Adams and Mitchell took the chance to enjoy local culture, including trying kava. "I am much better at handling kava than Frankie is," Mitchell boasted, but Adams was having none of it.
"It was my first kava experience, which was crazy, that stuff is surprisingly strong.
"I'm not sure if I am a fan of it, but I am pleased I can say I have experienced it."
Adams loved how popular Shorty is in Fiji: "The Fijians were wonderfully welcoming and so gracious, I learned that Shortland Street is a pretty popular show in Fiji so people were really excited about having us over there. We met a lot of fans of the show!"
Star-spotting with Seeby
Internet tycoon and multimillionaire Seeby Woodhouse and his fiancee Geraldine Burnett returned this week from their annual trip to Europe.
The jaunt seemed like a pre-honeymoon, as the couple spent time on the Adriatic on a Croatian sailing trip.
Woodhouse sent Facebook into a frenzy by posting a gorgeous pic of the pair, saying: "Happy wife happy life." Woodhouse told Spy he was kidding and the pair will marry in December at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.
The loved-up pair came back through London, where they got a table at the exclusive Chiltern Firehouse restaurant in Marylebone - and found themselves sitting between Madonna and Oscar winning actress Jennifer Connelly.
"The tables were separated by low screens so we didn't really get any interaction with the celebs," Woodhouse told Spy.
"I saw Madonna briefly as she went between her table and the bathroom."
Let the good times roll
If Spy's inbox is any guide, the boom party times have arrived.
We were invited to no less than 18 events this week - that's more like the pre-Christmas party season.
On Tuesday, Ferrari celebrated the New Zealand premiere of its new California T at Mantell's on the Water in Auckland.
No expense was spared and Mantells felt like The Beverly Hilton, with guests offered valet service on arrival and champagne and Californian-styled canapes as they ogled the new $400,000-plus model.
The event that stole the show, however, was another car launch - Jaguar at Britomart's Nathan Club on Wednesday.
Living up to Jaguar's British heritage, a helicopter flew over the new F-Type coupe, James Bond-style, spotlighting the car as it drove through the finer streets in Auckland, arriving to the cheers of guests - many of whom had already bought one.
It looks like times really are booming in Auckland, given the waiting list for the car, which comes with a starting price tag of $125,000.
Also on Wednesday, the BMW M3 and M4 were launched at Jerry Clayton BMW, both models starting at over $150,000.
Guests met the cars and brand ambassador, star chef Josh Emett, and enjoyed his food and wine Master Match tasting.
On Thursday, Mercedes threw a swanky party, not to launch a new model but to make two big announcements.
Mercedes is the new car sponsor of New Zealand Fashion Week, and Dame Trelise Cooper is the 2014 "Mercedes-Benz Presents" designer in their global design programme.
The prestigious accolade has previously been awarded to international designers, including Carolina Herrera, Carla Zampatti and Badgley Mischka.
The action shifted to the Queenstown snow mid-week. A select group of Clicquot in the Snow VIPs, including musician Dane Rumble, model Nikki Phillips, shoe queen Kathryn Wilson and agent to the stars Sara Tetro were hosted by the champagne house
on Wednesday.
They were whisked by chopper to the biggest privately owned rural station in New Zealand, Mt Nicholas Station, where the bubbles flowed all afternoon at the rustic and romantic Old Nicholas Cottage.
The highlight of the afternoon was the unveiling of the only six-litre Jeroboam of Veuve Clicquot in New Zealand.
Wilson and Tetro accepted the challenge to pop the giant bottle, but guests had to resort to Sabrage with a Clicquot twist, and the job was finished with a sharp axe.
Amid the drama of a storm, hostess
Rai Banbury revealed the cottage was haunted by not one but two ghosts, which of course called for more champagne and the toasting of marshmallows over a roaring fire to calm the nerves. Guests cruised back to Queenstown in true luxury, aboard a 25m launch, ahead of Thursday night's official festival launch.
Pic of the week
When TV3's David Farrier posted this cuddly picture of himself and broadcaster Paul Henry on social media, we were moved to ask what gives.
"Paul wanted me on his show to debate the merits of the latest Planet of the Apes. He thought the new film was awful. He was wrong about this, so I corrected him on air. Things got quite heated, and according to Twitter, people were worried we were genuinely hateful of each other.
"So the producer took this photo to calm people's fears. I think we were both horrified: Paul by the fact he looks like a tiny baby in my arms, and me by my giant forehead."
