Meet Xavier and Toby
We asked Taranaki locals Xavier, aged 8, and Toby, aged 5, what they recommend in Taranaki for other kids. Here’s what they had to say.
Where is the best place to eat?
Whenever mum or dad say what’s for dinner, I always say Gamma Ray’s! I love their kids’ cheeseburger and the strawberry milkshake is the best ever. Toby likes the lime milkshake.
Where is the coolest playground?
The playground by the Stratford Bike Park is really cool because it has a hamster wheel that we like to run crazy inside of.
Where is the best place to get an ice cream?
There’s heaps of good places to get ice cream in Taranaki but we like to go to Little Liberty Creamery in Inglewood because the flavours are different and tasty.
Where is the best place to have an outdoors adventure?
I climbed Paritutu Rock with my mum recently and even though I was scared, it was so fun. There’s a part of the climb where you only have a chain to hold on to, to keep you balanced, but I felt so proud of myself when I got to the top (Xavier).
Where is the best beach to swim at?
Ngāmotu Beach is really flat, so it’s good for Toby to swim at because he’s only little, but I prefer Fitzroy Beach for the waves.
Where is the best place to take the whole family?
The Pioneer Village in Stratford has a cool train that runs around the whole village, and me and Toby did the treasure hunt when we went there. We even won a prize. And mum and dad were really interested in the history.
Who does the best fish and chips in town?
In summer, mum takes us to the beach at Ōpunake and we get fish and chips from the shop there (Ōpunake Fish, Chips & More) and they’re the best!
Where is the best place to go when it rains?
Bowlarama has so many things to do on a rainy day. We do family ten-pin bowling challenges, and it has laser tag and black-light mini putt. Plus there’s an arcade, which is my favourite.
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