I’ve reunited with my best friend, travelled the country tip to toe, admired scenery so beautiful I didn’t know it could exist, found myself a job at a cafe where I’ve met some incredible people, been welcomed into multiple homes and, drank an unholy amount of NZ coffee and Sav. It’s been an unforgettable 7 months and I’m gutted to be leaving in a week.

However, adventure (and Fiji) calls.

So, here are the top 12 things I’m going to miss most about living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Maori culture

From everything being written in both Maori and English to the Haka being performed before every All Blacks rugby game, in New Zealand, you’re forever reminded of the country’s fascinating culture and history.

I will miss how much New Zealand’s culture is respected and embraced by Kiwis and expats alike.

BYO

Bring your own alcohol restaurants are everywhere in Auckland. For a few dollars corkage, you can buy wine from the offy and drink it alongside a delicious meal.

I will miss this whole new realm of affordable pre drinking.

Eh?

If you’ve ever been to New Zealand or, know a Kiwi, you’ll understand this. It seems as though everyone in New Zealand needs a little reassurance about everything they say. This coffee has sugar in, eh? We’re leaving at 7, eh? You’re from England, eh?

I will miss chuckling to myself every time someone says this.

Coffee

My lord, the Kiwi’s sure know how to make a good cuppa. They pride themselves on how fresh and carefully put together each cup is and it shows.

I will desperately miss large triple shot flat whites in a bowl.

Kiwi dip

Kiwi dip was one of the first things my friend insisted I try when I arrived in Auckland. A mixture of onion soup powder and Nestle reduced cream, it is a strange combo, which works OH so well.

I will miss sinking a whole pack of grain waves with this dip.

Cafe culture

Since arriving in Auckland, I’ve spent most of my days off work lurking in different cafes sampling unique dishes, drinks and coffee. I’ve uncovered some gems, which I’ll be sharing with you all in the next few weeks!

I will miss sitting and writing in some of trendiest cafes I’ve ever been to.

Cornwall Park sunrises

Even though waking up for work at 5.30am most mornings has been killer, each day I’ve arrived at the cafe at dawn (in Cornwall Park) I’ve been treated to some of the most mesmerizing sunrises I’ve ever seen.

I will miss watching these misty mornings transform with the colourful blaze of sunshine.

Skytower skyline

Wherever you are in the city, you’re always greeted with an impressive view of Auckland’s iconic Skytower.

I will miss waving to it every time I see it.

Scenery

Auckland has some of the most fascinating scenery I’ve ever seen. Scattered throughout the city’s suburbs are vibrant green towering volcanic cones and, drifting off of the coastline, are unique volcanic islands.

I will miss seeing a cone of green everywhere I go.

Pastries

New Zealand’s pastries put Ginsters to shame. Everywhere you go, you’re guaranteed a freshly made, beefy sausage roll or a succulent, flaky pie.

I will miss stuffing my face with homemade pastries at every given opportunity.

Waiheke Island

My haven. My love. Waiheke Island is what dreams are made of. Floating 45 minutes from Auckland harbour, Waiheke is doused in vineyards, beaches and pristine countryside.

I will miss having vineyards full to the brim with scrumdumptious wine on my doorstep.

And finally, my bestie

My best friend from the UK (who now lives in Auckland) was the reason why I chose to settle in Auckland so, spending some quality time with her and seeing her life on the other side of the world has been incredible.

I will miss our white wine Thursday dates more than anything.

If you want to plan a trip to Auckland (which I think you should), head on over to Skyscanner to check out some great flight deals from all over the world!

Although I will be covering other parts of our trip in some upcoming blog posts, today I’m going to write about our lavelyyy day out visiting Mount Eden.

As I had never visited this popular sight in Auckland either, I thought it would be a great opportunity to explore an area of the city, which was new and exciting for both of us…

One of the most well-known and prominent volcanic cones in Auckland, Mount Eden is an easy stroll up from the sleepy town of Mount Eden and offers magnificent 360 degree views of the city and beyond.

We started our day with a spot of lunch at The Return of Rad, a hip cafe I’d been recommended by a friend. Offering a unique Vietnamese infused menu as well as their own delicious coffee, it was a great way to start the day. I went for Grandma’s pork banh mi…

Whilst Kristie opted for the black stack burger…

Once we felt sufficiently fuelled for the walk, we meandered towards the Mount Eden walking track.

Taking all of 5-10 minutes to reach the top, it was crazy how phenomenal the views were once we had reached the summit. On one side we were treated to the iconic sky tower skyline whilst on the other side we were blessed with views across the city’s suburbs, parks and water.

Once I’d twirled around enough times to really take in and appreciate the view (and embarrass Kristie at the same time) we then became engrossed by the vibrant green crater, which sat in the centre of the mound.

Finding ourselves questioning how fun/dangerous it would be to roly poly down the steep edge of the crater, we decided to play it safe and find a peaceful tuft of grass to admire the view from instead.

The only thing missing was a glass of New Zealand’s finest and a picnic.

Our day out to Mount Eden was wonderful, made all the way better by the crisp winter sunshine, which continued to shine throughout the day.

Pack a picnic and your best friend for the perfect day taking in the views of Auckland.

Due to its warm climate, Waiheke is renowned for its ability to grow some of New Zealand’s finest wines and is adorned in vibrant green vineyards.

Last Saturday, as I was blessed with a weekend off work, my friend and I decided to treat ourselves to a luxurious day of vineyard hopping and wine tasting on the island.

At around 11am we jumped on the ferry and headed towards the Hauraki Gulf.

As we approached Waiheke the dark navy water blended into a translucent reflective blue, luxury sailing boats bobbed in the tranquil harbour and bright green foliage sprouted from every corner of the island.

Once we’d piled off of the boat, we beelined for the first vineyard on our wine crawl. Located around a 20 minute walk from the port, Cable Bay is a modern vineyard and restaurant with both a tasting cellar and a wine library.

I’d heard great things about this wineries buzzing ambience, impressive view and of course, quality wine, so my expectations were high.

On arrival we headed straight towards the wine cellar to have a taste of Cable Bay’s staple wines.

For a bargain $10 (approx £5) we were able to try five flavoursome wines – a Sav, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, as the friendly connoisseurs talked us through the different ‘notes’ in each one.

Once we’d enjoyed our tipples in the cellar, we moved onto the grass area in front of the vineyards’ veranda for a crisp glass of vino. With weaving grapevines and the hazy silhouette of the city as our backdrop, we were in heaven.

Despite the setting, wine and vibe of Cable Bay being perfect, the decor was a little modern for my liking (I’m a sucker for character) so we moved on in search of somewhere a little more rustic.

And boy did we find it…

A few minute walk down the road we stumbled upon Mudbrick vineyard. A quaint restaurant and vineyard resembling a French château, Mudbrick was rightttt up my street.

Embellished in a blanket of emerald-green leaves and boasting a picturesque terrace enveloped in vibrant sprigs of lavender and grapevines, it was an absolute dream.

We indulged in a glass of their house bubbly followed by a scrumptious platter of succulent prawns, juicy meatballs, creamy brie and crackers and tasty cured meats (to name but a few)…

Unfortunately, due to a wedding we were unable to check out their wine cellar, which then led us to our next stop – Jurassic Ridge.

A slightly more low-key vineyard, Jurassic Ridge was more of a ‘one man and his wine’ affair.

On arrival we were greeted by the owner of the vineyard. With no commercial bar or restaurant, Jurassic Ridge was more of an intimate experience than the other places we’d visited and enabled us to ask questions about the growing and making process of the wines whilst sipping on free samples of each of his favourites.

However, like most polite Brits, after our free samples we felt obliged to make a purchase (what a clever way to make a sale, eh?). So, after much contemplation, we headed back to the ferry port with a couple of bottles of the Sav… to be drunk sensibly on a special occasion, of course…

My day trip to Waiheke was definitely up there with one of my favourite experiences in New Zealand. Sometimes it’s nice to forget that you’re a budget backpacker for a day or two and splurge on a day to remember…

Have you ever been vineyard hopping on Waiheke Island? Which were your favourite vineyards?