This is a neat place to go to for an after-work drink…read more The Oakroom has recently had a facelift and has a cosy feel. Rohini and Corey are great hosts and the small team of staff are always friendly, chatty and sincere. There's a gastropub style menu; food and drinks are good value. It's also a good spot for a private function with good catering options.

My friend held her 21st party here last night and when I arrived I instantly wanted to have mine…read morehere. It's a lovely looking bar I think it must be quite new because all the furniture looked that way. Not the place itself though, it was really classy but rustic with mood lighting and lots of seats which I love, too many places don't offer enough seating and everyone just has to stand around. Their outside deck area was where we spent most of our night, they had outdoor tables and stools as well as a more comfy option...the outdoor sofa. They had two tv screens which she used to display pictures all evening. The bartender was pleasant and friendly and everyone looked like they had the best night.

Our second winery on the island. I wasn't in the mood to start the wine tasting after seeing the…read moretire swing. I took a break from being an adult and regressed back to childhood and swung for a little while to help me relax and just chill after the board ride over. The swing was the highlight of this vineyard, helped me destress better than a flight of wine could ever do. It's a nice landscape on this vineyard.

We went to The Goldie Room on a holiday to Waiheke. It was a cold wintery morning so we were…read moredelighted to find warmth inside their café. The staff were really friendly and were always checking that we had enough water and coffee. We just ordered breads and dips, but they were so delicious! We then went though to the tasting room to begin the exciting part of our visit to The Goldie Room, the wine tasting. The man taking us through the wine tasting was so great. He was funny, charismatic, but so informative. This was a great way to spend our first morning on holiday and I will definitely be returning next time we go to Waiheke. I would love to see it in the summer, with the vines in full bloom.

We walked into the bistro ready to have a terrific dinner experience based on their website photos…read moreand the warm, inviting appearance as we walked up. The ambiance was nice and felt like a cozy ski lodge. However, the hostess wasn't exactly warm or charming. She seemed to have a bit of a control issue. When we moved one of the 2 chairs at the 4-top to another side of the table, she expressed her displeasure and stated that we had to make sure that we gave the table next to us enough space, but there was definitely enough room for a small pony to walk through. The server was pretentious. The vibe we got was that he was busy with something else and could barely be bothered to share the specials and take our order. Because we weren't getting a great vibe, we decided just to order overpriced drinks instead of drinks and overpriced food. Do NOT order the old fashioned unless you like them super sweet. My husband is a fan of old fashioneds and had never had a ridiculously sugary drink as this before. The espresso martini was okay. Definitely not worth $26 though. This place is definitely overrated.

One of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever experienced was eating dinner at Mudbrick. The view is…read moredivine, and the garden feels so quaint and picturesque that I was completely wowed. It's nice coming here for the ambience alone! They have two or three course dining options and I went with the two course plus a bread order which ended up being the perfect amount of food. The dishes were surprisingly innovative for being a winery restaurant, and I really appreciated the pairings they suggested with each dish. I especially liked their Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot options. It's definitely pricey, but I am glad I got to try dinner here. Only catch is that it's quite difficult to get a car back home - we had dinner at 7:30 pm and it was a bit harrowing getting a taxi. The hotel will help call for you but our driver double booked himself for extra business so we stood outside almost half an hour in the dark. Regardless, the restaurant itself was great and worth the trip.

The Floating Pavillion is an event space which literally floats just off the Hobson West Marina in…read morethe Viaduct - you walk along the waterfront towards Te Wero Island/the Wynyard Crossing and the pavillion is the floating grey building on the left. It's aimed at the business launch/wedding/ball crowd, so it's well kitted out to deal with a crowd of around 300. There's two levels so space for sit down dinners on the ground floor, as well as a large dance floor up top. For our inaugural UoA Architecture/Planning ball we hired out the Floating Pavillion, and can report the night went off without a hitch - food wasn't amazing, but the space was perfectly sized and well kitted out for the occasion.

This place right here it the place to have all your events, from your wedding to your engagement…read moreparty, a meeting or even a birthday party. Everything you need is there, all you have to do is call the business, arrange a tour then let them know exactly what you want. After that you can either send them pictures of your ideas or just leave it to them and their creativity. It is a great place for any events as it is located on the waterfront, guaranteeing great views and amazing pictures to upload on to instagram hash tagging aboutthatlife!

We stayed for one night at Delamore Lodge, and it was absolutely worth it. Our room was romantic,…read morespacious, and perfectly set up, complete with a fully stocked mini fridge. The amenities were a highlight--between the heated pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi tucked away in a grotto-like setting, relaxation was effortless. Since it was a bit chilly outside, we really appreciated the warm pool and cozy fireplace. The selection of games and books made it easy to just focus on each other and enjoy the moment. The staff were wonderfully hospitable and friendly, making us feel welcome throughout our short stay. Dining was another standout: the food rivaled Michelin-star quality, with portions that were just right and wine pairings that were exceptional. Yes, the price point is on the higher side--but given the level of service, the amenities, and the unforgettable experience, it feels more than justified. We left with incredible memories and are already hoping to return in 2026. Mahalo!!!!!! Looking forward to next time.

Can I live here?!…read more My boyfriend I planned a large vacation in New Zealand last year. We spent a couple weeks living out of a van to truly have the best experience and see the most of this beautiful country. We new we wanted to splurge and relax at the end of our trip so we ended here. And boy, was that the best decision ever! Our chef, Brenton, who happened to be the one picking us up from the port and returning us as well- was incredible. He was so friendly and has pure talent. This lodge is such an intimate, unique and breathtaking place. A real treat and I highly recommend to any one visiting the island!!

This place is very appealing visually. I did the reserve wine tasting, which should have been the…read morebest of the best, but they were merely okay, unfortunately. Their reserve syrah had a VERY off-flavor to it. We brought this up to the server, and he quickly ran off to check with someone. When he returned, he said something like "oh, that's the typical floral something or other". We've experienced this before, and it turned out then that the cork was bad. This was likely the same situation. At the very least, I would have expected Tantalus to pour another taster for us to make sure there was nothing wrong with the first pour. That didn't happen though. The reserve chardonnay was good.

Tantalus Estate - Waiheke Island…read more Tantalus Winery is located on beautiful Waiheke Island, an easy and very pleasant 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland. Once on the island, you can hop on a hop-on/hop-off bus or take a local bus--both make getting around simple and stress-free. The estate itself is stunning. There's a winery, a restaurant, and a brewery, and we chose to sit outside to fully enjoy the vineyard views. The setting is peaceful, lush, and absolutely gorgeous--one of those places where you instantly want to slow down and take it all in. The food was excellent. I tried green-lipped mussels for the first time--smoked and marinated--and they were delicious. Even better, they were served without shells, which made them incredibly easy to eat. The kingfish appetizer was a standout: fresh, beautifully prepared, with a dollop of avocado and a coconut-style aioli that was truly special. A real "wow" dish. We also did a wine flight, which made the experience fun especially given the range of wines available. The only downside was the music--it was blaring a bit too loud. In such a serene, Zen-like environment, it competed with the natural beauty rather than enhancing it. This is a place where you just want to sit, sip, and absorb the surroundings. That said, Tantalus is absolutely worth the trip. Incredible setting, memorable food, and a wonderful way to experience Waiheke Island.

"Ivy Cottage and the Enchanted Garden" is exactly that!…read more This is certainly a remote, isolated location for townies, however local for Northshore folk. Never spent anytime in Greenhithe, it's a 30 min drive from Central city, traffic dependant. On arrival, you need to park on the road outside, past the venue due to yellow lines. When entering, you are lead down a fairy path to a small cottage to meet and greet everyone (including the fairies), before the festivities begin. The children have the option of changing into a fairy costume or pirates outfit, if desired. The fairies then take the children around the enchanted forest, looking at all the magical places. The birthday celebrations take place inside the cottage, that is heavily themed as a grotto or fairies den: beautifully captivating. The storytelling continues with biscuit decorating session in the fairy craft room and the children are given a small drawstring bag of fairy dust to take home. This is the only fairy garden in Auckland, definitely a special place to celebrate birthdays and other noteworthy events! Cute!!

One of the best creative spaces in town with over 20 different business working out of one floor in…read morethe heart of the CBD. Matt Knight to helps run the loft is the man to contact if you are looking at getting into a shared office.

If you are a small business, or a team of one and you're looking for somewhere to work, even for a…read moreshort time, check out Loft503. Had a meeting there the other day and it's a cool place! This is a great shared work space in the restored Archilles House, next to Sals Pizza - so you get an awesome work space plus great lunch options! The deal is that you can rent a desk for a set length of time, giving you and your startup business the opportunity to have office space without the risk and outlay of renting your own whole office. Includes handy and flash facilities like kitchen and meeting rooms. Plus you get to work in an environment with other like minded people!

An outstanding function spot, this beautiful establishment, sits at the end of Queen Street in…read moreNorthcote point. The views are so stunning and as the sun sets it becomes a dream come true. The huge chandelier lights up the room, and as the floor is built in tiers, you look out on our beautiful city, and your heart beats away to a happy tune. I was excited to attend a recent charity event called TASTE that had Peter Gordon as a guest speaker. The guest list was down at around two hundred plus guests, and the staff and surroundings catered for us all to perfection. The main bar situated at the entrance was large enough to hold the guests happily, along with a few extra bars dotted around the different floors. The food served for this event was simply buffet champagne ham, and some artisan breads, which I thought was very tasty. The lavish decor, makes The Wharf a fabulous location for weddings, birthdays and big corporate events. The bathrooms located down the spiral stairs under the main area, are gorgeous. I was very pleased with the staff working at the Wharf, very warm and bubbly. I hope to be back for another event soon, as my night was really enjoyable.