Calling all carnivores! SMK slow-cooks beef brisket, pulled pork and shredded chicken on an American wood-fire smoker. It arrives with mac 'n' cheese, slaw and rice. Save room for jalapeño-and-cheddar cornbread, served with addictive honey butter and coriander. There’s even a side dish of ‘add more meat’ ($8). Beer-tasting paddles for $18.
Southern Meat Kitchen
Taupo
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Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley
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Excellent spot to view spectacular Huka Falls. From the car park, cross the bridge and turn left.
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This geothermal area sprang to life when hydroelectric tinkering around the power station in 1958 caused water levels to fall. The pressure shifted,…
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Accessible only by boat or kayak, these 14m-high carvings were etched into the cliffs near Mine Bay by master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell in the…
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This thermal walk (1.8km) on a secluded property explores the steaming banks of the Wairakei Stream and the deep pit of the Witches Cauldron. Kids will…
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Two kilometres off SH5, this gorge was a spectacular part of the Waikato River until a hydroelectric dam was plonked across the waterway, shutting off the…