Muri Night Market, Rarotonga

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Muri Night Market is held on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday nights from 5pm – 9pm (weather permitting). The market is next to Muri Beachcomber accommodation where you’ll also find the bus stop. Take cash as there is no EFTPOS, there is an ANZ ATM nearby. Most mains are $10 – $15, desserts like chocolate eclairs and coconut cheesecake are $5+.

Do a local school as well as the environment a favour by renting a plate and cutlery for a gold coin donation, such a brilliant initiative ….

Noodle Tent – choose your noodles: udon, chow mein, vermicelli or rice … Read the rest

Beach Hop 2018

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There were a few unusual vehicles in the Grand Parade at Beach Hop this year including a yellow electric 1957 Ford Fairlane. If you’re in New Zealand you’ve probably seen Ron and Malcolm making a quiet getaway in the big yellow Ford in the Mercury Energy TV ad (if not follow the link).

We were talking about what makes Beach Hop one of the best car events we’ve been to and for us one of the many reasons is the sound, it’s not a quiet car event as anyone who stands on Port Road in Whangamata will tell you.

Will … Read the rest

Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

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If you’re visiting Isle of Pines on a cruise ship, chances are a tender will take you to shore where the sandy curve of Kuto Bay stretches out in front of you, with the seaside restaurant at Hotel Kou Bugny in the distance. It’s about an 800 metre walk to Hotel Kou Bugny and you’ll most likely pass BBQ’s and food stalls set up by locals for visiting cruise ship passengers.

If your plans involve relaxing on the beach you can alternate between the silky sands of Kuto and Kanumera Bays, they are separated by a short walk through trees … Read the rest

Mystery Island, Vanuatu

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Chances are if you’re visiting Mystery Island in Vanuatu you’re going to be on a cruise, although the little island does have an airport and air strip. We were onboard the Carnival Legend, part of the Carnival Cruise Line that also owns P&O Cruises. We sailed out of Sydney late December 2017 and arrived by tender to Mystery Island on 1 January 2018.

Mystery Island is uninhabited because it is thought to be haunted, as such I was expecting sand, sea and not much else, I was in for a surprise. We booked an advanced snorkeling tour (AUD$82) on the … Read the rest

ibis Budget Hotel Auckland Airport – Update

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In 2014 I moaned (First World problems) about the lack of tea and coffee making facilities and fridge in the rooms at ibis Budget Hotel Auckland Airport. However a  recent early morning flight out of Auckland, and the chance to save some dollars, meant I decided to forego the lack of facilities and return to the hotel.

On check in to my $107 room I almost did a happy dance when I saw a fridge and what I needed to make a hot drink. So if you’re after a cheap sleep and a cup of tea in a comfortable budget … Read the rest

Christchurch Street Art

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There are 41 photos of Christchurch street art below, the first 9 photos were taken in the seaside suburb of New Brighton, the rest of the photos were taken in the central city. A good website to visit if you’re looking for Christchurch street art is Watch This Space, there are over 100 pieces of street art featured along with a map to help you find them.

The street art festival Street Prints Otautahi (20 December – 31 December) will see new murals painted in New Brighton, Lyttelton and the central city. … Read the rest

Nelson Classic Car Museum

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History
There is some interesting history surrounding the site of the Nelson Classic Car Museum. The land was purchased by the Government in the late 1950’s to build a cotton mill. The mill was never completed and the project was canned, it cost £280,000. The land and mill buildings were sold to Standard Triumph New Zealand in July 1964 for £75,000.

Standard Triumph already had a car plant in Christchurch so the Nelson site allowed for expansion. Triumph 2000, Triumph Herald and Leyland vans were assembled and the first vehicle rolled off the Nelson production line in November 1965. Luxury … Read the rest

Feasting at Hobbiton – Evening Banquet Tour

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Let’s get into it – The Evening Banquet Tour includes a tour of Hobbiton Movie Set and costs $190 for an adult. Our tour started at 4.30pm from Shires Rest Cafe where we boarded a bus to Hobbiton. Our guide Belinda then took us on a guided tour through the magical Shire.

We arrived at The Green Dragon Inn around 6pm, chose our complimentary beverage, then waited for the big feast reveal at 6.30pm.

The curtains were parted to show a table laden with food – beef and ale stew with dumplings, salmon, duck, a whole chicken, a pan of … Read the rest

Wendelton Guinea Pig Village, Nelson

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Guinea pigs aren’t related to pigs and they don’t come from Guinea, they are the domesticated relations of the Brazilian guinea pig. The guinea pigs at Wendelton Guinea Pig Village couldn’t care less, it’s all about friendship and carrots for them.

And carrots are good for them because they’re hard, and guinea pigs teeth are continually growing. However carrot is like cake to guinea pigs, and another guinea pig fact – the little critters can get diabetes, so too much carrot is a no no. They like lots of friends though and are very sociable, so village life must … Read the rest

Paying it forward in Auckland

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Walking up Queen Street in Auckland recently I passed a man sitting with his belongings outside the Louis Vuitton store. Framed in the window above the man’s head was a handbag with Vincent Van Gogh’s art work all over it. It struck me that Vincent Van Gogh would likely have more in common with the man sitting on the street than he would with someone who could afford to buy a designer handbag.

The homeless people on Queen Street are the visible homeless, there are many more, some sleep in cars and some live in overcrowded accommodation.

We should be … Read the rest