Okay, so it's made it to the hot list before (and the mad chickens that live there have made it to the 'not' list), but we love Taitua Arboretum (pictured). It's especially beautiful in autumn and spring. If you've never visited it before, check it out soon. It's a wonderful asset to this city.
The chicken and prawn strifry at Machina in London St. They call it a stirfry, but it's really more of a risotto. But we love its garlicky, chilli deliciousness and chunks of chicken and prawn. And at a reasonable $9 for a medium-sized tub, that carby goodness will keep you going all afternoon.
Not . . .
Asking a staff member at Oderings if they had any vireya rhododendrons in stock. She didn't understand they are a subgenus to the ones she was pointing out and when we happened to stumble upon their six or so vireyas in an opposite corner of the centre to where the other rhodos are, only one had a label so we had no idea what colour any of the flowers would be.
Cleaning your car at the weekend only to find it caked in yellow pollen the next time you take it out of the garage.