A healthy backpackers lunch

If you've ever backpacked, you'd understand that cheap is cheerful, but not always tasty or sustainable, over a long period of time! Today we decided to throw together a few colourful fruits and veggies, alongside some hummus and a jasmine green tea. It was only a few NZ dollars between us too. No malnourishment for this traveller!

When blue meets green

Just a sensational view from the peak, looking over Taupo. The lake in the distance was formed by a volcanic eruption 5000 years ago. It is also roughly the size of Singapore!

Snow capped volcanos and waterfalls

Stopping off at Terikaki falls was a must when travelling from Taupo to River valley. Perfectly blue skies, above a dormant volcano and a refreshing waterfall was a lovely pit stop. There was a good footpath walk through the trees which looped you back round to a fancy hotel which served high tea. Unfortunately, I did not treat myself to that at the end (although I'm sure I deserved it).

Yellow yumminess

This Eggs Montreal was cooked to near perfection! The salmon was super fresh and the muffins were toasted just right. The hollandaise sauce was very rich and creamy, so I didn't need another bite. It went down smoothly with a little Latte on the side. 

Where: Olive on Cuba street, Wellington 

Price: £ (very cheap)

Rating: 8/10

Lodge in the wilderness

Next stop was River Valley, where we stayed in a rather large lodge and had a tastyyyyy roast dinner, lots of wine and a little chocolate when we got peckish later. There was a beautiful river down in the valley, as you may have guessed from the name. It had a pulley swing that went across it, so that you could swing and jump in the chilly water (if you were crazy enough).

It would be Rhubarb not to...

Fig and rhubarb crusted pie, with a scoop of fresh mascarpone went down a treat. The crisp pastry with sprinkled sugar complemented the taut filling. I also had an apple, lime and mint herbal tea in a cute little pot. It was an explosion of flavours. 

Where: Loretta's, Wellington 

Price: ££

Rating: 7/10

Kia Ora!

...also means Welcome, in the Maori language. Staying with the native tribe is a real cultural MUST, when visiting New Zealand. We played traditional games, learnt their alphabet song, and the men jooned in with the famous Haka ritual dance. We also indulged in 'Hungi???' Which is their famous way of cooking underground in a pit with hot coals. It was truly succulent and delicious! 

Just chilling, waiting for Frodo...

So Hobbiton village in Matamata, Rotorua really made you feel like a hobbit! The gardens were kept in pristine condition , and there were large and small Hobbit holes to create different perspectives for the film. You also get a free hobbit cider at the end in the cutest little hobbit bar!

Tall trees

We stopped off to explore the beautiful Redwood trees in the forest on our way to Taupo. Definitely worth a walk, there was an hour or half and hour option. We were told to watch out for 'weta' bugs. I didn't see any big ones, but I could certainly hear them.

Windy summit!

Took a short, but very vertical hike up to the summit of Mount Tauhara Maunga. We were very nearly blown away during this picture (as my hair shows). We met a friendly Canadian on the way up, who gave us a well deserved bottle of 'Lion red' Kiwi beer at the top too! There were a couple of slips and slides on the way down, but we survived and made it to the lake to have a little picnic. 

Cathedral cove

About a 30 minute hike down, up and down again to a beautiful little cove area with an variety of trees growing sideways from the rocks above you. You only have a limited time to enter through the arch to another beach area, before the tide rolls up and traps you in. 

 Pulled pork kiwi fruit nachos

Lots going on here! These nachos were an explosion of taste, finished off with an original 'Kiwi fruit salsa'...seeing as I am in Kiwi territory!

Cost: £££

Rating: 7/10

Pump up the heat at Hot Water Beach

A place where you use shovels to dig deep in to the sand to make your very own hot tub! You have to search around a little for the right spot of not too hot, not too cold. Just like Goldilocks and her porridge. 

...Legend has it that the native tribes used to cook their enemies alive in these hot pools and eat them to spite the other tribe. NICE. 

Burger Badness

Badness... actually meaning goodness! So I've heard that New Zealand has pretty tasty lamb, so I went straight ahead and got a lamb and feta special. It was truely sublime.

Where: The Lobby in Auckland city 

Cost: ££

Rating: 9/10

Auckland city

My first stop in New Zealand...Auckland City! Quite a small, cosy city with lots of fancy boats and yachts on the harbour. We were there on a Kiwi national holiday day, so got to see all the locals with traditional tribal  face tattoos and face paints. There was also a wonderful fireworks display in the eve.

Eggcellent start to my trip 

Having breakfast at the airport is a must do tradition of mine, that's stems from going on family holidays when I was younger. There were no English muffins, so I have to have a brown bread substitute. Needless to say that I still polished off the whole lot ;) 

Price: £ (cheap)

Rating: 6/10

...next stop NEW ZEALAND