We have put together a few notes on things you might find useful for a visit. Hope to see you soon.
The Kiwi experience – the essentials
Supermarkets
–
New World
and Countdown (Sainsbury) and PAC and Save (Aldi) ; avoid 4 Square
–
Fruit, meat and fish – good value esp lamb and
steak.
–
Fish – kawai, snapper, green mussels
–
Cheese – expensive
Café life – flat white coffee, deli cakes and savouries are great; L and P
lemonade; tipping in cafes/restaurants not expected; cold water supplied in
cafes as standard
Maori – learn some history; its
not just about the haka
Kiwi lingo – all good…sweet as….awesome…jandals and togs
Pies – a wide range; Kiwis love their pies
Rugby and sport – love it, sport is a religion here!
News – daily Herald, 6 News on Channel One; weather with
Jim; comment on daily news Kiwi style on 7 Sharp. Radio New Zealand National
for early morning news.
Tramping
–
Listen to the Tui, enjoy the dancing of the
fantail
–
Spot the silver underside of the iconic and
ubiquitous symbolic fern
–
There are
no nasty surprises in the bush – nothing poisonous
Accommodation – try backpacker lodges they have much more
than bunk room accommodation and you meet lots of people; all motels have
cooking/dining facilities in the room
Beer and wine – wines enough said but they are not cheap; choose craft beers
Roadside – lots of dead possums; stop and buy great cheap
fruit and honey ; buy fejoia and golden kiwifruit in season. Drivers can drive
very close behind. Don’t park facing the wrong way you’ll get a fine!
I sites -tourist
office in every town and are great; barbecues with gas provided in many
camp/beach sites
Shopping
–
if you have forgotten clothing etc buy at Op
shops (charity)
–
Noel Leeming – Currys
–
Warehouse – everything
–
Paper Plus – Smiths – sells weekly Guardian/Telegraph
Deals – google: Book Me, Grab One and Trade Me (a kiwi
institution)
Eating out – they eat/entertain early !
WiFi – not as prolific as we are used to
