10 top swimming holes in New Zealand

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It’s a Kiwi summer tradition – grabbing your towel and togs and heading to wherever you can dip, dive and drop into some water, but where are the best places to go?

Ten of the country’s favourite summer swimming holes have been named by the editorial team at AA Directions to help inspire Kiwis to make the most of summer.

“What we love about swimming holes is that they’re not always easy to find, so stumbling across one is like finding a hidden gem.” – AA Directions Editor Kath Webster.

The top 10 swimming holes

Karekare Falls, Waitakere, Auckland

Get to this spot with a 30-minute climb up the Taraire track to the top of the falls.

Bulli Point, Lake Taupo

Located on the main road to Turangi, there are ledges of varying heights to leap into the lake from.

Blue Spring, Putaruru, Waikato

Te Waihau walkway follows a river with calm, clear pools great for swimming.

Kerosene Creek, Rotorua

This natural hot spring in a river between Rotorua and Taupo is a popular gem.

Rainbow Falls, Kerikeri

An easy walk through native bush leads to these falls and swimming hole.

Mermaid Pool, Matapouri, Northland

Around the rocks from the beach, this rock pool is easiest to access at low tide.

Mosquito Point, Whanganui

What makes this spot special is a sturdy rope swing to leap into the river from.

Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, Marlborough

Several great swimming spots are dotted along this river bank.

Cleopatra’s Pool, Abel Tasman National Park

Complete with a natural waterslide.

Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes, South Island

Leaping off the long wooden jetty into this cold lake is the best way to get in!

Source: AA Directions magazine, October 2015. The magazine is distributed to 580,000 AA Members throughout New Zealand.

10 top water experiences in New Zealand

 

Where to find the best pork in New Zealand

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New Zealand’s best pork product has been judged to be a pulled pork offered by a butchery in Dunedin.

The Agora Butchery and Deli was honoured at the 9th annual 100% New Zealand Pork, Bacon & Ham Awards held in Christchurch, winning the 2016 best pork title.

The competitions celebrate New Zealand’s finest home-grown pork products and assist consumers to identify and appreciate sustainable pork, bacon and ham which is PigCareTM Accredited*.

The competitions support local pig farmers, who raise pork solely for New Zealanders. Three supreme winners took top honours across each competition.

The event celebrates the craft involved with turning 100% New Zealand grown pork into mouth-watering bacon, ham and pork products. Each entry was scrutinised by an independent panel of 33 judges comprising of leading chefs, food connoisseurs and master butchers.

The best 100% New Zealand pork

Overall winner

For pulled pork

Agora Butchery and Deli

170A Gordon Rd, Fairfield, Dunedin, Otago

Innovative Pork category

For Kassler Rippchen

Silver Medal

Sam’s Butchery

17 Hibiscus Coast Hwy, Silverdale, Auckland

Bronze Medal

For their smoked pork rib eye

Harris Meats

23 Hall St, Cheviot, Canterbury

Convenient Pork category

Silver Medal

For pulled pork

Agora Butchery and Deli

170A Gordon Rd, Fairfield, Dunedin, Otago 

Bronze Medal

For paleo bratwurst snail, natural spices

Everybody’s Butchery

372 Selwyn St, Addington, Christchurch, Canterbury

* PigCare AccreditedTM

Pig CareTM is a New Zealand accreditation program and is a world-leading standard of Care for Farmed Pigs. It was developed by Massey University with the support of veterinarians, pig farmers and professional organisations and has been independently reviewed by international experts.

Pig CareTM is focused on the care, knowledge and expertise, experience and commitment of farmers to provide the best welfare for farmed pigs. It is the care given by our farmer that makes NZ Pork different from imported products.

While 58% of pork products sold in New Zealand are imported, Pig CareTM accreditation on products is an indication that the pig has been born and raised in New Zealand and farmed with care, with the needs of the pig at the centre of the farming practice.

Source: 100% New Zealand Pork

Where to find the best ham in New Zealand  Ι  Where to find the best bacon in New Zealand

Top 10 scenic day hikes in New Zealand

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While New Zealand is proud of its nine ‘Great Walks’, the country also provides a huge range of short walks that can be done in a day.

These hikes, or tramps as they are called in New Zealand, provide clean air and stunning scenery, without the need for lugging around heavy packs and cooking gear.

Travel site lonelyplanet.com produced their list of favourite scenic day hikes:

Top 10 scenic day hikes in New Zealand

1. Twilight –Te Werahi Loop, Far North

Five-hour loop through coastal forest and beaches.

2. Rangitoto Island Loop, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

A short ferry ride from downtown Auckland, a chance to explore the city’s largest volcanic cone.

3. Coromandel Walkway, Coromandel Peninsula

10km track around the rugged tip of the Coromandel Peninsula.

4. Tongariro Alpine Crossing

20km walk requiring a full day but a chance to enjoy the volcanic scenery immortalised in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

5. Medlands Beach to Anchorage, Abel Tasman National Park

11km walk across beaches, through forests and requires a boat cruise to get there.

6. Mt Robert Circuit, Nelson Lakes National Park

Takes up to five hours to walk the incline to Mt Robert and enjoy views of lakes and mountains.

7. Sealy Tarns, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

Plenty of day hikes in this park with Sealy Tarns the pick with mountain views and scenery of the Hooker Valley.

8. Avalanche Peak, Arthur’s Pass National Park

Mountain views but the 1100m ascent to the summit should only be undertaken by experienced hikers.

9. Charming Creek Walkway, West Coast

A six-hour tramp that follows a disused railway line through the Ngakawau River Gorge.

10. Key Summit, Fiordland

Three-hour taste of the Routeburn Track, one of the Great Walks, with panoramic views of mountains, valleys and waterfalls.

Source: Lonely Planet

The 9 Great Walks of New Zealand

The best butter in New Zealand

posted in: Food and drink | 0

 

New Zealand has made great butter for decades, selling it to the rest of the world and developing a reputation for high-quality butter.

The best butters are honoured annually at the NZ Champions of Cheese awards.

Recent winners include:

The best butters in New Zealand

Champion Butter Award 2017

Unsalted Butter – NZMP Clandeboye

Champion Butter Award 2016

Westgold Unsalted Butter – Westland Milk Products

Champion Butter Award 2015

Lewis Road Creamery Premium Butter lightly salted – Lewis Road Creamery

Source: NZ Champions of Cheese Awards

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