03 Magazine: March 01, 2023

32 Magazine | Feature
Fergburger is a must for burgers followed by either a donut
or gelato. White + Wongs has delicious Asian fusion, Kanpai is
still tops for Japanese. The Bunker for awesome cocktails.
You’ve lived in Dunedin for the last five-plus years, what
drew you to settling in the south?
The people mostly, but also obviously the environment. The
air is clean and fresh, there is so much to do if you want to
be active but there’s also lots to do if you don’t.
Great restaurants and bars in Dunedin, awesome shopping,
art galleries… Dunedin especially has a love of all things art –
you can wander the streets just to look at the graffiti art on
so many of the buildings.
And there’s a feeling of simplicity, people still take the
time to chat, to ask you how you are. There’s a real sense
of community.
As a local, where do you take visitors as must-dos/sees?
In Dunedin, high tea at Larnach Castle was high on my
brother and his wife’s list of things to do and they loved it.
We are regulars at No 7 Balmac up in Maori Hill. It’s our
go-to for brunch, dinner, everything really. Gorgeous food
and excellent service – try Sheryl’s lemon slice. Yum.
The Good Oil café in George Street does the best club
sandwich ever and an excellent coconut latte. They also
have one at Nichol’s Garden Centre so you can shop for
plants and then have lunch or coffee. Great service as well.
And Nova in the Octagon next to the art gallery does
amazing donuts!
The albatross colony is worth the drive especially when
they are nesting. Doctors Point is also stunning for a drive
and there’s an eco sanctuary out that way too.
Beach walks, movies at the classic Rialto cinema followed
by dinner at any one of the amazing restaurants near the
Octagon. The farmers’ market at the Railway Station on a
Saturday afternoon.
And if a longer drive is on the agenda then a visit to Curio
Bay to swim with the Hector dolphins, further on to stunning
Lake Manapouri and then to Milford Sound via Te Anau is
an absolute must. But bring your bug spray – the sandflies
are lethal!
Are we likely to be seeing a third season in the works?
Anything else you’ve got on for the year ahead you can tell
us about?
We are very hopeful of a third series and should know soon
but I’ve got a few other things in the pipeline as well so lots
on the boil.
I’m back in Dunedin for a few weeks and then will be
heading back to Oz to star in a new series, which I am super
excited about.
I love that I can bounce between the two countries as I feel
incredibly grateful to Australia for the opportunities I have
had over the years but I have to say I am utterly in love with
the deep south of New Zealand.
Whenever we come home after being away a while I’m
reminded how stunning it is and how lovely the people are.
I’ve never experienced friendliness like you get in Dunedin.
Everyone is up for a chat and always so willing to help at the
drop of a hat. There is such a sense of community here.
I’ve also recently completed co-writing the first episode of
a new series that I’ve created for our company R & R and
we are working together with an amazing Australian-based
company to raise the finance to hopefully be shooting in the
UK in 2024.
It’s always a long process getting a series up but it’s one
that I love and I’m lucky that I get to do it with my husband
and partner in R & R Productions.