My Weekend: Rebecca Wadey

Little Bird cheesecake. Picture / Babiche Martens.

Health and wellbeing virtuoso Rebecca Wadey spends her weekends indulging in the occasional spiced strawberry and chia cocktail, checking out her favourite shops and spending time with her family. "We spend a lot of time in the garden, gardening, searching for our free-range chicken eggs, or we head around the rocks at Pt Chev beach, swimming at high tide and poking sea anemones when the tide's out."

After being diagnosed with cancer at age 26, Wadey, alongside Megan May of Little Bird, was inspired to create The Centre, a nurturing and relaxing space offering yoga classes, nutrition, meditation, massage therapy and more, to create a community area for those after a little "everyday getaway".

Wadey shares her top weekend spots, from where she's dining and what she's trying and her adventurous summer plans.

Mornings ... I start most days with a yoga class at The Centre, sucking back a green detox smoothie from Little Bird on the way home before running the kids to school. It's also our go-to family breakfast locale, the kids love the g'raw'nola and nut milkshakes, or sprouted bread with homemade almond butter and "jam". We also love Grand Harbour for brunch, along with the rest of Auckland. We start our days early, which at least means we get there before the crowds. Meola Kitchen is another favourite in our household; I love the breakfast burrito with lashings of hot sauce and they serve, hands-down, the best coffee in the area (please, someone, bring good coffee to Pt Chev).

Drinking ... I don't go out specifically to drink - all my social endeavours revolve around food. At the moment I'm loving spiced strawberry and chia kombuchas at Little Bird Ponsonby, the "Street Fighter" at Chop Chop, sangria at Cocos and any incarnation of a margarita at Mexico (tequila is my biggest vice).

Trying ... I feel like a late adaptor but have just discovered Mr Zhou's in New Lynn. We've just got back from Mexico where I was wowed by 50c al pastor tacos, only to come back and discover 50c pork and fennel dumplings right on my doorstep. Also delish, fresh cucumber and coriander salad on the side.

Dining ... I love, love food and the whole experience of eating it is a big part of our family life. I gravitate towards family-run places with real food. Cocos for the spaghetti and meatballs; Baduzzi for the crayfish meatballs; Little Bird for everything; and Sunday night dinner at Ponsonby Central, especially fried jerk chicken noodle soup at Chop Chop. I've always celebrated special occasions at the French Cafe and can't believe how competently it evolves/stays ahead/keeps fresh.

Shopping ... I can't keep away from Simon James in Jervois Rd and Ingrid Starnes in Newmarket. Whenever I have an itch I need to scratch that's where I head, so many beautiful things for any budget. I can't wait for the new season drop of Care Of cashmere at Everyday Needs. There's a gloriously oversized sweater that's perfect for patchy January evenings.

Loving ... Opito Bay in the Coromandel. My parents bought land there the year I was born and I've spent every summer without fail there since. Now my children are growing up with the children of those I grew up with. It's definitely my happy place.

Anticipating ... I'm anticipating Wanderlust, a big yoga festival in Lake Taupo at the end of January; Laneways (I still like to think I'm the target market even though I've only ever heard of half the acts), getting our beehives installed in our garden at home, "un" cooking my way right through the Little Bird cookbook, Julie & Julia-style.

Relaxing ... Vitamin D is my ultimate relaxant. Is that terribly un-PC? I wear a hat! I love being outside with my kids - the garden, the beach, reading a sneaky book while listening to their play. But I'm big on taking time by myself as well.

I often have days of "me" where I juice fast, do a challenging yoga practice, have an infrared sauna and perhaps a massage for good measure.

Summer plans ... Coromandel, Great Barrier, Raglan, Tawharanui. I'm going to learn to surf, I'm going to get better at paddleboarding (I'm going to try and get from Pt Chev to Te Atatu without getting lost. Or rescued). I'm going to eat everything in my garden before it goes to seed and if I don't, I'll juice it.

- VIVA