Paihia means Good Place

Paihia is a hilly area with lots of beautiful bush (forest)walks. Here are a selection of my favourites.

So much to see and do in Paihia. Favourites eateries & shopping go-tos; *Best Cafe; Tasty homemade food and a bike-loving barista - Third Wheel Coffee. Take the alley next to the Fire Station on Selwyn Road, head towards the water and you'll find the locals cafe in the alley. Closed Monday. Open 8-2pm only *Kombi Nation - a clothing and collectables mecca. Next door to Third Wheel Cafe. *Flying Fish Design store - on the main shopping street, Look for the blue painted exterior & the Flying Fish mural on the wall. Cool jewellery, prints and gifts. *Rip Curl for all your streetwear and beach needs. *Terra Restuarant - Scandi dining - upscale simple & stylish. Above Westpac, Outdoor seating on the balcony with water views. *Charlotte's Kitchen - on the end of the Wharf, Pizza, Seafood, Water Views. *JFC - Just Fish n Chips - except it's not - they serve delicious taco's, Great Seafood chowder & a variety of seafood dishes. They have wonderful outdoor seating in the garden and often have live music. The white villa across the road from the beach, near the stone Church. Turn right at the start of School Rd and you'll find it. *CKB -Craft Kitchen & Bar, great pub food and friendly service. It's on the water next to the tourist helicopter at the end of the Maritime Building. *Greens Restaurants - Outstanding Indian & Thai food restaurants located on the waterfront, on each side of the alley with the whale in it. Walk past Third Wheel cafe & Kombi Nation then you'll find Greens. *Climb the steps to the lookout beside and to the right of the Helicopter by the public toilets. *Zane Greys, resort style bar and dining on the over the water space. Relax on the oversized deck loungers. *Alfresco cafe & Rayz on the Bay are both opposite the beach to the right of School Road, They both have local live music from 3pm-7ish on the weekends, food is mostly pub grub. Hang with the locals. *For awesome views head to the Golf Club Cafe, outdoor seating under umbrella's, you are surrounded by green grass & blue sky & water. Head up the hill past the Waitangi Museum. *The Waitangi Museum is a must-do, the Entrance fee includes the grounds tour, a cultural performance, carving studio, waka shed, gift shop and three buildings of cultural museums. This are the main museum, the new Maori Battalion museum and the Busby Family home where the Treaty of Waitiangi was signed. There is also a great cafe set in a garden with a pond with eels. You can enter the cafe from the carpark without having to pay to go into the museum. *Supermarkets: Four Square & a mini Countdown in the village - opposite the large carpark in town, a 5 minute walk. You'll find a larger Countdown, go left at the roundabout towards Waitangi, left along the beach. It is a safe neighbourhood but please use common sense with regards to your security and safety. Please lock the ranch slider that opens to the deck when you go out.