Veto’s Charlotte Greer’s Guide to Downtown Tauranga

A coffee snob’s dream! Tucked in the front of the Tauranga’s funky co-working space Basestation on Durham Street, Folk Brewers is all about quality blends, artisan passion and connection. If you work remotely and want a change of scenery, Folk makes for a super engaging space, and you may even catch an acoustic gig while you’re there, too!

I love gin and dancing, and Miss Gee’s is the best place for it. You get this indoor-outdoor flow where, in one moment, you’re enjoying the most tart, tangy Bramable under the sun, then you’re cutting absolute shapes during one of their guest DJ nights. Vibrant decor, yummy food and great tunes - what more could you want?!

Tauranga has some amazing walks, but the Waikareao Walkway tends to be everyone’s favourite. Just over eight kilometres, you can walk or cycle the loop track surrounded by native plants and wildlife living in the tidal wetland. The track changes from gravel to boardwalks to sealed pathways, so is wide enough for you to enjoy with dogs and easy to complete with prams. It's absolutely stunning walking when the tide is in, the sun’s out and you have a sparkling view of Mauao.

Started by a group of artisans, The Pottery Studio is an interactive art space. Its free-flowing workshops let you create different ceramic pieces while facilitators with expertise in various techniques help guide your creative process. But ultimately, you can just throw and go! It's fun to do it with friends! My mates have made some wild pieces that act as real conversation starters.

Inside Tauranga’s historic post office building is my favourite place for pizza and cocktails. Clarence combines sophisticated European bistro dining with local history. I can be an absolute old lady at times, but if I get an opportunity to eat the yummiest truffle ham and mushroom pizza while sipping a negroni, I’ll be there in a flash! Also, the boutique hotel inside Clarence makes you feel like you've been transported to a whole other place.

I recently renovated my first home, and suddenly, interior design is the first thing I notice with places. Little Long has the most stunning interior! The natural light that streams in from the skylight surrounded by hanging indoor plants makes the place feel bright and inviting when having a coffee or one of their decadent cookie pies.

Bottomless Margaritas, anyone? Doca is the place to kick off a night out in the city. They have bottomless dinners on Friday and Saturday nights, where you can have a grazing plate and flowing cocktails with some epic tunes. It's definitely something to do with mates to set the tone for the weekend. Also, Doca is a cafe during the day, so after the night out, Doca is perfect for the Sunday brunch debrief over smashed avocado on toast. 

Another crack-in-the-wall coffee spot Mt Zion Coffee, is probably where I consume most of my flat whites. Matt is that sort of barrister whose love for coffee and people makes for a match made in Heaven ;) you’ll be introduced to something new and shown the many flavours of different blends. If you manage to get a seat out front of Mt Zion, it’ll be the best coffee with a view of the ocean under the sun.

You can’t beat a good bookstore, and Books A Plenty is the best independent bookseller in the city. The owners, Sheree and Scott, are so lovely and can help find literally any book. I think there’s something super calming about slowly perusing bookshelves to see if something pops out, and with Books A Plenty, it’s very likely something will. They also have Bookshop Sessions, where local musicians, poets and writers perform intimate, ambient gigs, which make for the cosiest late-night activity.

The farmers market every Saturday is where I go to get the best locally-grown fruits and veges. Held on the grounds of Tauranga Primary School, there’s live music playing while you casually stroll around, tasting and talking to local growers. I love grabbing some nibbly bits. The flatbreads are amazing, and the chutneys, so delicious!