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Walking in the the World's southernmost city

4/19/2016

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Okay, okay, it's 'one' of the southernmost cities in the World, but still! 

Invercargill is hard for me to describe. I grew up here, it's my home. Some people hate it, others love it. 

It's definitely not the most exciting place in the world, but there are still some cool things to do, if you know where to look.

The Invercargill Estuary Walk

My favourite thing to do in Invercargill (other than see my friends!) is the Invercargill Estuary Walk.

If you feel the need to get out and explore a quiet spot just out of the city, this is a great place to start. It begins on the Stead Street Reserve, by the Jellicoe Scout Building, over near the airport.

It's quite a relaxing walk, with a few different entrances and exits. I like to exit the walk on William Street, and then walk back through the Invercargill neighbourhoods. But the walk is a loop if you continue on, I think it's about 4km in total.

You won't see too many people around, just make sure you give a friendly Southern 'hello' when you do pass the odd someone. 


There is usually a boardwalk which goes right across the lagoon but this was recently damaged by a storm and is still being fixed. Hopefully they fix it soon, because it's quite impressive, and is pretty cool to photograph.

You can still walk around the outside of the estuary though, and watch the bird life on the water. There are also a few toilets around and picnic places. 

Not a bad way to spend an early morning! Just make sure you rug up warm. Invercargill can have quite the chill!
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The coolest little Wellington walk

4/1/2016

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Wellington has some great walks. Here are some of the best ones.

One of my  all-time favourite walks in Wellington is up Mt Albert in Newtown. This walk is part of the Southern walkway and, in my opinion, the best part. It is not that well-known so there are now crowds, à la Mt Vic, and the view is just as good.

Also, cheetahs! I mean, not free roaming or anything, Zoo cheetahs. 

To begin the walk I like to start from Russell Terrace. Its about half way up the road, opposite the northern exit of Edinburgh Terrace. There is a road that turns left down to Newtown Park. Walk up that road until you see some stairs on the right. Take those, and you'll see a track up into the trees behind the basketball court. This is the start of the walk.

There are a few different tracks you can take, but most will lead to the top. I like to keep turning right, past the hockey stadium, until I get to the top, and then go back down past the zoo. The walk goes through forest and a bit of grass, and in summer there are loads of blackberries to eat. It's a bit of a climb to get to the top, but only for ten minutes or so. If you take the right turns it's more of a gradual climb, whereas left is steeper but shorter. 

There are two look-out points you can go to.  

On the southern side is Mt Albert itself...there is a marker up there so you know you are at the top. From there you can walk down to the road for the rest of the Southern walkway.

The second look-out north. Continue on the gorse-lined loop track until you get to a wooden seat. The view at the top is spectacular. And there are hardly any people up there. You can see all the way out to the lighthouse of the far side of the harbour, and even the South Island on a good day. It's my favourite place to sit and relax, while keeping an eye on my city.

On the way back, you can take a detour down to Melrose Park. This is where the back of the Wellington Zoo is. You can check out the baboon enclosure, if you're into baboons, but I don't like their attitudes. I ignore them, and walk around the fence-line until I get to a big grass enclosure that looks deserted. That's the cheetah enclosure. If you look hard enough you'll see Charlie strutting around somewhere. He likes to sleep right up against the back fence so you can often get pretty close to him. 

The walk takes about half an hour if you don't muck around, or 45 mins if you're taking it slow. 
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Riverton - a tiny seaside town in Southland

3/29/2016

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I come from the very bottom of New Zealand, a small city called Invercargill. Invercargill itself isn't that interesting, but it is close to lots of scenic towns. 

One of these towns in Riverton, which sits around Jacob's River Estuary. As a kid, my parents would often take us out here to swim at the beach and play on the famous Riverton rocks. The beach is safer than the Invercargill alternative, Oreti beach, as the sea is a bit calmer around this side of Southland. You can also swim with dolphins if you're lucky! It is about a 20 minute drive from Invercargill. 

Riverton is fishing town, and is also one of New Zealand's oldest settlements. You can check out the local muesum, Te Hikoi Southern Journey, which has some interesting artefacts, and quite a bit about Southland Maori history. You can also drive 10 minutes to the stunning Colac Bay, which is a great surfing and swimming spot. 

The best thing to do in Riverton is chill out with a book and a coffee, and admire the view. Or go swimming in summer! It's pretty damn cold in Winter. We're pretty close to Antartica don't you know...

The pub, the Aparima Tavern, has been done up and now makes the most of a stunning location overlooking the estuary.  The menu is full of local seafood, so head down there for a beer and some bluecod. Or, head to the Beachhouse Cafe Bar for a coffee and some lunch.

​If you want to experience the real 'wild South', Riverton is definitely worth a day trip.
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5 best Wellington watering-holes

3/27/2016

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#1 The Office - my all time favourite


The Office is, in my opinion, one of the best bars in Wellington. The patrons are an eclectic bunch, which is a reflection of Newtown, its suburb.

It has everything. Two great outdoor areas with loads of seats. The upstairs balcony must be one of the only places in Wellington which gets the late afternoon sun while simultaneously being sheltered from the notorious Wellington winds. The best part is that you can often get the upstairs balcony all to yourself. Its a great place to chill with a beer and read a book, or watch the Newtown locals go about their business.

The food is exceptional pub food - $10 for burgers and fries. I love those burgers - simple yet effective. They have decent craft beer on tap - usually Kereru, Mikes, and Panhead to name a few. What's better, is that the prices of a pint of these is substantially less than a lot of other pubs. $8.50 compared to $11 in a lot of other places. The house wine and spirits are also about $8.

Downstairs they have the sports area, with multiple TVs, comfy seats, and pool tables. There is also a pokies section if you're into that. 

The best part is the atmosphere. It's relaxed without being boring, and just feels like home. And besides, you never have to wait in line for a pint!
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#2 - Bebemos  - best for food


Just around the corner from The Office, vibrant Bebemos is a great place to go for food or drink at anytime of day.

There is a cosy fire inside, and a heated beer garden out back. It's a great spot for early afternoon sun. Their latin-influenced small plates menu has to be one of my favourites. The empanadas - man alive! They are mince, cheese and jalapeño served with some kind of spicy mayo. It's worth going just for these.  And chilli and cola chicken wings! and fish goujons! Mmmmm goujons. They also have a substantial food menu, and an extensive list of great craft beer. 

Also, Bebemos does a good brunch with respectable coffee!
 

#3 - The Aborist - best rooftop
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The Aborist is the new kid on the block. There are two parts to it - the downstairs area which feels a bit like you're in a forest clearing, and the rooftop which you can access by using the hotel elevator.

The rooftop is definitely the funkiest in Wellington. It is lined with fake grass, and feels like a mix between a beach party and a garden party. It is a great spot for a few drinks in the sun. There is even complimentary sunscreen and hats you can wear to protect yourself from the harsh NZ sun. It is really relaxing and a fun place to hang out with a few friends. 

The main bar downstairs, with its tree stump bar, is perfect for lunch or dinner. They do tapas, and man-oh-man are these amazing. The parmesan fries are outstanding, as is the pork belly, and the broccoli and edamame salad. The menu is focussed on greens and proteins, and is very reasonably priced. $20 will get you a decent amount of food. There is also a 'naughty section' which includes some delectable burgers. They wine and spirits are great...they do a perfect vodka, lime and soda. The cocktails look interesting, and they have a grand looking bloody mary. The only downside is the beer menu. The best beer they have is from the Black Dog range...which really doesn't cut it in Wellington, the NZ capital of craft beer! 

The best part about The Aborist may be the staff. They are so helpful and efficient! I can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu. 
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​#4 Thistle Inn - best for feeling like you're in the 1840s

The Thistle Inn is the local for many of the Government sector workers, and it is also Wellington's oldest pub. It was the second pub in NZ to ever receive a liquor licence! Legend has it, that Maori chiefs used to canoe to the front door and stop in for a quick beverage. The water levels were a lot higher back then!

The Thistle is packed on Thursdays and Friday from 4pm, as the Government workers make quick exits from their offices. This creates a lively atmosphere full of life and laughter, which is amplified by the wooden architecture. It is also not uncommon to see NZ's politicians stopping by for a beer and a bite to eat.

Currently, the Thistle is ranked #3 on TripAdvisor for Wellington's restaurants. This is impressive given we have over 600 of them! It is also proves that the food here is top-notch. You even get gravy served with your fries, and free peanuts at your tables! 

The wine is great. The beer is great. There is a selection of craft beer on tap, though it is a bit more on the pricey side, so a really good deal is to get a flagon for about $45 which you can get at least 6 pints out of. Not bad when a standard pint is about $11. A word of warning though, these pints can lead you to not wanting to show your face at work the next day due to the sheer fear of what stupid things you said after drinking one of these! 

​If you want to feel like a true Wellingtonian, make sure you head down on a Friday night! 
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#5 Dragonfly

Dragonfly calls itself an 'Asian dining lounge', and that is a rather apt description. The beer garden out the back is beautifully decorated with bamboo and other trees, which creates a tranquil evening setting. The garden has a retractable roof too, so even if its pouring you can still sit outside, and be completely free of the wind and rain. A novelty for Wellington!

Dragonfly is known for its asian-influenced cocktails with names such as 'The Lotus', 'Mr Miyagi's Bonsai' and 'Kung Fu Panda'. They include some pretty interesting ingredients. Don't miss Tuesdays - it's two-for-one cocktail day. Wednesday is mystery wine night. Let your waiter know whether you want a white or red, and he'll return with a mystery one for $6! The beer is quite expensive, so try to visit on the days that have special deals.

The food is contemporary Asian, with lots of small plates to choose from. My favourite is the chicken and coriander dumplings! The pork and chive dumplings are good too.

Dragonfly is a pretty cool place to chill out with friends in the evening and have a few glasses of wine. Also worth checking out is the restaurant  which is on the right as you walk through to the bar
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Runners up
  • Juniper - best for comfy seats and cheap, elegant cocktails - and gin of course!
  • Ancestral - another secret asian-influenced beer garden out back, with heated concrete seats
  • Basque - rooftop bar, great pizzas, and awesome craft beer
  • Fork and Brewer - the most craft beers on tap in town, and serves Southland cheese rolls!
  • Rogue and Vagabond - great outdoor area with bean bags, delicious food, and cool dogs hanging around
  • Goldings - at the forefront of the craft beer scene, delicious pizza from Pomodoro and down a secret alley
  • Hashigo Zake - underground craft beer bar, usually has a funky band playing 
  • Sprig and Fern - a cute little pub in a small cottage in Thorndon - brews its own beer and has loads of boardgames to play.
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    I'm Miranda, a 29 year old from NZ. I basically just travel for the food. And beer. Food and beer.

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