explore the city i live in

http://www.tandemparagliding.com

Awesome. Probably one of the closest experiences to flying like a bird that you can have.

I told my pilot, Dave, that my friend had a 45 minute flight (advertised as being typically around 15 minutes), and I think that inspired him to try to best that… and all up, my flight was 55 minutes! It was worth the 175 NZD in my opinion :)

New Zealand has great cafe culture, and there’s certainly no shortage of cafes in Queenstown.

• Joe’s Garage
• Bean Around the World

Vudu
This is probably my favorite cafe. Consistently good coffee, desserts, and food. Inside, the tables are a bit cramped. Outside alleyway seating, with heat lamps. Magazines to browse, and a computer for quick web use.

Forge
This was voted runner-up for best Queenstown cafe in Cafe Magazine. It’s slightly out of the thick of things on Athol Street. Coffee is generally solid; flat whites are semi-Wellington style (smaller, but still not quite as flavor-packed). Desserts have been reasonable. High ceilings and big windows lend airiness and light. Coffee happy hour M-F 9-10am: $2 flat white or long black.

Naff Caff
My mom thinks that the coffee here was the most flavorful, and I’d probably agree, but there have been a few times that it’s tasted slightly burnt. Again, slightly out of the way, on Shotover St., close to the bend into Beach St. Bright, slightly whimsical decor. Just tried the blueberry pancakes recently, and they get high marks (and I’m not even a pancake person usually!).

Coco
I was introduced to this place while I was still hostelling because they had a brilliant $10 pancake and coffee deal, which is sadly no longer in existence. The flat whites tend to be overly milky. Right in the bustle of Shotover St., dark decor, not a lot of light, a little cramped.

Flavours
This place is tucked away in a walkway behind Monty’s, and it’s nice and bright, but also across from a current construction site that can be a bit noisy. Good coffee (Caffe L’Affare), and the one dessert I tried was tasty.

Vespa
This is probably the most unique cafe. It’s inside the oldest building in Queenstown, and the space is multitasked to be a design store as well. There’s a lovely patio area for sunny days; if I recall correctly, there’s not much indoor cafe space. I’ve only been there once, but the coffee was good.

Leonardo’s
This was voted the best cafe in Queenstown in Cafe Magazine. They roast their own organic coffee, and they do indeed do coffee well. I’ve only tried the french toast foodwise, and it was my favorite place for that, but the last couple times it hasn’t been as good. Nice high ceilings. About a 15 minute walk from town on Gorge Rd.

Old Man Rock
Right in town on the Mall. Smallish interior with some bar type seats by the windows and a few tables, fairly ample outdoor seating. Flat white tasted a bit over-extracted when I went.

Possible things to see and do.

• TSS Earnshaw, optional visit to Walter Peak High Country Farm (from $36)
• Gibbston Valley wine tour – Central Otago Wine tours (from $125)
• Nomad Safaris: Safari of the Rings (4hr, $120) [done]; Skippers Road (4 hour, $110)

• hang-gliding / paragliding (from $165) [done]
• canyoning (from $135)
• white water rafting (from $135)
• canyon swing ($109)
• horseback riding

• Arrowtown [done]
• Wanaka

• Moke Lake
• Kiwi & Birdlife Park
• Deer Park (Kelvin Heights)
• Peregrine Winery (Gibbston) [done]
• Big Picture Wine Adventure (Cromwell)
• Base Camp (Wanaka)

• See various trail maps and guides… Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Wanaka… Great Walks!

• Aggy’s Shack
• Fishbone
• Lenka
• Prime (earlybird)
• Tatlers (earlybird, french toast [done])
• Kappa (lunch) [done]
• Memories Express (lunch)
• Kim’s Korean
• Solera Vino (locals special)
• Chop Chop
• Tasty Bites
• The Spire
• The Postmaster’s House [Arrowtown]

• The Spire. M-F, 5-7: Buy one classic cocktail, get one free. Jazz music on Friday.
• Codebar at the Sofitel. Latin House on Thursdays; $10 cocktails.

My dad was visiting this last week, so lots more exploring, including eating :)

Cafe Portofino is the Italian restaurant associated with the Lihue Marriot (where my dad was staying). We had: salad du jour with portabello mushroom (good), calamari (mediocre), shrimp scampi (fine), fish du jour (overcooked), tiramisu (fine). Nothing to write home about, despite claims of being the most awarded Italian restaurant on the island. Setting was nice – view of Kalapaki Beach and live harp music.

In keeping with my goal of experiencing at least one new thing each week, I went on this hike on the Kilauea shoreline. Since I don’t have 4WD, I had to walk about 25 minutes on dirt road before reaching the “trail” itself, really just scrambling on lava rocks.

I wasn’t too impressed with this location. It is similar in style to Queen’s Bath (which is conveniently accessible at the end of my street!), but less dramatic, and not worth the 50 minutes of dirt road walking. However, fragments of rusting debris amongst the rock gave it an interesting feeling of history.

My cleanse buddy (who stuck out the full 10 days, unlike me) instigated a class outing to Kintaro to celebrate a return to food.

Not that I know much about sake, but the selection we chose was mediocre in my opinion. Edamame was lackluster, miso soup was fine. Rolls were tasty, much better (and more affordable) than Sushi Blues in Hanalei. I tried the Hanalei Roll (salmon, ahi, avocado tempura fried; $6 half order) and the Rock n Roll ($7.50).

Relatively large space, and still packed, so reservations recommended. Besides sushi and other common cooked Japanese items, they have teppanyaki that looked and smelled promising.

Just 10 weeks left on Kauai, and I want to make the most of it. Starting to make notes on what I want to experience in that time.

Sights

• Wet Caves & Blue Room
• Kilauea Lighthouse [done]
• Hanalei Lookout [done]
• Limahuli Garden [done]

• Kauai Museum
• Birthstone [done]
• Solstice Boulders [done]
• Kipu Falls [done]
• Wailua Falls view [done]

• Tree Tunnel [done]
• Koloa monkeypod tree [done]
• Spouting Horn Beach Park [done]
• National Tropical Botanical Gardens [done]

• Waimea Canyon [done]

Beaches

• SeaLodge
• Secret [done]
• Anini [done]
• Larsen’s [done]
• Moloaa [done]
• Kee [done]
• Tunnels [done]
• Hideaways [done]
• Queen’s Bath [done]

• Donkey Beach

• Mahaulepu [done]
• Poipu Beach Park [done]
• Kiahuna Beach [done]

• Polihale [done]

Hiking

• Hanakapiai Beach & Falls? (first portion of Kalalau)
• Pools of Mokolea [done]
• Secret Lava Pools [done]

• Kuilau Ridge Trail [done]
• Hoopii Falls [done]

• Poipu Shoreline Sandstone Hikes – Cliffs of Makawehi and Mahaulepu [done]
• Swiss Cheese Shoreline [done]

• Poomau Canyon Ditch Trail (first segment) [not easily accessible without 4WD]
• Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls [done]

Activities

• Ocean Tour: Na Pali Catamaran (4 hr $135) – JUNE ideally
• Surf: Learn to Surf (90 min $40)
• Powered Hang Glider: Birds in Paradise (30 min $115, 60 min $190)
• Windsurf: Celeste at Windsurf Kauai (3 hr $75)
• Kayak: Outfitters Kauai (7 hr Kipu Ranch Tour $119)
• Snorkel [done]

Dining

• Hanalei Wake-Up Cafe
• Village Snack & Bakery Shop
• Wishing Well Shave Ice [done]
• Polynesia Cafe [done]
• Bar Acuda [done]
• Kilauea Bakery and Pau Hana Pizza [done]
• Hanalei Mixed Plate [done]

• Mark’s Place
• Coconuts
• La Playita Azul
• Kountry Kitchen
• Ono Family Restaurant
• Hanamaulu Cafe, Tea House, and Sushi Bar
• Lihue Barbecue Inn [done]
• Blossoming Lotus [done]
• Caffe Coco [done]
• Tip Top Cafe [done]
• Kintaro Restaurant [done]
• Korean Bar-B-Q [done]
• Malasadas [done]
• Lotus Root [done]
• Java Kai [done]
• Scotty’s Beachside BBQ [done]
• Duke’s Canoe Club [done]

• Beach House Restaurant [done]
• Roy’s Poipu Bar & Grill [done]
• Brick Oven Pizza [done]

• Pacific Pizza & Deli
• Toi’s Thai Kitchen