Where to Drink in Poor Knights, New Zealand
On New Zealand’s wild east coast, the Poor Knights Islands are a mecca for divers. In partnership with Corona, our #ThisIsLiving guide takes you from mesmerising dive spots to sustainably built, rustic-yet-refined lodges scattered throughout the native bush. Plus, we let you in on where to find the best fish and chips and the most idyllic blonde-beer beaches. Time to reconnect and rediscover.
03 August, 2021
In partnership with
- Words by
- Fleur Rollet-Manus
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Wahi
Three words: homemade hash browns. Post- (or pre-) sunrise hike, refuel at this locally loved breakfast spot. Order their namesake breakfast that comes stacked with eggs any-way-you-like, streaky bacon, creamy mushrooms and kransky – a type of Slovenian sausage – alongside a strong cup o’ joe that is hailed as being the best on the coast. Most of the produce on your plate is hyper-local, with some of it having been plucked from Wahi’s own organic garden.
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LOCO
Peru or Poor Knights? Order a crisp, lime wedge-spiked Corona for sundowners overlooking the marina. Complementing Corona’s Mexican homeland, the cocktail menu is heavily spiked with South American flavours – think plenty of pisco and a heavy dose of mezcal. Soak it up with a smattering of small plates: crispy fried pork ribs, charred sweetcorn and coconut-prawn ceviche topped with herbs from owners Lloyd Rooney and Mike Fraser’s vegetable patch.
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No.8 Whangarei
Poor Knights’ gateway Tutukaka doesn’t pride itself on its boundary-pushing nightlife or claim to host the world’s brashest beach parties. It’s low-key and carefree: let’s be honest, you came for the stop-in-your-tracks landscapes, epic underwater adventures and chance to gawp at the seemingly-within-reach Milky Way. Nature rules here and partying kind of takes a back seat. That being said, No.8 does serve up a mean coconut-infused daiquiri and the vibe is warm and welcoming. Lap up the sounds of the marina, snag a sun-dappled table, regroup, Corona in hand, and plot out the following day’s escapades.