Auckland Scene: Admittedly, it’s been a good couple of decades since I last ventured through the hallowed gates of New Zealand’s favourite little amusement park. Since then, my experience of theme parks has been limited to a disenchanting Disneyland experience (I’m the guy who shows up on the day the rollercoaster is closed for repairs) [...]
New Zealand
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10
MarRainbow’s End night rides and live gigs
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9
MarPasifika 2010 this weekend in Auckland!
Pasifika Festival is coming up at Western Springs this weekend. I know this because the Auckland City Council delivered me a letter telling me so. I guess they’re pre-empting neighbourly complaints from those who try to drive down the closed Bullock Track and who will have their street parking nicked, their peaceful weekend consumed by [...]
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8
MarFancy pants dog hotel & spa
If your pooch is like one of the family then you’ll love this: Pets in the City – a doggy day spa and hotel in Auckland’s Mt Wellington where the VIP suites come with flat screen TVs playing the Nickelodeon channel and dog biscuits are left on their pillow at night. I kid you not.
This [...] -
4
MarSounds good Auckland
Auckland Scene:
If you’re like me, you’ll still remember the days when it was a rare occasion for a Big Name International Band to make the trip down under. It was almost as if little old New Zealand didn’t feature on the universal music promoter’s map, either that, or we were mistaken for Tasmania’s crooked [...] -
2
MarLooking for good curry in Taupo?
When you’re making the pilgrimage from Auckland to Hawkes Bay, as one is want to do when a whanau weekend beckons, where to stop and eat in Taupo is very important. If I’m roaring through around brunch-o’clock I’ll stop at Replete on HeuHeu street, which also has a very nice kitchenware shop attached. You can [...]
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1
MarEver wondered where hotel furniture goes to die?
Well now I know.
I’ve just slept under the stars at SkyCity Hotel … well technically while I was under the stars I was also under a roof and a fluffy duvet in a posh room. Unlike that mysterious Valentine couple who won the Trade Me auction and paid $5200 to have a private boudoir set [...] -
26
FebFancy a little Mexican?
Auckland Scene: I’ll be the first to admit that my knowledge of all things Mexican is limited to a very shaky rendition of Ricky Martin’s Living La Vida Loca at karaoke bars. I did have an authentic Mexican dining experience once, just outside of Orange County, California; a great little place wedged firmly between a [...]
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24
FebVisit Zion Wildlife Gardens – if you can find it!
Having heard more about Zion Wildlife Gardens in Northland from their notoriety than anything else, I was curious to make the detour from Whangarei.
Firstly it is ridiculously hard to find! There was one sign in the tiny town of Kamo pointing left, then nothing. They left us in the lurch for what seemed like hours, [...] -
23
FebThe highs and filthy lows of Northland’s toilets
I’ve just done a 5-day roadie in Northland and spent more than a few minutes hovering over various quality toilets. From designer dunnies to basic ablution blocks, here’s the pictorial run down of loos you’ll want to write home about and one you won’t…
Some are definitely worthy of writing to your friends and family about, [...] -
22
FebAuckland Lantern Festival this weekend
Auckland City Council has described this weekend’s Auckland Lantern Festival as a “glowing finale” to the Chinese New Year. Clearly, there have been some cutbacks in the Council’s Pun Dept.
Tragic entendre’s aside, the Lantern Festival’s always a stunner. For one weekend Albert Park is diligently swept clean of hobos and replaced with the soft hue [...]





Megan Singleton is an