We travel New Zealand for work and have been keeping a list of the places we love. For years we've been sharing these recommendations with friends, and then someone said "You should make a website!" so here we are. We've called the website "Little Bit Fancy" because that's what we enjoy, nothing crazy-super-posh ... just good, honest places that are consistently good. More about us.
Rent one of our sports cars, EVs, or premium vehicles and travel NZ in safety and style. Check vehicle availability here.
EV ⚡️
All our Tesla Model 3 are the 2021 Standard Range Plus, single motor models. We include Tesla Supercharging and access to the Chargenet charging network: charged back to your credit card at cost. Expect around 300 km range on the open road, 400 km range around town.
SUV
Petrol
Touring
Whether you're staying in the city or adventuring futher afield our 2022 Volvo XC40 will carry you in comfort and style. - Space for for 4 adults - Large boot/trunk - ISOFIX points for children's car seats - Built-in NZ maps and navigation - Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - Packed with safety features - Easy around town, comfy on the open road - Four wheel drive: perfect for winter weather --- W: Everyone loved this vehicle so much we purchased another one in the exact same spec.
Diesel
Touring
Station Wagon/Estate
This is a 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200d estate and it's one of our favourite vehicles: it's exceptionally comfortable and has plenty of room for luggage and passengers. It's not too big around town, and not too small for longer journeys. It's our go-to vehicle for long-distance adventures. This vehicle is a diesel and averages around 5L/100km, which is very fuel-efficient and inexpensive to operate. It is packed with safety features, includes ISOFIX mounting points for children's car seats, and a safety net for keeping luggage in the boot/trunk. This vehicle is reasonably low to the ground and is not suitable for unsealed roads.
EV ⚡️
👋 We'd like to encourage EV rentals in New Zealand so we're trying something different with this Tesla: fixed pricing, all-year-round, at a discounted weekly rate. This is a 2021 Standard Range Plus Tesla Model 3. The real-world range is around 300 km range on the open road, 400 km range around town. This will comfortably get you around New Zealand without too much hassle. We include access to Tesla Superchargers (plug in to charge, Tesla bill us automatically) and the Chargenet charging network (plug in, then swipe included card to charge). Costs will be automatically billed to your credit card.
SUV
Petrol
Touring
Whether you're staying in the city or adventuring futher afield our 2022 Volvo XC40 will carry you in comfort and style. - Space for for 4 adults - Large boot/trunk - ISOFIX points for children's car seats - Built-in NZ maps and navigation - Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - Packed with safety features - Easy around town, comfy on the open road - Four wheel drive: perfect for winter weather --- W: Everyone loved our first XC40 "Sven" so much that when we saw a second one for sale that was exactly the same we couldn't let the opportunity pass. So, we bought a second one: "Astrid". This is Astrid ❤️
Petrol
SUV
7 Seats
Our Volvo XC40 have been super-popular but we realise that they're just not big enough if you're travelling with young kids and have heaps of luggage. This is where the Skoda Kodiaq excels: it's got comfortable seating for seven and a huge boot space. Adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ISOFIX attachment points for car seats, and good fuel economy.
42 Shotover Street, Queenstown
Ask a Kiwi what they think of Ferburger and you'll get a polarised answer. I've been visiting for over a decade and have never been disappointed; in fact, quite the opposite, Fergburger... See More
Rotorua
We'd been recommended a walk in the redwood forest a few times but didn't see the attraction. Now that we've been for a walk in the redwoods, we get it! Really good... See More
95 High Street, Blenheim
We've always struggled to find accomodation between Christchurch and Picton when we're crossing between islands on the ferry (a regular occurrence, sometimes once or twice a month). We've narrowed it down to... See More
62 High Street, Blenheim
Good coffee, good food, good ambience. It's a 2 minute walk from Carnmore Chateau Marlborough, if you happen to be staying there. They use locally-sourced fresh ingredients and it shows -- everything... See More
7 Queen Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010
Tucked away on the ground floor of Commercial Bay is an epic little spot for sandwiches and pizza. The coffee is good, too! You can't go wrong here.
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114 Esplanade, Kaikōura 7300
The Sudima Kaikoura is a 4.5 star hotel opened in 2022. It's across the road from the beach, and the rooms with balconies looking over the beach are well worth it. The... See More
Steamer Wharf , 88 Beach Street, Queenstown
I asked a Queenstown local where to get coffee and I was, without hesitation, told on a warm sunny morning Sunfire was the place to go. I dutifuly wandered down the hill... See More
Scion Research, Titikorangi Drive, Rotorua
When we visited (based on a local recommendation) it was a sunny long weekend Saturday and this place was absolutely packed: a mix of tourists and locals, which is always a good... See More
12 Markham Street, Amberley, Canterbury
W: I went through a phase in life where I was obsessed with chicken burgers. I'd make them for dinner everynight, and I'd get a different one for lunch every day. One... See More
With a few exceptions we're big fans of State Highway 1. It's a good drive with stunning scenery. One of our favourite stretches is through the Tongariro National Park, along the "Desert... See More
14 Runanga Street, Taupō 3330
We keep an eye out for places that locals love, and this is one of them. Haven't yet had a bad coffee here.
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Corner Cass & 114 Victoria Street, Ashburton
Modern, hip, great coffee, great baking. Packed with a group of local farmers having a great catchup over morning tea. Hidden away in an industrial area with zero tourists or out-of-towners in... See More
38 White Street, Fenton Park, Rotorua
Ciabatta is tucked away in an industrial area. Parking was at a premium when I arrived. Obviously well-known as there were a couple of tourist campervans rolling past. I grabbed a pain... See More
129 High Street, Christchurch
The photo doesn't do this place justice. W used to work around the corner from The Hokitika Sandwich Company and it was on repeat for a few years. It's just what we... See More
13 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland 1010
Critics will say it's over-priced and there are "better" options but hear me out: this place is always busy and it's consistently good. Their bread is some of the best around. If... See More
847 Frankton Road, Frankton, Queenstown 9300
This is another one of those local recommendations: we were staying at a nearby Airbnb and asked where to go for brunch. Without hesitation the answer was "the Boatshed cafe". We were... See More
State Highway 1, Kaikōura 7400
Kaikōura literally means "meal of crayfish" (kai – food/meal, kōura – crayfish) and we reckon Nin's Bin is the place to get it. Always fresh, caught local, and basically cooked-to-order. It's criminal... See More
