Best restaurant for dinner with friends?<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s local, Lillian is our go-to favourite. My friends and I have also become regulars for the steak at New York Grill on the rooftop at Westfield Newmarket. The big leather booth seats are a cosy place to while the night away and overindulge. We\u2019ll often share the Butcher\u2019s Block (a three-steak medley of New York strip, eye fillet and butter-aged scotch). If I\u2019m there with my brother and my nephew, we might build up an appetite first with some arcade games at Archie Brothers. <\/p>\n
The place to take a visitor?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to go past classic destinations like the Mt Eden summit, Piha Beach or Waitakere Ranges \u2013 they\u2019re hits for a reason, and we\u2019ll do those things. At times, extended family from Ireland have come to stay at my parents\u2019 place in Papakura. For a South Auckland jaunt, we\u2019ll take a drive through the countryside to the Clevedon Farmers Market (where we\u2019ll grab a coffee and bacon butty), before continuing to Duders Beach and Maraetai Beach. On a sunny day, it\u2019s a real treat. We once shot a commercial at Maraetai Beach, and the turquoise waters fooled some people into thinking it had been filmed on a tropical island! <\/p>\n
Best coffee?<\/p>\n
When I want to grab a coffee, I\u2019ll likely head to Neighbour in Grey Lynn. The atmosphere is chilled out and unpretentious. <\/p>\n
Favourite trail for a hike?<\/p>\n
My absolute favourite is Tiritiri Matangi Island. The 80-minute ferry ride from Auckland CBD is worth it for the unplugged serenity and the incredible birdlife sanctuary. On arrival, there were takah\u0113 wandering the beachfront; several times we encountered t\u016b\u012b sunbathing on the dirt pathways without a care in the world, and our lunchtime companion was a curious saddleback. We also heard the call of k\u014dkako reverberating through the forest; on our next visit, we hope to glimpse one. Not only that, there are amazing views of the Hauraki Gulf from all sides of the island.<\/p>\n
Favourite fish and chip shop?<\/p>\n
Nate\u2019s Plaice in Grey Lynn. The fish is always fresh and beautifully cooked. Nate runs a tight ship, so the food is consistent even if he\u2019s not there. They also do great burgers, but the fish and chips are just too good to pass up. The day that Nate opened his shop in our area, and it lived up to the hype, was a great day for all Grey Lynnians! <\/p>\n
Venue for a gig?<\/p>\n
Standing in a large throng of people is not my natural habitat, so I tend to prefer more intimate settings. Our production office is in midtown, and I did happen to catch a great show by Reb Fountain at the Auckland Town Hall last year. Near where we live is Freida\u2019s, which transforms into a lively little venue where local musicians play, and we can enjoy a few wines knowing we only have a short distance to stumble home. <\/p>\n
Best spot for a bargain?<\/p>\n
I hate shopping, but I love movies. On Wednesdays at Academy Cinemas, movie tickets are $5! It also helps that our office is basically next door to the Academy. I love this initiative to make movies affordable so people can see these stories on the big screen as they were intended. <\/p>\n