Tomorrow's Brunch - Little Red, Waipu

Little Red is a cafe for holidays, situated on the site of a 1940s engineering workshop in sunny Waipu, Northland.

Place: A previously unloved shipping container on the site of a 1940s engineering workshop, converted into a summer cafe in sunny Waipu, Northland. 

People: The whole site (which includes design store Blackshed Waipu) is owned by our very own Green Mondays columnist Kelly Gibney, her partner, Luke, and his family. Kelly is resident at the weekend, which as you can imagine means suprise wholefood treats for sale in the cabinet. 

Decor: You can do a lot with a shabby shipping container. This one has been lovingly refurbished and is now a bright white industrial space flooded with natural light thanks to large, open, swimming pool blue container doors and an oblong modernist window from which you order. You can choose to sit inside at a long ply bench that runs under a window or park up under a large umbrella at one of the picnic tables (painted that same fetching shade of blue). Planter boxes filled with herbs and native plants edge the yard and double as additional seating. 

On the menu: The menu is small and suited to grabbing a bite on the run or having a light lunch. Luke's mother's freshly baked cheese and black pepper scones are a must try, the recipe a family favourite with legions of fans. Otherwise it’s brioche, brownies, gluten free loaves and fresh sandwiches. On a hot day it's impossible to look past the handmade real fruit ice blocks with flavours ranging from strawberries and cream to feijoa with pear chunks.

In the cup: Kokako organic coffee served however you like it, Allgood Organics soft drinks, organic juices, locally made kombucha and fairtrade coconut water.

Go tomorrow: Take a pit-stop during a journey north or take a day trip for great coffee and a wander around this charming town - it’s just two hours North of Auckland.

Address: 7 Cove Road Waipu, Northland.