After almost a month of sitting in one spot, it was time to blow out the cobwebs with a quick trip away for the weekend. Fiona was keen to go to the markets at Mangawhai so Mangawhai it was.

Click on any Image to Enlarge

We found a great wee pop up on the hill above the village close to the markets. Colin has a house up behind the shops and provides power and water and a great view. It is also a very easy walk to the shops.

We arrived there about 7:30 odd on the Friday night and slotted in on a compacted grass are looking right out over the estuary.

Click on the Gallery to see an Enlarged Slideshow

Us up on the hill

The Pie Caravan !

The Entrance to Bennets Chocolate Shop

The outside of bennetts

The popular shop in Mangawhai.. Sausages in bread 🙂

A new shopping centre

Cove Restaurant where we had lunch

The view down to the Village

The next morning, we woke up to a sunny day and after getting organised walked down to the village and the markets at the primary school. It’s a great atmosphere with everyone having fun and getting into the swing of it.

The great find for me was a caravan there selling these amazing pies. The owner was a real foodie who used to run a local restaurant and now make the pies and sell them locally. The coffee was something else too. I had a Lamb and Mint pie, and Fiona had a Curried Fish. both amazing!

After this we walked back to the main shops from the school and after a coffee and a visit to Bennetts Chocolates (who could resist!) we stopped in for lunch at the Cove restaurant.

Then it was back to Rafe. A great day of Sunshine, Great Food and Coffee in a lovely spot.