Tina Cross
Tina Cross
Tina Cross is one of New Zealand’s most loved and energetic entertainers. For the past 18 years she has been a Shore girl. Channel’s Mike Campbell caught up with her in August to find out why she just loves living on the Shore.
Tina Cross. I was brought up in Otara, a south side girl and experienced the Shore for the first time in the late 1970’s when I sang at a cabaret venue called, The Shoreline, where Les Mills Gym is now located. I spent most of the 1980’s in Sydney and moved back to AK in 1990. It didn’t take long to figure out that not only was real estate accessible back then but the Milford/Takapuna/East Coast Bays beaches were unique and glorious. My husband Wayne and I and our son Sean, moved into Milford in 1992 – our daughter Leah was born in 1993 and our family have been addicted to the Shore ever since.
CM. What’s your favourite Shore restaurant and why?
TC. I’m more of a café girl because it’s all about great coffee in the end. Healthy food is what I look for and I can’t go past Justin from Latin Larder’s, egg white omelet with spinach and salmon. Their Muesli and fruit option is also amazing and I’m particularly partial to their low fat banana loaf.
But, Massimo’s Calamari Salad is hard to beat and Jam’s savoury muffins are a favourite. I love Thai and Japanese food and Mansun is a great fresh Sashimi takeout at night. My favourite Thai restaurant for a quick sit down meal is Milford’s, Benjarong. See what excellent choices we have between Milford and Takapuna.
CM. Saturday morning North Shore style?
TC. It doesn’t sound too exciting to say, sleeping in, but this is often the case. If I’ve worked late or even if I haven’t been performing on a Friday night, I’m a late night owl by habit. I’m up with my 17 year old daughter on weekdays by 7am whether I’m working the night before or not, so Saturday (no school) morning, is a luxury sleep in. By midday though, I’ve been to one of my favourite cafes for a long macchiato and occasionally brunch. The thing is I have my own breakfast recipe that no-one can match - wholegrain oats, berries, LSA, lecithin granules, ultimate greens with fish oil and yogurt mixed in. It looks revolting but tastes delicious!
CM. What’s your favourite Shore beach and why?
TC. I love the walk from Milford beach to Takapuna beach so both of these beaches are my favourite. That stretch is exhilarating - flat, rocky and sandy, all in one. If I have a mad moment I might run on the flat but I’m more of a gym girl, in particular Les Mills, Body Jam and Body Balance and I love my Tuesday mornings with my personal trainer plus my Wednesday night Zumba class. All of this goes out the window occasionally, depending on my work commitments.
CM. Where do you go to relax on the Shore?
TC. The beach, a café, the gym, shopping… I find it pretty relaxing sitting in my lounge playing my guitar. Occasionally I worry about the people walking past my house getting an ear full but I’ve had no complaints so far.
CM. What’s the Shore’s best kept secret?
TC. The unique walk between Takapuna beach and Devonport village. When the tide is out you can walk a good deal of it on the beach and veering off to the road when you have to, doesn’t detract. It’s a good decent fitness walk and if you want to take in Narrow Neck and Cheltenham beaches, they are a beautiful sidetrack and there is always a great café close by. What more could you want except for sunshine and at least four hours up your sleeve because that café stop is compulsory!
CM. Have you ever found anywhere else in the world that reminds you of the Shore and if so, how?
TC. Actually Biarritz on the basque coast of south west France reminds me of Takapuna beach and shops. There are also smaller beaches further around that coastline not dissimilar to our Milford and East Coast Bays beaches. It is equally as stunning as what we have on our own doorstep.
CM. Finally, what do you love most about the city you call home?
TC. It’s clean, green, culturally diverse with great schools and excellent performing arts and entertainment supported by our very own Bruce Mason Theatre. We have superb cafés, restaurants, markets, shopping, health, fitness and sports facilities and our beaches are to die for. Where else would you rather live?
Doing what I love doing
