I have yet to find a good coffee between Tauranga and Auckland. It's a barren wasteland of…read moresuperettes and truck stops (don't even 'Copper Kettle' me). Today I decided to give Waihi township a quick look through. I have to admit - usually we're making this drive at unusual hours, and we're ready to go full throttle and crank some KFC by the time we hit Waihi. But not today! A) because it was 8:30am and B) because I was driving solo and thus not tormented by peer pressure and my innate weakness for chicken. There weren't many places open this early in the morning (on a public holiday, no less). But a few cars were parked outside an unassuming 'German Bakery' on the main drag. I pulled up, stepped past the quaint round tables with checkered cloth that huddled together outside trying not to fall prey to the torrential downpour. I entered the chain-drop curtain thing to find a tidy, warm and wonderfully aromatic bakery. A quick peek behind the counter revealed - tah dah! - an espresso machine. Golden. I ordered a double shot mocha with soy ($6.50 - they charge for soy), and sat down while the lovely German fellow (who had emerged from a back room somewhere at the 'clink' of the chains) prepared my caffeinated dream. While I waited, I read the brief info sheet that lay on every table - it detailed the process of preparing and baking sourdough, and the nutritional benefits of it versus other breads. Though I only wanted coffee, I was now convinced that I needed some sourdough in my life. There was a huge variety of freshly baked loaves, but I decided to be traditional and bought a classic white ($6). The coffee was lovely. Very much better than I usually get on this drive (although the sugar factor was probably at play in this one - will order a flat white next time to double check). I haven't eaten the sourdough yet - I'm saving it for dinner. But if you're heading through Waihi I'd definitely give the German Bakery a look through - it's a neat little find! P.S. My coffee came with a bite of something delicious. I could not begin to tell you what it was, but it appeared to contain nuts and fruits and was fresh from the oven.

Best coffee I have ever tasted and the sourdough breads best ever - so full of flavour and not full…read moreof air, will last for days in pantry, poppy cake lovely too.

Our second meal here was much better (service and food). We were seated at a nice table inside with…read moreviews to the beach. I ordered a beet salad with goat cheese, arugula, almonds, shredded chicken and balsamic vinegar. My husband ordered a steak with potatoes. We had a yummy brownie sundae for dessert. Ben was a good server.

Great location, good food, good service Had the Rosti tower…read moreand hubs had chowder, both recommended. Good coffee.

hands down best cafe in waihi! came here for girls' brunch on Friday... then again Sunday morning…read more We didn't expect there to be so many options and baked goods, but we were very pleasantly surprised by everything we had! All the coffees were smooth and sweet, and the mochas are to die for! Loved the outdoor seating as well as the paintings for sale in the main rooms! Huge baked goods as well, perfectly toasted and available on the go. Service is so sweet and prompt. Everyone here clearly cares and is involved in the community. Must see!

Cute historic cafe nestled in the heart of Waihi serving fresh food. High quality coffees for the…read moreconnoisseur that wants a mid morning or afternoon cuppa. Wonderful selection of freshly made muffins and scones (both savory and sweet). For lunch, there is a very nice selection of fresh vegetable salads. I've found it hard to find many fresh vegetable options while traveling so this was a welcome change and will be appreciated by vegetarians as well. When we were there they had: beetroot salad, wild rice and peanut, kumara and nut, broccoli and parmasean as well as a couple others. For the carnivores, the grilled steak sandwich with chimmichuri is big enough to feed an army and was worth the $21 price tag. Stacked on thick ciabatta, sliced sweet peppers, lettuce it's a handful and comes served with a few onion rings on top. The spot is also great for solo diners and families. A selection of magazines are available to borrow in addition to coloring books for the little ones and a high chair.

I came here with my partner while on a road trip from Auckland. We were meant to visit Waihi beach,…read morebut it was raining and it was boxing day. Cafe Strata was one of the few cafes open in Waihi, so we went in for a hot coffee and a warm meal after spending the night freezing our butts off in a tent. The owner and his wife were running the place (with no additional help, though it was quite busy). I'm not sure if that is normal or if they were giving their employees the day off due to the holiday. It took a while of standing in line - with one person in front of us - just to get our order in. I ordered a soy cappuccino and my partner ordered a glass of OJ. After browsing the meat-filled menu and seeing only one vegetarian option (eggs on toast), I asked if they had anything available for vegans. The guy behind the counter told me they have gluten free options (not quite the same, haha) but my partner, ever the quick thinker, asked if I could have toast with tomatoes and hash browns. The guy working there told me he could do that and charged me as a toast with jam. My boyfriend ordered eggs on toast, and our bill came to just over $23. I got my soy cappuccino within about 5 mins of sitting down, but we had a very long wait from there on. It took about 30 mins to get our food (there was one cook in the back, the owners wife I'm assuming), and my boyfriends OJ came after we were almost finished with our food. I think the guy initially forgot about it, but it was a bit annoying since we asked about it when our food came and instead of just pouring it, the woman just told us that the guy would get it. Not a massive deal though. All in all, it was a decent place to have a casual meal. There was nothing spectacular about it, and I would recommend to the owner to possibly hire help if it is that busy regularly, but other than that, I was very pleased at how accommodating they were for my vegan request and the brekky and latte were good!

This looks like your typical Kiwi operation, a family-run bar and grill, and that's exactly what it…read morewas. The food was solid if unremarkable, no place for foodies but a decent choice if your kids are the type who bounce off the walls during every restaurant meal.

This is probably my favourite cafe ever. The food is always on point, the eggs benedict is the best…read moreI've ever tried and for a reasonable price! The menu has a nice variety of choices, and the cabinet is always full of delicious tarts and other sweet and savoury treats. The service is always fantastic, each member of staff always has a smile on their face and a friendly attitude. The cafe is set at the top of Te Aroha domain so there's lovely views and you can always walk not even a minute down the road to the mineral spas, pools, or museum. This cafe is not to be missed when visiting Te Aroha and is a regular spot for the locals.

Just an hour and a half drive out of Auckland lays the picturesque Karangahake Gorge and the small,…read morehistoric town of Waikino. This area is absolutely perfect for hiking or bike riding and makes for a fantastic day trip out of the city. While you're here, you have to check out this lovely little café situated inside the old train station. The food is absolutely gorgeous. My friend and I stopped here for breakfast as we both had a craving for pancakes and I'm so glad we did. Their pancakes were some of the best I've ever had; served with banana and whipped cream and drenched in Maple syrup. Just perfect. They've also got a good selection of burgers, breakfasts, sandwiches and cakes on offer, so there's something for everyone. Being in here is like stepping back in time somewhat. It's very olde worlde and appears to be unchanged from the area's gold rush era of 1875. It kind of reminded me of somewhere you'd see in an old Western movie...just with yummy food and great coffee.

My husband and I came here for lunch on a weekend for lunch before going to the Te Aroha Mineral…read moreSpas for a soak. The inside decor is cute and inviting and our food was pretty good, including the coffee. My only issue was the slowness of the service and a request for a code to use their free WiFi that never materialized. I would definitely return if I'm back in the area.

The ultimate meeting venue, quirky decor accentuates the atmosphere…read more As soon as walk in from the street you are met with a comprehensive black board menu and dishes of the day for lunch at the counter. Thecoffee is the best in the Thames valley and the chocolate brownies are delicious. Posh fish and chips are great value but beware, you need a good appetite. And whilst your at it check the toilets out wacky but smart with individual towels and every thing engineered from old hand tools. Highly recommended also is the sit out side partly covered area you can people watch the folk of Te Aroha or watch the colours of the mountain change. Prices are average, parking is easy and dress code is casual but clean. See you their on Monday. Mines a flat white.