Thames Takeaways, Thames: One of the best (and definitely the cheapest!) veggie burgers I’ve ever had. And their tater tots were divine
Classic Campers, Auckland: Incredibly responsive and flexible - messaged us well into the night to ensure we could get a van when we landed due to a last minute change and gave us extra equipment for free
Mangonui Fish Shop, Mangonui: The best fish and chips we had in NZ. Doesn’t hurt that it has a beautiful view
Te Paki Sand Dunes: Sandboarding down massive sand dunes is the best way to spend a morning
Waipoua Forest: One of the last remnants of the old forest in New Zealand, the Waipoua Forest is has some of the last giants within New Zealand. An incredible park to explore. Plus, highway 12 going north through it is a stunning drive as it connects back to highway 1 meandering around a bay
Tongariro Alpine Crossing: A famous hike that isn’t overhyped - this hike truly takes you through Mordor and other stunning New Zealand terrain. Note - it’s not nearly as difficult as all the materials suggest
Hobbiton, Matamata: This was the big surprise of the trip - Hobbiton was not very kitsch-y and surprisingly lovely. The maintenance team does an incredible job at keeping all the details just right - from beautiful flowers to massive pumpkins. Also, the Mid-Summer Festival was truly magical