The 7 top places to watch whales and dolphins in New Zealand

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Visitors to New Zealand are often amazed how easy it is for them to get close up to whales and dolphins in the coastal seas and fiords that are their home. 

The South Island is the best place to see whales and dolphins with the help of expert guides and tourism operators who specialise in marine experiences.

Top choices

Kaikoura, South Island

Whale Watch Kaikoura

The Whaleway Station Whaleway Road, Kaikoura

Whale Watch is owned and operated by the indigenous Ngāti Kuri people of Kaikoura, a Maori sub-tribe of the South Island’s larger Ngāi Tahu Tribe.

Established in 1987 when national unemployment was threatening the South Island community of Kaikoura, the business has built a fleet of catamarans with engines that minimise noise so they can get close to sperm whales. They use sophisticated listening devices to find whales more than 5kms away.

Kaikoura is the only place in New Zealand you can see giant sperm whales, and you can see them all year.

It has won numerous national and international awards including a Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Award in its Environment and Eco-tourism category (2011), an Australasian Responsible Tourism Award at the 2014 Asia & Australasia World Travel awards and the 2016 Award of Excellence for Travel/Tourism websites at the Communicator Awards.

Whale Watch has Qualmark Enviro-Gold status for exceptional standards of responsible tourism.

After the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, Whale Watch were forced to restrict some of their operations, timing tours to coincide with tidal conditions while repairs to the coastline were made.

Akaroa, South Island

Akaroa Dolphins 

65 Beach Rd, Akaroa

This is a family-owned business cruises its catamaran across Akaroa Harbour, home to the smallest and arrests dolphins in the world, known as the Hector’s dolphin.

Akaroa Dolphins’ harbour cruise was judged to be the Best Dolphin Watching Experience in New Zealand at the 2013 Rankers Awards, beating 19 other operators in the category.

Next best (not in order)

Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, North Island

Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari

New Zealand Maritime Museum, 175 Quay Street, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland

Their boat holds 100 passengers and their 4.5 hour eco-cruise to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park leaves daily from Auckland’s waterfront.

You may see up to five different species on your cruise (see none and you get a free return cruise), including Orca whales, Bryne’s whales and the common dolphin.

The operator has been awarded TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence from 2013 to 2016.

Bay of Islands. North Island

Plenty of operators run cruises out of Paihia and there are plenty of opportunities to see the common dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin. You might even get the chance to swim with the dolphins. One of the most popular local tours is out to Hole in the Rock. Occasionally, you might spot a killer whale.

Marlborough Sounds, South Island

Plenty of dolphins in these waters at the northern tip of the South Island. You can easily see many species including orca, dusky, common, bottlenose and even the rare Hector’s dolphin. You can take your chances paddling a kayak or look for a local dolphin tour.

Fiordland, South Island

Cruises on Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound usually attract a few bottlenose dolphins in the wake, allowing passengers to get plenty of photographs. Forget the idea of going swimming with these dolphins – the depth of the fiords means the water is freezing.

Tauranga/Mt Maunganui, North Island

Though this area has a lower profile than others for eco-tourism, there are tour companies who specialise in find dolphins and even the odd killer whale on the Bay of Plenty coast. Pods of orca often swim into Tauranga Harbour.

Our guide to the best fish and chips in New Zealand

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New Zealand’s best fish and chip shops have been identified through a series of national competitions, revealing the best fryers in six regions.

The country’s Best Chip Shop competition reveals a national champion with the best fish and chip shops named for each region.

It’s an easy and well-tested way to sort out New Zealand’s best fish and chips with judging including criteria such as achieving fat content below 9% for chips that are independently lab tested.

Now run by The Chip Group, the competition started in 2006 and revealed national and regional winners in 2013 with plans for a refreshed competition in 2017.

From the results, it’s easy to identify those fish and chip shops that are consistently prominent in the regional and national awards.

New Zealand’s best fish and chip shops:

Top choice

Oceanz Seafood Silverdale

Corner Hibiscus Coast Highway/East Coast Rd, Silverdale, North Shore, Auckland

Oceanz Seafood Silverdale won the national title in 2009 and under new management, took the regional titles in 2011 and 2013, and scooped the top national honours in 2013. The shop is easy to find on the main highway from the Silverdale turn-off of State Highway 1, about 45 minutes north of central Auckland. It’s part of a chain of Oceanz-branded fish and chip shops in Auckland, all sourcing their fish through the city’s fresh fish market.

Oppies Takeaway Rotorua

Corner Fenton St and Malfory Rd, Rotorua

Owner Michael Huang is an enthusiast for trying to cook the best fish and chips but with the healthiest cooking methods. In 2013, he received a special achievement award for his efforts to raise industry standards. Oppies use rice bran oil in their fryers to keep their chips crispy and golden brown as well as low in fat. Oppies won the national title in 2011 after being a finalist in 2010, and the regional champion in 2008 and 2009. They won a Rotorua Hospitality Award in 2014 and are won Best Retail Business at the 2013 Rotorua Business Awards.

Other finalists in the latest competition:

Greenwoods Fresh Catch

1 Pah Road, Greenwoods Corner, Epsom, Auckland

Owners Thomas and Lilian Sug opened in Greenwoods Corner after previously running an award-winning takeaway in Papakura, South Auckland. They source their fresh fish from Seamart and serve their chips in cardboard boxes to keep them fluffy on the inside but crisp on the outside.

Queen Vic Chippy

85c Victoria Street, Cambridge, Waikato

Having opened only in 2013, this English-style fish and chip shop uses qualified chefs and offers gluten-free options. They pack their takeaways in cardboard boxes and, yes, they serve mushy peas.

Fish King Takeaways

26 East Street, Fielding, Manawatu

Noted for cooking with clean oil and using cardboard boxes for serving up fish and chips. The reputation of this takeaway joint draws many customers from Palmerston North who think it’s worth the 36km round trip for award-winning fare. A finalist in the regional awards in 2010.

Victory Square Fish & Chips

176 St Vincent Street, Toi Toi, Nelson

Bought by Nelson couple Ekkehardt and Malia Klinge in 2012, Victory Square jointly won the regional title under its previous owners in 2011 and was a regional finalist in 2010.

The Naked Chip

45 Shearman St, Waimate, South Canterbury

Owners Rene Bullock and Beverley Knowles opened The Naked Chip in 2012. They stock up to seven varieties of fresh fish and Bluff oysters and whitebait when in season. And they even serve pizzas from their Italian stone oven for those who are not so keen on fish and chips.

Our guide to the best fish and chip shops in New Zealand

Northland & Far North Ι Auckland’s North Shore Ι Auckland Ι Waikato Ι Coromandel Ι Tauranga Ι Rotorua Ι Taupo Ι Hawkes Bay Ι Manawatu Ι Taranaki Ι Wellington Ι Nelson Ι Blenheim Ι Christchurch Ι South Canterbury Ι Otago Ι Southland Ι Best oysters in New Zealand  Ι 10 best seafood treats in New Zealand

 

The Kiwis who want to commit – where they live

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A search to find the New Zealand men and women who least want to stray in their relationships has revealed they’re easier to find in small North Island towns.

Paraparaumu (population 25,000), a satellite town north of Wellington, and Kerikeri (population 7,200) in Northland appear to be the commitment capitals of New Zealand.

Dating website EliteSingles surveyed 6,000 members to find the top 10 places in New Zealand where people most value monogamy.

The study asked random participants how much they agreed with the statement ‘I believe that monogamy is essential in a relationship’. These scores were then weighted for each area.

“Our average user does tend to be slightly more mature than on some dating sites, with the majority of our users giving serious thought to settling down.” -EliteSingles NZ editor Sophie Watson on the survey’s results.

Only areas with at least 25 responses were included in geographic averages.

Top 10 cities for the most monogamous Kiwis

1. Paraparaumu

2. Kerikeri

3. Te Awamutu

4. Rangiora

5. Wellington

6. Hastings

7. Pukekohe

8. Tauranga

9. Blenheim

10. Nelson

Top 10 cities for the most monogamous men

1. Paraparaumu

2. Wanaka

3. Wellington

4. Lower Hutt

5. Hastings

6. Dunedin

7. Whakatane

8. Tauranga

9. Pukekohe

10. Te Awamutu

Top 10 cities for the most monogamous women

1. Kerikeri

2. Te Awamutu

3. Blenheim

4. Queenstown

5. Pukekohe

6. Nelson

7. Paraparaumu

8. Rangiora

9. Tauranga

10. Christchurch

Source: EliteSingles Survey, published January 2017.

6 of the best hot sauces in New Zealand

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New Zealand has a growing reputation for making world-class hot sauces, winning a combined haul of 11 medals at the 2016 World Hot Sauce Awards.

The American-based World Hot Sauce Awards are considered the most prestigious and coveted Chilli awards in the world. More than 1000 products were entered by 213 companies representing 16 Countries with five New Zealand Chilli companies winning awards at the ceremony held in Louisiana.

Fire Dragon Chillies won the title of World Champion in the Extra Hot category with their Fire Dragon Chillies Deadly Chilli Sauce which is made from the hottest chillies on earth. It is the second time their Deadly Sauce as taken out the Xtra Hot category after winning in 2014 and now 2016.

Huffman’s Sauces had the largest medal haul on the night with their Huffman’s Thai Sweet Chilli Aromatic Sauce and Huffman’s Spiced Bloody Mary Tomato Ketchup each winning Silver medals in their respective divisions as well as scooping up another Silver and a Bronze for their website and packaging.

Baxter’s Original won a Silver in the BBQ Sauce Division for their Baxter’s Spicy Bourbon BBQ Sauce and a Bronze in the same divisions with their Baxter’s Chipotle BBQ Sauce.

The Lucky Taco won Silver with their The Lucky Taco Chipotle Hot Sauce in the Chipotle Sauce Category.

Culley’s won Silver with their Culley’s Buffalo Wing Sauce in the Wings Sauce Category.

Wild West Worcester won a Bronze medal with their Sweet Black Sauce in the Hot Sauce Category and their Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce received a Bronze in the marketing division.

The chilli scene in New Zealand is just getting hotter and hotter and here are some to test the palate.

Six hot, hot, hot sauces

Baxter’s Original (Wellington)

A family run business in Wellington, New Zealand. The idea for the business started as their family had so many different food allergies, it seemed as far as food went there wasn’t anything store bought they could have that was packaged. They were all full of gluten, colouring, preservatives with strange numbers and thickeners with hidden wheat. So since 2013, they have worked on perfecting their recipes of hypoallergenic sauces and ice cream that everybody can have. They first sold them through work, then went on to markets, now they are releasing them in stores. They use the most healthy ingredients, handcraft every portion, and make sure you still have plenty of flavour.

Culley’s (Auckland)

Named after owner and founder Chris Cullen, a playful nickname now crafting its way as a household brand around the globe. Culley’s passion for all things hot started from a very young age and saw him creating hot sauces for friends and family. After a long career as a chef, and much encouragement from his mates, Chris decided to turn his passion into a business, Culley’s was born. Now stocked in all main supermarkets and good food retailers, you’ll also find your favourite Culley’s sauces in some of New Zealand’s most popular restaurants.

Fire Dragon Chillies (Hokianga)

Fire Dragon Chillies was born at the start of 2008 and is based in Northland, on an amazing piece of land near the Hokianga Harbour. Here Fire Dragon Chillies grow their chillies all organically with no sprays. The mineral water they are fed is straight from the earth through a natural spring. All the produce for their sauces is grown by them or other growers in Aotearoa. All have no preservatives, additives or colourings. And all come packed with quality chillies grown by them for you. Their sauces are all HOT so please use with caution and enjoy.

Huffman’s Sauces (Wellington)

Born in Wellington, Huffman’s range of handcrafted sauces are the result of years of work at the top of his field by master chef Nicholas Huffman’s. As a chef, Nick didn’t want sauces that would compete with the flavours of his ingredients or overpower his dishes and his sauces are all crafted to work as seasonings that bring balance and harmony to dishes so that they lift the flavours … simply put you taste your food more with a little Huffs. Huffman’s use only the finest natural ingredients, with no artificial preservatives, stabilisers, additives or colourings.

The Lucy Taco (Auckland)

Established in 2013, The Lucky Taco food truck is the spicy brainchild of husband and wife team, Sarah and Otis Frizzell.Besotted with tacos and after a love affair with food trucks during their honeymoon to LA and Mexico in 2011, the pair set about to give keen New Zealanders a taste of the real deal – fresh, tasty and authentic soft shell tacos, served from a glittering, shiny taco truck. They’ve since taken their sauces, rubs and tacos on the road and you can now find their ranges of authentic Mexican fare at many local supermarkets and speciality food stores.

Wild West Worcester (Dargaville)

Founder Karty has been making her Worcester sauce for her very large extended family for years and years and they all love it.The word has since spread and now she’s started making it commercially for loyal customers here and overseas. her Sauces take a really long time to make; many many months of different stages and lots and lots of ageing between the stages. But, as they say, good things take time, and now with a couple of World Medals to her name, things are looking bright for her dark sauce.

Source: Scoop 2016

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