Lunch @ Coromandel Town

After a nice soak at The Lost Spring, we headed North to Coromandel Town. There, we had our lunch. As usual, we didn't know where to eat, what to eat. So, we walked around the town. Coromandel is a really small town and we found just the place to eat. 'Coromandel Takeaways'

When I was looking through the menu board, one of the name struck me. 'Da Whopper Burger'. I remember seeing this name on the TV something to do with Burger King not happy with them using the name Whopper but the communities didn't want to change the whole name and mentioned Da Whopper Burger is the best burger. So, we gave it a try.

Dad ordered Fish n Chips (yeah...alot of fish n chips this trip..) The batter wasn't too oily, the fish was fresh and the chips was salt-less (L always order salt-less chips for J) and they provide small sachets of salt on the counter for you to put your own salt which I think is a good thing to eat less salt. I've never come across any fast-food outlet like that.

Husband ordered Da Whopper Burger with double beef patty, bacon, mushroom, egg & cheese - $10.50 and he said it's alright. I took a bite too and I think it was tasty (I don't usually eat beef burger, I usually order either chicken or fish)

Behind is J eating his (super unhealthy) fried sausage with chips and cinnamon donut as dessert. We should have ordered the kid's burger meal...but oh well...there's always another trip. LOL...

I had the Maddie Burger with real chicken schnitzel, ham, cheese & pineapple - $9.- and I tell you...it's the BEST chicken burger I've ever eaten!! I liked the crispy chicken schnitzel and the pineapple in it makes the taste unique and slightly sweet.

I'll drive there again (when I have the time) and this time I'm going to try the Trent Burger.
Yummy! I miss the burger already...LOL

Coromandel Takeaways
124 Wharf Road
Coromandel
07-866 8438

The Lost Spring @ Whitianga, Coromandel, NZ

Ok...let me take you to the day we arrived at Whitianga. We went straight to a thermal pool - The Lost Spring (before checking into a motel). Since we reached there quite late, they're not accepting anymore guests AND they only cater for children 14 years and over!

Oh dear...we've promised J that we'll bring him to a hot pool. The one in Tauranga is closed for renovation and this one is only for children over 14 years! 'shoot'

So, we asked the receptionist if she can recommend a motel that have a private hot pool. Before she could answer, a guy standing next to us told us he would like to help us.

He is allowing us to bring J in tomorrow at 10am (before the pool opens for the public at 11am) and we just pay the normal adult price and no charge for J. I felt something fishy, so I asked the receptionist if that guy is the owner...turned out he is the owner and his name is Alan. He also recommended Beachside Resort and told us that Bruce will give us a good price! And he did! Thanks!

And of course we took up the offer!
The next morning, we reached there 5 minutes before 10am, got changed and Alan was there to greet us and told us where to go (feeling like VIPs already...HAHAHhaha)

When we opened the door to the hot pools, it was like we're entering another world.... It's like walking through a beautiful garden of Eden (not that I know how garden of Eden looks like...but you know what I mean...)

This is the walk way...with Amethyst Gemstone!

Cave with more Gemstones! (there's about 2-3 caves)

We finally found the pool, tucked quietly in a secluded place. It was just so peaceful, relaxed and beautiful!! The water was warm and I felt my muscles saying "aaahhhhh....."
There's even real life exotic birds calling out, soft background music...It was a really really nice place to be, even J wanted to stay longer.

We met Alan's mom and had a bit of chit chat. We were told that The Lost Spring just opened 18 months ago and it took Alan 20 years to build it! I envy his patience and all his hard work.
You have to be there to experience the 'garden of Eden' feeling yourself.

Thanks Alan!

The Lost Spring
121A Cook Drive,
Whitianga, NZ
07-866 0456
www.thelostspring.co.nz

(to be continue...)

My Little Buzz Lightyear

Lately, J is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear. He went to watch Toy Story 3 with his poh-poh (grandma) in the cinema over the school holidays. He wanted to wear his new Buzz's wing to the cinema but we told him he might not fit in the seat, so he left it in the car.

He'll climb on the sofa and pretend he's about to fly off to space, he'll pretend to press buttons and say "no time to lose" or "come in star command, come in" and zoom off again.
It's really cute to watch.

He have a routine, that before he climbs up to his bed, he'll pretend to press some buttons, his wings popping up and he'll say "to infinity and beyond" and I'll have to carry him and 'throw' him into his bed. It's just too cute.

A night at Whitianga

When we reached Whitianga it was almost time for dinner! (thanks to the rain, dad drove slower, and that made me felt more relaxed) 

But we've decided to checked into a motel first before it gets too dark. We were recommended to check out Beachside Resort and the manager Bruce gave us a special price at only $100.- a night (for the five of us and its usually at $99.- for a couple but because it's winter/low season + recommended by his friend, we have special price)

The room is modern, clean and warm. It fits 4 adults so he had to blow up another extra bed for us without charging extra costs.

So we unpacked and settled down, deciding on where to eat again.

J must have found a packing on the towels and thought they're chocolates (the last motel we stayed, had chocolates on the bed)
He opened it and had a small bite and realized it wasn't chocolate! Poor boy...must be very hungry.

Because Whitianga is much smaller than Tauranga, there are not a lot of restaurants and shops around, so choosing a restaurant wasn't that difficult.

We went to check out 'Salt' - fine dining restaurant & bar. It is situated right by the water of the Whitianga Marina. Too bad it was already dark when we reached there.

Mom and I ordered - Market fish with sauteed local paua, Japanese mushroom, spring onions, chilli, coriander & white miso broth - $33.-. It was a good dish. The fish is fried on the skin side, making it crispy then put in the oven and back to the pan for final round. It goes very well with the miso broth.

Dad & L ordered - 90 day grain fed eye fillet with roasted shallots, hand cut chips & bearnaise sauce - $34.-. Dad & L claimed that it's the best eye fillet they've ever tasted! So...there you go..comments from 2 meat lover.

J's entree as his main - Ragout of wild rabbit with homemade papadelle and grana padano - $18.-

J didn't really liked his dish because it was rabbit (I should not have told him it's rabbit). He couldn't finish it so husband and I licked the plate clean..It was delicious!
Service as a bit slow, we waited 30 minutes to be fed but the waiter was friendly.

Beachside Resort
20 Eyre Street,
Whitianga
Coromandel Peninsula
07-867 1356
 
Salt Bar & Restaurant
1 Blacksmith Lane
Whitianga, NZ
07-866 5818

(to be continue...)

Bye bye Tauranga

Before leaving Tauranga, we had another walk along the town and at the same time deciding on where to have our lunch. We can't decide which restaurant to go to as everyone wanted something different that we can't get in one restaurant. (we wanted to go to Mt. Maunganui Hot Salt Water Pools but was closed for renovation)

So, we ended up with kebab, sushi and fish n chips (again). We found a nice spot near the beach (sharing the spot with some hungry sea gulls)

J just had to play on the beach even though it's so windy and cold. Bbbrrrr....

Before we head up North to Whitianga, we stopped by Mossop's Honey Store. Dad takes a lot of honey. He drinks honey water, on toast and as a substitute for sugar.

They have live bee display and free honey tasting table. The store is filled with honey products such as beewax sheets for candle making, health products, gift packs and skin care products and the store smells delicious too!

www.mossopshoney.co.nz

(to be continue....)

A Trip to Tauranga.

I love travelling! But I get anxious when it comes to flying or driving long distance. So, how am I ever going to travel again? Hmm..well...I have to keep reminding those that drive to 'slow down', looking at the driver constantly making sure he/she is not falling asleep.

Sadly, when we fly I can't sit in the cockpit staring at the pilot, making sure he/she's not falling asleep or flying us into turbulence. All I can do, is squeeze hubby's hand and say a little prayer before and after take off! and drink some Vodka! Hahahaaha....

But despite all these, we took a trip to Tauranga & Coromandel over the school holidays and yes I kept reminding the husband and my dad to slow down and kept talking to them.
We drove all the way from Auckland - Tauranga. Had two stops:

We had our lunch under this big shade. Mom cooked fried noddles so we've decided to have a fast picnic here. It was nice!..you know, drizzling, cool, eating noddles out of a pot, planing where to go, which route to take, family chit chatting....it was a good start!

Playground stop for J so he doesn't get too bored in the car. This is Waihi - a gold mining town.

Gold was first discovered in Waihi at Pukewa (Martha Hill) in 1878.

Upon arrival, we went straight to the 'information center' to see what we can do, where to eat, where to stay and we also managed to grab a map of the town.

In the evening, we patronized an award winning restaurant - Two Small Fish.
For an award wining restaurant, business was pretty slow that evening. There were only 9 customers including us.

This is my Fish n Chips - $27.-. Portion was huge. Taste was just alright.

Husband L ordered Terakihi pan fried with homemade chow chow, roast potatoes & chick peas & onion fritters - $32.- Taste was just alright.

Mom & Dad shared the Gurnard pan fried with potato & chive croquetes, roast beetroot, pancetta, micro salad & verjuice granita - $32.- Taste was just alright as well. Nothing fancy.

This is J's dinner. Risotto with flounder, prawn, cherry tomato & sweet corn - $16.-. This is actually an Entree but it's a good size for him. It was the BEST meal of the evening and even dad ordered another round of risotto after his main. When dad says it's nice...it's really quite nice! So, we all forked in to try. Yup! Better than my fish n chips...

So, after filling up our belly, we went for a walk around the town of Tauranga. I noticed that there are a lot of shop brands that we can't find in Auckland. There's no Just Jeans, no Cotton On, no Principles, and no Ballentyne (not that I shop in all these stores) but they have mostly private brands and the stores are all nicely decorated!! Very different from the stores we see in Auckland.

We checked ourselves into a 'Spanish Style' Motel - Mission Belle Motel for $200.- a night. The room fits exactly the 5 of us but too bad there's no hot pool to relax in after the long journey... so we took out our laptops instead. Hahahaaha...

J brought his friends along this trip as well. Meet Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Mr. Rabbit!!

(to be continue...)

Farmer Bill's Fresh Baby Peeled Carrots Review

Very happy to receive a big box of Farmer Bill's Fresh Baby Peeled Carrots. There's a total of twelve individually packed carrots. They were still cool when I opened the box and the packs looks attractive (especially the bright orange colour).

I gave 1 snack pack (75g) to J and he opened the bag by himself...no problem.

He enjoyed the carrots...no nagging needed...which is a good sign...LOL.

I don't usually like munching on raw carrots, but I have to say Farmer Bill's Fresh Baby Peeled Carrots does taste fresh, crunchy, sweet and looks cute. I was surprised I ate more than I usually do.

I also like the fact that we can eat it straight from the bag and it's a good size to bring along and will definitely be in J's lunch box this week (for a lazy bum like me, it's an easy and quick way to make sure the family have the 5 servings of veges a day!)

You can make fangs with these baby carrots too!

Thanks to Farmer Bill's Fresh Baby Peeled Carrots for sending a generous amount for trial.