Author Archives: thecuriouskiwi

Fish for lunch in Takaka

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Anatoki Salmon, 242 McCallum Road, Takaka
You catch it, they’ll smoke it at Anatoki Salmon. We spotted Matty McLean and friends fishing for their lunch – success. The use of fishing gear is free, you pay per kg for the salmon you catch. In November the price was $15 a kilo, from what we saw expect to pay about $22 per fish (includes cleaning and smoking).

I wasn’t keen to give it a go, it seemed a bit like going to the zoo to hunt wild game to me, but I was happy to have salmon sushi in the cafe … Read the rest

Weird and wonderful short walks in Takaka

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Weird – The Labyrinth, Scott Road
The Labyrinth consists of a maze like pathway through limestone rock formations. Pick up a brochure at the entrance (or Takaka i-SITE), it helps you find formations that to someone look like The Kissing Pigs, a Troll Bridge, Stegosaurus and plenty more. We’re wondering if the person who identified the formations was high on something other than life at the time. Then there’s the smurfs and plastic toys along the way, we’re probably just not imaginative enough. 

We could kind of make out The Indian’s Face, maybe. Still, it’s an unusual attraction worth a … Read the rest

Staying Curious in Marlborough Wine Country

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A silver coin was planted at Montana Wines (now Brancott Estate) in 1973 as a token of good fortune, in 1975 the first sauvignon blanc vines were planted out of curiosity. In 1990 the sauvignon blanc was awarded the ‘Marquis de Goulaine trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc’ at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.

Curiousity helped bring good fortune to Brancott Estate who in turn helped put New Zealand sauvignon blanc on tables around the world.

These days Marlborough is the largest wine producing region in the country, according to Wine Marlborough it produces 77% of the country’s … Read the rest

Parasailing in Pahia

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Parasailing has been described as adrenalin lite, having done a bungy jump I tend to agree, but with Flying Kiwi Parasail in Paihia you are going to fly incredibly high – up to 1200 feet – NZ’s highest parasail.

And unlike a bungy which is over in a few seconds, you are going to remain at a great height for around 10 minutes. Those minutes can feel like hours when you’re contemplating shouting “Please  Get  Me  Down  From  Here”. Unless your wits have deserted you, and mine came close, you realise shouting is pointless, no one in command can hear … Read the rest

No worries in Golden Bay – Sans Souci Inn

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It only takes a minute or two to walk from San Souci Inn to Pohara beach, but you may find the hammock strung in the courtyard is as far as you want to go. Sans Souci translates to “no worries”, the perfect fit for this unique, eco friendly property in laid back Golden Bay (approximately 90 minutes from Nelson).

Sans Souci is unique in its construction and design, it was hand built by owners Reto and Vera Balzer from more than 9,500 mud bricks. The thick brick walls of the Inn retain the sun’s heat and release it at night. … Read the rest

Curious or creepy? Wunderbar, Lyttelton

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Wunderbar prides itself on being unique, I’m going to call it curious, and a little bit creepy. The dolls head light shades could be considered cute, and if you’re going to behead some victims and display their heads in a cabinet it’s probably best they belong to Sindy and Barbie.

It was the hair roller light shades (with hair) that led me into creepy territory. I don’t know if the hair was real, neither of us was keen to examine it closely.  I couldn’t help wondering though whether hair from a hundred nanas was hanging out with us on Friday … Read the rest