Category New Zealand

Feb 19 2020

The Saucy Chef on St Andrew – Invercargill

Part of the Northern Tavern Complex on the corner St Andrews & Sydney Streets, The Saucy Chef has a lovely ambiance with a a choice of dining or relaxation areas.

We retired to this cosy area for dessert. But lets rewind to the beginning.

Upon entry, friendly staff greeted us, before seating us in a glassed corner, giving an uninterrupted view of the moving canvas as locals go about their daily life. One of the perks of being the first customers for the evening I guess.

Attentive staff provided drinks, water and menus in a timely efficient manner. Let the food choices begin.

One dish I hadn’t yet tasted whilst on this NZ trip, was venison. Time to give the Denver Venison dish on the menu a trial. With a high topped presentation, the Red Deer Venison was atop Kumara mash, paired with wilted spinach, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. The basil & tomato jus was a nice finish to the overall dish. Flavours blended well with the deliciously tender venison.

Creamy mashed potatoes swimming in your choice of sauce, were a great match for the steak dish also enjoyed at our table.

As far as eyecatching presentation, this simple Gingerbread Jar dessert, certainly had what it takes. The shape of the plate, gingham style jar lid, all perfectly sprinkled with just the right amount of icing sugar, really did give the whole dessert a wow factor.

Lime & lemongrass Creme Brûlée certainly didn’t disappoint either. As they say you eat with your eyes first and these desserts, as well as the meals were very well presented, all tasty, making for a most enjoyable experience overall.

Drop by the Saucy Chef if you’re in the area. It’s an easy stroll next door to the bar for the bar experience, or stay where you are in the restaurant, to enjoy a night cap or two.

Further photos are available on Dine Live Travels Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Enjoy!

Feb 1 2020

Alexandra District Club – Alexandra NZ

Alexandra resides on the banks of the Mighty Clutha River. With a length totalling 338 kilometres , the Clutha is the second longest river in New Zealand, and largest river in the South Island. Alexandra’s population of around 5500, swells considerably during holiday season. Whilst Alexandra might be under the radar from Queenstown, it still provides its own personal punch.

The famous white clock sits up on the hill to the East, visible from many areas around Alexandra. 150 Torch bulbs illuminate the clock which can be seen from about 5 miles away. To give you some idea of the size of the clock, the minute hand is 5.6 metres long and the hour hand 4 metres. Quite an impressive structure, planned and built in the late 1960’s, with the materials at the time totalling under NZD3,000.00.

This iconic bridge provides the exit/entry towards Southland, crossing the blue waters of the Clutha. Not too far to the West and you see the Clutha Dam. Another story in itself as we covered a couple of years back. Right now though, you are in Alex and you need some sustenance, somewhere to meet the locals. We checked out the Alexandra District Club.

Australia or NZ, they accept reciprocal membership for either. Otherwise, have a member sign you in and you can then experience the local lifestyle. A busy bistro operates to keep the patrons full. Prices were reasonable, but I apologise now, I could not see past that Shrimp cocktail, oh yes you have me. One of those rare treats from years gone by, and one of the few I really do miss. Certainly did not disappoint, was exactly as I remember! Even the presentation was exactly as I would expect.

Choose your meals, drop by the counter and pay in advance. Trust me, won’t be long and the entrees and or meals will arrive depending on what you’ve ordered.

In the interim we had some meat raffles going. Didn’t take long at all, from buying your tickets to the draw. Nice steak by the way! Yes we did manage to score one packet of steak, great investment for about $8 total! Awesome down to earth meals, unfrilled, non competitive. Well done!This is one of those places that needs support. For the locals, there’s plenty happening within the club, meets etc, but, as a visitor, take some time to check them out. Like every local business they need not only their local support but yours too.

Oh and did I mention that awesome courtesy coach? Take advantage, and enjoy a drink with your meal!

Remember to add Dine Live travel on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Snapchat, there are different photos and posts everywhere!

Jan 12 2020

Novotel Hamilton Tainui

Situated next door to Sky City Hamilton Casino complex, this Novotel faces towards the mighty Waikato River. From the deck and the river facing rooms, you have some interesting views across the Waikato.

Currently undergoing renovations, including additional rooms, there’s a little less room than usual out the front of the hotel, but this will change in time once renovations are complete.

From the time we checked in, to our final day staying onsite, staff were absolutely awesome. Courteous,helpful, but also responding to individuals and treating customers differently was definitely a huge plus. Most staff were non automated, willing to share a joke and assist in any way they could. That’s what makes the service all the more personalised and special.

Our room was clean tidy and roomy enough for two people on a short stay. We had four nights, two of which included Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Staff went to a lot of trouble to construct an a awesome edible Christmas display. The thought and effort they put into this was greatly appreciated by the guests staying on site. As soon as you stepped out of the lift to head to breakfast, this incredibly detailed display was directly in front of you. From the number of photos I saw being taken in front of this, I’m sure it’s been seen by many, worldwide,Breakfast each day was a diverse array of buffet foods, as is normal for Novotels. Chef was more than happy to prepare an omelette or eggs to your liking if required. We also enjoyed a couple of other meals, along with family, with the food always being high quality, some, like the banana split above, with great presentation.

A huge thank you to the staff, in particular the breakfast/lunch crew, working over Christmas. You guys absolutely made our visit very special. You are also the reason we shall return one day.

Further photos are posted on Dine Live Travel’s Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, as well as updates in Twitter and Snapchat. You never know where we might be!

Jun 3 2018

Snapshot on Nelson – NZ South Island

In Queensland, you do not have the pleasure of going out for breakfast with a view of snow capped mountains peaking over the shopping centre roof. With beautiful days, I enjoyed this short break to the Tasman area, top of the South Island.

A short 1.5 hour flight from Auckland, the area has so much to offer and well worth the visit. Nelson sprawls across a huge area at the top of the Island, hugged closely by mountains and sea. From here you can easily access New Zealand’s rugged West Coast or the inviting Marlborough region.

My first night arriving, was a quick pickup at the airport, before being whisked off for dinner at Harbour Light Bistro. Overlooking the sea, this beautiful old home has been transformed into a restaurant on Wakefield Quay. Here you can sit near the enveloping picture framing windows and watch the harbour activity.

Staff were friendly and we were seated upstairs, not near the windows on this occasion, however you could still see the scenery framed beautifully through the expansive windows.

This homemade bread entree was a great way to start the meal, whilst nibbling away and catching up. I chose the incredibly soft, flavoursome beef fillet with roasted carrots as my main. For this weary traveller, the meal was a massive hit. Also pictured is the lamb rack, which I did consider, and Im told was most enjoyable. You need to follow a meal like this with a delectable dessert. Plus one for a special occasion, hence the choice of an enticing Creme Brûlée with turmeric and citrus salad.

Quite happy with the dessert choice. It was devine!

Be warned, food in New Zealand is an experience in itself. Fresh, with tastes most likely stronger than what you are used to, this omelette at Columbus Coffee, Richmond, provided an awesome kickstart to the day. Packed full of fresh produce, the colours lit up the table. This is also the venue providing the snow capped backdrop from earlier.

After brekky, it was off to check out the markets. Nelson city has markets which have operated for years. There’s a lot to choose from, even clothing made from possum fur.

How beautifully warm and snuggly this looked, now if I didnt come from Queensland…

When you’re on a short break, why cook? Well, on this particular trip, we were booked into one of Nelsons best restaurants, The Tides, located at the Trailways. For some this was a surprise, me, I was along for the ride, and to enjoy the look of surprise!

Bar staff were above and beyond, in fact I had a couple of wonderful conversations with the bar staff here, which was much appreciated.

Food, yes that was definitely good. Our set menu gave many choices, quite impressive given most venues with a set menu have only 2-3 mains. This one, 6 mains to choose from. Well done. I for one am tiring of the alternate drops and limited menus when you have a large group and loved this venue for many reasons, but this one was a definite plus.

Colourful bread selection started the meal, followed by mains and dessert. My choice for mains, was the salmon.

Fabulously soft, the salmon was one of the most flavoursome dishes I have enjoyed recently. Now for dessert! Again, an impressive four choices. Where are these menus when we have functions? Moving on, I chose the Salted Carmel Cheesecake. This would be the best cheesecake I have ever tasted. Soft, more akin to a mousse than a cheesecake, this was a delightful dessert to finish the meal.

Highly recommend a visit to The Tides if you are in Nelson. Their expansive restaurant caters for everything. Even impressed by the bathrooms with separate clean washrooms.

For this visit, I was lucky to be staying on a local farm. Relaxing scenery all round. Even the night sky was mesmerising, with a moon clearer and enticing, peeking through the cloud.Consider Nelson when travelling to NZ, this area has a lot to offer. There are many areas to choose from within the Tasman region, and the next blog, will cover Mapua. In the meantime, Ill leave you with another delectable meal from Columbus Coffee. Enjoy your visit to Nelson!

Jun 1 2018

The Square Restaurant- Novotel Auckland Airport

Sometimes transit times can be dull. But, should you be on flights which transit through Auckland, then take some time to dine or stay, at Novotel Auckland Airport. The Square Restaurant will not disappoint. Here there are comfy booths or stand alone dining settings, all situated under the massively high ceiling with a living wall sprouting from the bar..Delightful melt in the mouth fish made for a fantastically filling, yet light on the stomach meal, for this late evening traveller.

Room service is 24 hours, if you are looking for some peace and quiet. Or stop on in the restaurant, the friendly, professional staff will do all they can to make your meal enjoyable.Mind you the view from your room at night might be quite enticing!

Lunch was also an enjoyable meal, again with fantastic staff.

I really enjoyed this Calamari. Tender enough to chew, with a crispy exterior.

However, check out the brilliant colour on this NZ salmon bagel! The eye catching pop of colour gave a hint of how tasty this fish was.

Or, continuing on the fish theme, how about a hearty fish and chop meal? Impressively large this lunch was another tasty dish.Even the children’s meals are enticing..On a couple of occasions now we have stopped by this restaurant. Never yet have been disappointed. Stop by, the staff will look after you!

Dec 17 2017

Blenheim / Picton

Finally finishing the New Zealand story with our end destination, Blenheim.

Sprawling over a flat area, Blenheim’s best viewing point is from the Wither Hills walkway looking towards the Richmond Ranges. This popular area hosts a number of tracks through a local farm. Some steep gradients will have you at a good vantage point with 15 minutes.

Wineries, the Marlborough Sounds, mussels, where do I stop. . Marlborough is synonymous with all of these and more. Cafes, restaurants, if you’re looking for food you won’t go hungry. We were on a very limited time span, however did manage to fit in a couple of places.

A quick catch up, called for breakfast at Speights Ale House Springlands.

Service was nice and adequate with interesting surroundings, plus we had a room to ourselves. Nice when you want to have a catch up. Food was definitely good quality and generous serves. We never had the opportunity to return for other meals but can definitely recommend breakfast.

Take a drive to Picton, either directly from Blenheim or via the Queen Charlotte drive and Havelock. With limited time, we did manage a quick trip to Picton for lunch. Cafe Cortado was the recommended choice for another enjoyable catch up. Located on the waterfront with a South American infused menu, lunch was enjoyable. Choosing an outside table with a view across to the Waterfront, we settled in for a nice lunch . Plenty to see here, with the daily life of locals and tourists alike unfolding before your eyes, with a pleasant sea breeze keeping the suns rays at bay.

Loved the fresh herbs in pots!

Service was adequate and meals arrived in good time. Pizza was popular today, plus I chose a very appetising salad. Well to be fair the trip is coming to end, you start to feel like it’s time to pull back.

As I said, time was limited on this trip. However when you visit take the time to visit the many places this region has to offer. No wineries in this trip, but if you have the opportunity to take in a winetasting or lingering lunch there’s many to choose from. Or take a boat trip down the sounds. Take your time and relax, there’s a lot to see!

Nov 12 2017

Fox Glacier to Blenheim via Westport

After seeing the icy Fox Glacier, we headed up to Franz Joseph.  By now the hunger pains were setting in so time for a lunch stop.  The idea being lunch then back to the Franz Joesph Glacier.   We had missed the turnoff to Lake Matheson where we had planned lunch at the cafe.   Instead, we stopped as soon as we arrived in Franz, having a look at a lovely place called Blue Ice.  Not only was the service personal and friendly, prices were very good and the food itself was superb!  Top is the Seafood Chowder which I enjoyed immensely, below a burger meal.  Highly recommend taking the time to stop at this restaurant and bar.  If you’re coming from Hokitika, you will find this restaurant on the Southside of town, after driving through the main Franz Joesph township.

This little lookout at Franz Joesph was a short sharp hill walk from the carpark.   Franz is further back than Fox Glacier, so you have to do a lot of walking here to see the Glacier itself.  As we did not have the time today, a short walk to this lookout was all we could fit in.  A nice way to wear off the calories from that superb Blue Ice lunch.

Back on the road, we made a couple of brief stops for fuel etc as we headed towards our next destination.  Below are a couple of shots along the way.  Firstly one of the many lakes we had seen today, secondly, the iconic road road bridge near Hokitika.   A new bridge is being built next to it, so in a couple of year s traffiic probably won’t use this singe lane bridge.


Hokitika was a fuel stop for us and Greymouth we drove through.   Our main aim this afternoon was to stop at the Pancake Roacks at Punakiki.  This meant heading to Westport when we left Greymouth instead of towards Blenheim.


Punakiki is short distance from Westport and well worth stopping for.  A circuit walkway has been set up throughout the area so you can view the rocks and blowholes from many angles.   Today the rough West Coast sea was fairly calm which meant we didn’t see the water rising up high through the blowholes.  However, the incredible power of nature was very evident here.  We even found the island where seagulls live!

The West Coast of New Zealand is a incredible experience.  Rugged, natural, remote, rough yet beautiful.We took the trip from Queenstown to Westport in a day.   To see everything properly, we should have taken at least two, if not three days, however we did not have the time on this occasion.

Our stop off in Westport for the night was brief, but comfortable in a roomy motel unit at Westport Motels on the Esplanade.  Very easy to find as it was the first road on the left over the bridge.  After a quick unpack, we took a brief drive through Westport before eventually settling on the The Quarry restaurant and bar for dinner.  Lovely big meals. in a nice relaxed setting. If you are in Westport check this place out. The great down to earth West Coast service made for a nice relaxed evening.

After a well deserved sleep, we set off early in the morning heading for Blenheim.  Passing through the Buller Gorge, we saw some interesting sights, below are a few photos to show what we saw.

On a cloudy day, the Buller Gorge was today very moody.The iconic Hawks Crag is an interesting piece of one way road.    


We stopped in Murchison for a. very hearty warming breakfast.  Now thats quite an omlette, full to the brim with goodness. Well worth stopping at Beechwoods Cafe  Murchison.

The landscape started to change again as we headed towards our last roadside stop before Blenheim.Last stop, Lake Rotoiti.  We could not have visited on a better day, with the lake mirroring the towering mountains in the background.  Beautiful clear waters enhanced by the clear rays of sunlight.


Enjoy the atmosphere of these photos, I hope they have given you an insight into the spectacular ever changing scenery of New Zeal Zea  South. Is Is.  Next week, I will complete the blog of Marlborough area before we leave NZ until the next visit.   Take the time, visit here, its well worth it.

Oct 29 2017

Queenstown and surrounds = New Zealand

We have recently returned from a quick trip to NZ.   You cannot be anything less than impressed with stunning scenery as you fly into the tourist destination of Queenstown.  The rugged mountains, plunging into deep crevasses where clear rivers flow, smoothing the rough rocks to pebbles, lends itself well to the many film backdrops these breath taking landscapes have been used in.Everywhere you look something is happening. Jet boats  thrill their patrons with high powered fun on these crystal waters, skimming sideways over shallow gravel before speeding up the deeper water.  Ride the gondala, to the skyline for a birds eye view over Queenstown.  Up there you will more activities including the luge.  Take the time to drink in this amazing view, with viewing decks and so much to see you will wonder how one can ever describe this portrait. Photos never do it justice.

We had brief drive to Alexandra, stopping along the way to see the sights.  In Arrowtown, mere minutes from Queenstown we stopped in at local bakery for breakfast, eating our delicious purchases with this scenic backdrop, traces of snow still topping the mountains.

Arrowtown is quaint, retaining the look from yesteryear.   This was a quick look for us as time was of the essence, however take the time to look around.  There is much to see in this history soaked township.  

Next stop was the AJ Hackett bungy jump.  Wind your way down the spiralling ramp to the busy activities below.   Should you feel the need to jump off a bridge or whiz down the swing, all the while suspended high over the river, now is your chance.  Personally, I was happy to watch.

The iconic Clyde Dam, a most amazing feat of human engineering.   Here we stopped to marvel in this mass of concrete hydro dam, suspended above Clyde.  This huge dam supplies the north island of New Zealand with power.  Locals are supplied by the Roaring Meg.

Heading back to Queenstown our next stop was the most intriguing Motorsport Park at Cromwell. Here there are go carts, V8s and some very impressive vehicles on show, or take a ride, that option exists too.  You may prefer to take the Jurassic Park bus and look for dinosaurs!  Very cleverly designed, there is much to entertain here.

Stop at the Roaring Meg hydro power scheme.  Fabulous photo opportunity abounds as Meg obligingly roars in the background.

Enjoy your visit here, so much to see, so much do and scenery beyond belief.  Oh and don’t forget the food!  Here you will not go hungry with many eating establishments to cater for all.

You may even be lucky enough to enjoy some wonderful views with your meal. Enjoy!

I’m leaving with this this shot from underwater viewing, directly off the wharf at Queenstown. Yes this is real!  Keep an eye out for the next NZ road trip blog, a lot more to come yet.

Oct 16 2017

Frankton Arms Tavern New Zealand

Stunning scenery is par for the course in Queenstown.  However you cannot deny the breathtaking scenery whilst visiting Frankton Arms Tavern.

A big complex located in Frankton, which is next to Queenstown on Lake Wakitipu.  Staff here were very friendly helpful and looked to enjoy their working environment.


Outside there are some very impressive wooden tables, and again, that view!

We loved the meals here, with all of us agreeing the presentation of the bangers and mash was outstanding.  Take a look at this:


This simple meal was turned into a work of art.  Very impressive.


Meal sizes are extra large.  Take a look at this pizza!   

Highly recommend a visit to this great value venue.  It’s worth a trip to Queenstown to enjoy the meals whilst you soak in this beautiful area.   Enjoy😋

Nov 19 2016

A tribute to NZ’s South Island, pre-earthquake 2016

Time pushes on, never stopping, ticking away.  There are moments in time you wish you could capture, hold forever and never let go.  Memories of these moments live on, many times backed by our photos. When things change, we wish we could restore time to certain moments.

In the short three months since we visited the Marlborough region, taking the time to complete the drive to Kaikoura, so much of this area is now destroyed, moved metres not inches and unrecognisable as the beautiful rugged coastline it was.  Heartbreaking in itself.This drive has a constantly changing canvas.  From rolling hills topped with wind farm turbines, over bridges nestled between the ocean, railway tracks, farmland and hills.  Passing a coastline which became increasingly rugged.  Sandy smooth gravel stretching for miles before  morphing  to rough, sharp edged rocks.  A few twists and turns requiring low speed only as both grass covered hillsides and rocky outcrops line the highway opposite the ocean.  Here there is nowhere to go except follow the winding road.   There’s a moment I call the wow moment.  You round a sweeping bend, released from the ocean and rocks for a while, to a straight road where snow topped mountains rise majestically in the distance.It’s breathtaking.  Photos cannot do justice to the sheer magnificent beauty of this scene. Undeniably one of the biggest Wow moments on any drive.  

Having left the ocean for a while, you follow the easy road into Kaikoura.  A township which has retained the old, sprinkled with a smattering of the new.  A foreshore with amazing vistas out to endless ocean, and back up the coast where you recently passed through.The memories and photos we have will remain with us into the future.   Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone this has affected, and still does.  Those who have had their lives and livelihoods destroyed in a mere few minutes, those who will be affected by the devestation for years to come, and those who have done even the smallest thing to assist these friendly people and their beautiful area.

We hope the mainstay of tourism does not suffer long term and tourists continue to visit.   In an area which has so much natural beauty to offer, it’s important tourists continue to support.   Let’s hope these seals return to restablish their colony in the area.

Kia Kaha.