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Coffee

cafe eggsentric1 300x225 CoffeeLife is too short to drink bad coffee.

That’s the mantra in Central Park and it’s a motto we live by.

We love our coffee, and while it’s not quite warm enough to grow our own beans, we make up for that by ensuring we select the finest beans from around the world, roast them to perfection and extract a world class crema – all en route to serving you up your favourite black drop.

This is usually accompanied by an outstanding chocolate caramel slice – the most popular sweet slice in New Zealand – or a piece of our world-famous banana or carrot cake. You can also pick up a great hot chocolate or organic herbal tea, whatever takes your fancy.

And all of this is to be found at outstanding cafes across Central Park, often located in some of the best scenic locations in the country. There are far too many to try and name them all, but ask any local for the best coffee in whatever town you’re in, and you will be directed to the right place.

Salut.

Featured: The breathtaking Bay of Plenty

The aptly named Bay of Plenty was given its title by Captain James Cook during his exploration of New Zealand and to this day it continues to be one of the country’s largest producers of fruit and one of the busiest ports.

 An extremely popular holiday destination, the Bay of Plenty region encompasses several highly visited areas including Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa, to name but a few. The region’s major city of Tauranga is one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand and is home to the country’s biggest export port. As one of the largest natural harbours, Tauranga sees many cruise ships over the summer months and the two marinas play home to over 1000 boats.

Affectionately known as ‘The Mount’ – Mount Maunganui is the dominant feature of the area and every year the beaches attract thousands of surfers and sun lovers. Providing safe swimming spots for families, great surf, long golden sand beaches and of course the opportunity to walk to the summit of Mt Maunganui, this ever popular suburb is a great destination for both young and old and during the Christmas/New Year period it really comes alive with a massive influx of revelers.

A short way down the road from Mount Maunganui is the coastal Papamoa. A rapidly developing area, Papamoa offers a slightly more laid back environment and beaches less crowded than that of The Mount.

25km away sits the ‘kiwifruit capital of the world’ – the township of Te Puke – the heart of New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry. Aside from producing the green furry fruit, Te Puke also offers many walking tracks, swimming holes and camping areas, along with a selection of shops and cafes, making it an ideal spot for a family getaway.

As the main access point for the active marine volcano White Island, Whakatane is home to operators of tours to this unique natural feature. Boasting a range of restaurants, bars, cafes and a vibrant retail sector, Whakatane is an ideal spot for those who enjoy the cosmopolitan lifestyle as well as the laid back beach scene. Nearby Ohope Beach provides safe swimming waters along 11km of golden sand shore.

Throughout the region there is a plethora of activities to partake in from wildlife encounters to adrenalin charged adventures. Experience a freefall from 12,000 feet or enjoy a scenic flight taking in the views stretching from Mt Ruapehu to the East Cape. If aerial activities aren’t your thing, the region also offers a variety of land and sea based experiences, such as swimming with the dolphins or enjoying a relaxing horse trek alongside the Pacific Ocean and over undulating farmland.

An extensive range of accommodation options throughout the area make a holiday to the Bay of Plenty affordable for everyone, whether camping in one of the holiday parks or lapping up the luxury in a top class hotel, there is something to suit any requirement and budget.

Sustainability is good business

It definitely wins the award for best view, but there’s a lot more to Lake Rotoiti’s celebrated Okere Falls Store than that. The café is renowned for its excellent espresso which attracts locals, travellers, boaties and Rotorua folk who, like me, think it’s worth the 42km round trip.
Owner Sarah Uhl advocates recycling and minimising our [...]

Nothing here to ‘bug’ you

Of all the wild foods on the menu within New Zealand’s forest, the huhu grub is perhaps the most delectable.
That’s according to Ricardo Palma, entomology curator at New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa.
Ricardo adds it’s still considered a delicacy in the traditional Maori diet so perhaps that’s why Bruce Maunsell chose to call [...]

Check out the Zippy experience

Zippy Central Café and Bar, arguably Rotorua’s top pick for a caffeine hit, has been around for a lot of years. Morgan Wilson took a huge punt that the city was ready for real coffee long before the coffee craze really hit New Zealand, and the café has ridden a wave of popularity ever since. [...]

This (Coffee) Roastery is Steaming

Whether you plan on skiing or snowboarding on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu or perhaps explore other aspects of the Tongariro National Park’s pristine beauty on foot, on crampons or on a mountain bike, chances are you’ll need a caffeine fix before or after your adventure.
To ensure you get an authentic experience, seek out places [...]

The Daily Grind

The Fusion Coffee Company has been roasting coffee in the Bay of Plenty since 1999.
They understand the need for freshness, taste and aroma in creating the perfect cup of coffee – and have collected a dedicated following over the past decade.
And it’s not only their customers who recognise the effort that goes into what they [...]

Success in LaLa land

Well known and widely praised for its fabulous beaches, amazing seafood and strong arts community, the Coromandel Peninsula seems an unlikely place for an award-winning coffee roasting business. But that’s exactly what visitors to the Coromandel will discover if they drive 18km north of Whitianga to the tiny settlement of Kuaotuna. Here, tucked away in [...]

Brewing up the best in Taupo

There is a place in Taupo that is so confident the Atomic coffee they serve will be up to your expectation, it comes with a guarantee. Should you not enjoy your coffee, the Brew Juice and Espresso Bar will give you a replacement cup for free*.
I’ve tried a lot of cafes in Taupo [...]

Hawthorne Roastery and Espresso Bar

Our Coffee Roastery and Espresso Bar gives us the opportunity to share our passion with fellow coffee lovers. Visitors are able to absorb themselves in coffee, through the various sights, sounds and aromas of the roasting process to sitting over a cup of the finished product in the Espresso Bar. A small retail area allows [...]

Just the cat’s whiskers

What’s colourful, quirky, occupies one of Rotorua’s oldest buildings and has a reputation that stretches to the other side of the world?
The famous Fat Dog Café and Bar of course.
The café’s loyal following has been built up over more than a decade due to a number of things. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the [...]