Planning to go on a New Zealand holiday soon? Apart from the quintessential tourist attractions and landmarks to visit, this little pocket of paradise also boasts the coolest dining experiences, ranging from seafood feasts to boozy antics for everyone.
Finding good food in New Zealand isn’t a challenge! Build up your foodie bucket list with 10 of the best gastronomic adventures to appreciate in New Zealand’s wine and dine scene:
- Go on a seafood cruise
- Cool down with cocktails at Below Zero Ice Bar
- Sip your way through New Zealand’s classic wine trails
- Experience a traditional Māori hāngī
- Go loca(l) at a farmers market
- Get boozy at a brewery
- Enjoy good ol’ fish and chips
- Immerse yourself in the local coffee culture
- Have your sweet fill with Mānuka honey
- Celebrate at food festivals
Looking for a bit of a push to visit NZ? Here are more reasons to book those flights now!
1. Go on a seafood cruise
Eat mussels to your heart’s content on this cruise. Credits: @marlboroughtourcompany
Indulging in seafood is a no brainer during a vacay. If you’re on a New Zealand holiday, then great news—you have access to the freshest seafood there is. Pamper yourself with this Seafood Odyssea Cruise on the Queen Charlotte Sound, and feast on the area’s most delectable delicacies, including freshly-caught Regal Salmon, Cloudy Bay Clams, and Greenshell Mussels. Pair these with the region’s famed Sauvignon Blanc for a holistic dining experience!
2. Cool down with cocktails at Below Zero Ice Bar
You’re in for a fun night out at Below Zero Ice Bar. Credits: @karin2burger
Spice up the typical pub drinks with an out-of-this-world experience at Below Zero Ice Bar, the largest ice bar in Australasia. Yep, that means you’ll be sipping on cocktails at below zero temperature! Worried about freezing? Complimentary jackets, gloves, and boots will be provided, and if that’s still not enough—warm up with a vodka shot!
3. Sip your way through New Zealand’s classic wine trails
Embark on a full-day wine tour around Marlborough. Credits: @marlboroughtourcompany
Wine aficionados will have a mighty good time holidaying in New Zealand. With 45,000 hectares of vineyards to explore across its 11 main wine regions, we recommend you craft your wine map, depending on which variety you want to taste. Start your journey at Marlborough for a taste of Sauvignon Blanc, a well-loved New Zealand wine, in four different wineries in the region.
Want to pair the wine tour with a classic two-course lunch? Join this Taste Wine Tour in Marlborough instead, and explore the region’s finest cellar doors with fellow wine lovers!
4. Experience a traditional Māori hāngī
Watch how your Māori feast gets prepared hāngī-style!
Embrace and discover Māori culture one bite at a time with local New Zealand food cooked using the traditional Hāngī method. In case you’re wondering, the Hāngī technique uses heated rocks and a pit dug in the ground as an oven to cook raw meat, seafood, and vegetables. If you’re a fan of smoky flavours, we suggest you check this one out, especially at Te Puia!
5. Go loca(l) at a farmers’ market
Spare a day to visit an NZ farmers’ market! Credits: @christchurchfarmersmarket
Feel like you need retail therapy? Head over to a farmers' market near you and go crazy on local goods. A weekend ritual for most locals, visiting a farmers' market is also a great way to know the people in the area. But, if you ask us what's the best thing to do here—it's to try out all the New Zealand food and artisan delicacies available! With options ranging from sweet pastries to savoury fritters, to handcrafted gin, the sky's the limit when having your fill at a local farmers' market!
6. Get boozy at a brewery
Discover the fantastic craft of beer making from the experts themselves.
On the hunt for the perfect pint? Visit New Zealand, where microbreweries have sprouted all over the island. On the North Island, you can head straight to Wellington, the country's craft beer capital. If you're in the South Island, go behind the scenes and discover how your favourite craft beers and ales are made by the experts on this Afternoon Brewery Tour!
7. Enjoy good ol’ fish ‘n’ chips
Get your “fush n’ chups” right by the beach! Credits: @azanagoesbananas
Go back to the classic with the beloved New Zealand food: fish 'n' chips. The Brit staple has been Kiwi-fied ever since it landed on these shores (there is at least one chip shop at every suburb!) and has become a Friday night norm for most locals. If you're visiting the beach, grabbing an order of these fried goodies are a must. Just avoid the seagulls!
8. Immerse yourself in the local coffee culture
Can’t decide which cuppa to try? Welly’s Flight Coffee Hangar has coffee samplers! Credits: @flightcoffeehanger
Your trip to New Zealand wouldn't be complete without experiencing its rich coffee culture. Have your caffeine fix around the country, and make friends while you're at it. New Zealand's café culture is considered a social occasion, so don't be surprised if the person from the next table starts a conversation as you savour your cuppa. And, while its origin story is still up for debate, make sure to enjoy a cup of Flat White while you're here!
9. Have your sweet fill with Mānuka honey
Authentic Mānuka honey can only be bought in NZ! Grab a jar while you’re here. Credits: @mieleapiaries
Already planning your souvenirs? Get your loved ones at home something you can't find anywhere else in the world: Mānuka honey! Named after the native bush where the bees get their nectar, the world-famous Mānuka honey is only available in New Zealand and southeast Australia. It is famed for its antibacterial properties and antioxidant benefits! To know more about this sweet treat, you may check the Bay of Islands Honey Shop.
10. Celebrate at food festivals
Enjoy the banquet of the wild at Hokitika Wildfoods Festival! Credits: @wildfoodsfestival
Amp up your foodie spirit at New Zealand's food festivals, where your cravings are the main star. At least ten food fests are going on around the country throughout the whole year. The classic wine and food festivals are in renowned wine regions like Marlborough and Canterbury. If you're more of an adventurous eater (we're talking pig ears, lamb testicles, and crocodile bites here!), you better check out the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival happening in March 2023!
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