offer me what I want. I have repeatedly asked them to figure out a new method of getting their supplies which they refuse to do. How they stay in business is a mystery without desirable stuff to buy. They're old and no longer seem to give a damn. I find it remarkable that they stay in business. Not worth the trip.

Ever have the feeling of giddiness as an adult, that makes you say 'get ahold of yourself now?' But…read moreyou can't and your smile is ear to ear. Well that's what Martha's Backyard did to me. I was instantly hit with Americana as the doors spread open for me. No need to trouble yourself with pushing a door American, here let me automatically open for you. Star! Since the owner was clearly using her consumer... ahem marketing skills, the first sight upon entering was a stock pile of Stars & Stripes regalia. All that was needed was the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. Independence Day is only a few days away, so stock up. Martha's Backyard which of course is a play on words, (think Martha's Vineyard) has many American culinary favorites from candies, seasonings, sauces, cereals, beverages and snacks. I walked out with Cholula, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, a pack of Lawry's Taco seasoning, mini Butterfingers and 2 boxes of Cap'N Crunch cereal for under $40.00. Not a bad price for imported happiness.

BEST FRESH OYSTERS IN THE WORLD!!!…read more $18NZ for a dozen fresh oysters...the freshest of the fresh! The toppings are limited, but you really don't need to add anything more than a bit of lemon juice...PERFECTION! They also have hot sauce and vinegar if you like that sort of thing. And these are also the cheapest! If you do the math, that's only about 1 US dollar an oyster! Love it! $8 for the seafood chowder...rich and hearty, full of fish and mussels. Makes a great filling complement to the fresh oysters. This is just a little shack off the highway, nothing fancy, but I wouldn't want it anyway else. I think the oysters are harvested from the local waters just a few hundred meters away. It doesn't get any fresher, cheaper, or better than this.

The BEST chowder in the world. Yes I did say that. We bought five more to go and it was great for…read morethe next two days. Try the fried mussels and fried fish (both by the piece) if your not into chowder. Otherwise you must try the mussel or smoked fish (Snapper) chowder and you will be singing praises when you leave.