Our Tour Guide googled the best fish and chippery in NZ.

Came up as the Monganui Fish Shop.

That’s where we headed after our trip to Cape Reinga.

Alas, it was only 5pm, we had just consumed a BIG bloomin ice cream and we decided to regretfully skip the pleasure of Monganui and maybe try for some back at Paihia. 

As it turns out, subsequent googling told us the second best fush and chips could be right there in Paihia. Or was it really the first? Never let the truth get in the way of a good story is what I always say.

So around 6pm, after a warm up shower and change of clothes, we headed down in the rain (yes it was still raining) to walk the 750m to JFC.

Our walk included a stop by a whale, (apparently mandatory to sit or ride on concrete animals, bit like me and swings), and a photo stop of both ‘rock art’ and the beautiful old St. Paul’s Anglican Church. The church was constructed of local Kawakawa stone in 1925 and stands on the site of the original mission church (a bullrush hut erected in 1823). It really is stunning.

When we got to JFC, whilst it was a really cool little place, it was akin to a sit-down restaurant.

Of course the Aussie in me declared that this would never do, the fush and chups here couldn’t be any good.

I rarely order f&c’s at a restaurant. The only true way to eat them is out of paper.

A sit-down restaurant was not going to cut it. 

But I went with the pack and ordered. 

After all, I hadn’t eaten for at least two hours. 

Whilst we waited, there was some debate as to what JFC stood for.

After some interesting versions and a round of drinks, we did ask the waitress.

Nope, it wasn’t any of our rather inventive suggestions.

It was ‘Just Fish & Chips’.

Oh My Lord, I have to tell you – they were NOT Just Fish & Chips.

They were THE BEST ferken Fish & Chips I have tasted.

And they came in paper.

Be still my beating heart.

Rounded off our Thursday quite nicely. Thank you very much.

Friday morning arrived far too early, (sleep was my enemy) and to the beat of the rain.

Again.

Quite heavy. Consistent, one might say. 

Whilst still not enough to deter the Southlanders from their morning walk, it certainly was enough to deter us Aussie/USA/NZ’ers.

We stayed in bed, joining our friends only when the car was duly warmed up and waiting for our suitcases, humming away in the car park with the boot up.

Destination Warkworth.

We firstly stopped for the morning coffee at Whangarei.

✅ Cross that off the bucket list. 

Strolled around the pier and took in the sight of the relatively new Hundertwasser Art Centre which includes the Waipahu Maori Art Gallery.  A really interesting structure. To be sure to be sure.

Would have gone into the Museum but it was cordoned off and Warkworth was calling. 

Warkworth is a rather cute little town, sitting at the head of the Mahurangi Harbour in the northern part of the Auckland region. 

Nice little holiday destination for the Aucklanders I would expect, given it’s really only 1.5 hours drive. 

If the rain would stop we could have a good look around.

But it didn’t, so we wandered the town as much as my non waterproof rain coat would allow and ended up the night with a lovely meal in the Bridge House Lodge & Restaurant – which sits right on the Mahurangi River. 

Highlight of the night was the discovery of Kumara fries.

That would be sweet potato you Australians. In case you haven’t read all my previous ramblings. 

We have travelled right through Kumara growing country but to MoD’s disgust have not been able to find one establishment that serves up Kumara fries.

It’s a total tragedy. 

Tonight Northland redeemed itself.

There are no pictures. We ate them. Pronto.