All posts filed under: Tourism

A Weekend in Wellington

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It was my birthday a few weeks’ ago, so I decided to spend a weekend in Wellington. Here’s what we got up to on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy! FRIDAY We arrived in Wellington around 1pm and thankfully, it was a nice sunny day! Uber seemed a tempting way to get to our hotel, but instead we caught the Airport bus to the “Wellington Railway Station” ($12 one way). The trip only takes about 20 minutes, but somehow we missed our stop, and ended up on the motorway, driving to Petone! Never fear, we had planned to visit Petone in the afternoon. Ravenous, we headed to Kilim for a late lunch. Kilim is a family owned restaurant (there is also a branch in Napier which we have been to) and they do great Turkish fare. We ordered their Doner Kebab with chicken and Iskender Meal with falafel, which also comes with a generous amount of rice, hummus, beetroot dip, mixed salad, tabbouleh and Turkish bread. Both meals were filling, delicious and reasonably priced. Highly recommend …

15 Best Things to Do in London

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London is… Big. Thrilling. Multi Cultured. Fascinating. Inspiring. Food Heaven. Check out my 15 Best Things to Do in London below: #1  London Eye I am terrified of heights. But, on my most recent trip to London, I faced my fear, and booked tickets to go on the London Eye. It is probably the most touristy thing to do, but it is one of the few attractions that offers amazing 360 degree views over London. Some of the attractions you will see from above include Big Ben, River Thames, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, The Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral…. and many more! The London Eye stands at 135 metres above ground and is essentially a giant ferris wheel. You (along with a few strangers) are put into a large pod – do not fear, there is room to stand up and also a few seats if being up high gets too much (i.e. me!). There are numerous opportunities to take photos of yourself/friends/family in front of London’s most famous buildings.   At night, the London Eye …

Hawke’s Bay Travel Diary

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Over the summer holidays, I spent a week in Hawke’s Bay, a region in the North Island of New Zealand, which is home to fresh, delicious produce and beautiful wines. In fact, Hawke’s Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand and the second largest (after Marlborough). There is lots to do in Hawke’s Bay, from dining at the many restaurants and cafes, sampling local wines, climbing mountains, exploring beaches, or picking up your produce for the week at the amazing farmer’s market. Check out my highlights for my favourite things to see, eat and do in Hawke’s Bay… #1  Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market is one of my favourite markets to date for its abundant range of produce, and the fact that everyone is catered for. Highlights included: FIGS from Te Mata Figs, plus fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, nutty and wholesome gluten free breads, organic blueberries and ice cream from Bay Blueberries, gluten and dairy free treats and products from HAPI, mouthwatering macarons from Monsieur Macaron, hot chilies like jalapeños and Padron …

Gold Coast Eats

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If you are looking for a short, relaxing break, then I highly recommend the Gold Coast. There are beautiful beaches, shopping, and of course, many places to eat and drink. The last time I visited the Gold Coast was 6 years ago, before my obsession with food started, before I even had Instagram or my blog. On that trip, we enjoyed going to the theme parks and beaches. Fast forward to this year, I have made a few trips to the Gold Coast – mainly to relax, try out the food scene and for the first time, visit Byron Bay and the surrounds. Below, I list my favourite eats in the Gold Coast and beyond. I have listed them by area, so it makes it easier for you when you visit the Gold Coast! Enjoy! Main Beach Local & Co First things first, BEST Nutella Thickshakes EVER!!! Secondly, after reading great reviews on TripAdvisor and the fact that Local & Co was just round the corner from where we were staying in the Gold Coast, …

Barcelona Travel Diary

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Barcelona is my favourite city to date. It is located on the northeast coast of Spain and is the cosmopolitan and vibrant capital of the Spanish Catalonia region.  I have been twice now and both visits have been fabulous. I love the language, the rich culture, the beautiful scenery and stunning views from attractions all over the city, the relaxed lifestyle (and those siestas come afternoon) and of course, the cuisine! Check out my list below for my favourite things to see and do in Barcelona. In a separate post, I will share my favourite eats in Barcelona, along with a recipe – stay tuned! La Sagrada Família From the age of 13, La Sagrada Familia has been at the top of my travel bucket list. If you are visiting Barcelona, then this is definite MUST do. La Sagrada Familia is the famous basilica designed by the Catalan Spanish architect, Antonio Gaudi, and it is still in construction today, for some 135 years. The estimated completion year is 2026-2028 – wow! Visiting this basilica was a dream. I was …

Paris Eats

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Following on from my Paris Photo Diary post, check out my list below for my favourite eateries in Paris! As you will see, they are mainly patisseries (I have a mega sweet tooth), but I have also included two fine dining restaurants, two great vegetarian eateries and of course, ice cream.  EATS Stohrer – If there was only one thing I could do in Paris, it would be to eat all the beautiful pastries and sweets found in every neighbourhood. At the top of my foodie list was Stohrer. This place is special because it is the oldest patisserie in Paris. I recommend ordering a Millefieulle and a Tartlette aux Fraise, which were perfect in every way! Location: 51 rue Montorgueil L’Eclair de Genie – Head here for decadent eclairs and you will be transported into sweet foodie heaven. Nearby is the Luxembourg Gardens, which is the perfect place to devour these works of art! I recommend their double chocolate eclair with gold dusted dark chocolate… dreamy! Location: 13 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie KONG – If you feel like splashing out …

Paris Travel Diary

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What feels like only yesterday, but in fact was this time last year, was an experience I will never forget. My sister and I embarked on a one month trip around Europe. We had a stopover in Tokyo, and a week in London (where unfortunately I was unwell), Paris, Barcelona and Berlin. We wanted to get a real feel of each city, and spending a week in each place meant that we could do a lot, and re-visit places that we became to love. Starting with Paris, I will share our top things to do, along with photos and in a subsequent post, our favourite eats and recommendations on what to order…because obviously food is the most important! [That tiny frame in the above picture (and below) is the Mona Lisa…] Top 10 Highlights: Walk everywhere! Paris is predominantly flat, so being able to get to places by foot was ideal for us. We loved putting on our walking shoes, filling a backpack with necessities and walking out of our apartment, with no plan for the day. The best part …

Sydney Travel Diary

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Sydney is one of my favourite cities. I love it because it is alive and vibrant any time of the day, it is very multi-cultural (think a vast range of delicious foods and products to buy) plus the views are always stunning, whether you are walking through Sydney National Park or are standing on top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. I also love that there are so many things to do, and everyone is catered for, whether you are into shopping, being out on the water, trying new foods, keeping active or just relaxing on a beautiful beach (I love Bondi and Bronte). Check out the list below of my favourite foodie places (with recommendations), shopping, and activities in Sydney: EAT I haven’t actually been to many restaurants, as we usually eat at food courts or markets, but there is one restaurant that we always revisit, namely Mama’s Buoi, a modern Vietnamese restaurant in Surry Hills. We love the rice paper rolls, vermicelli noodle salads and they also serve T2 teas. 116 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills On our most recent trip to Sydney, we planned to …

Huka Lodge, Taupo

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From the moment we drove through the gates of Huka Lodge, admiring the rows of autumn trees and the perfectly manicured gardens, we were wowed. Two men opened our car doors and took our bags to our room, while the manager welcomed us inside and gave us a glass of champagne each. He took us on a tour around the main lodge where he explained the history, the design and also showed us their many dining areas, for example the room where the Queen dined to the wine cellar room where you can dine surrounded by 6,000 bottles of wine. The lodge was charming, the ambience was warm and we were starting to feel right at home.