New Zealand Foods You Can’t Find Anywhere Else in the World

When travellers think about visiting New Zealand, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the majestic mountains and glaciers, or the Lord of the Rings movie set, or even their sports tradition, from rugby to bungee jumping. Nevertheless, New Zealand is quickly becoming a foodie destination for those in the known, with lots of unique local flavours and an emerging dining scene.

Along with the unique native Māori cuisine, some might be quick to point out that New Zealand cuisine bears many similarities to Australia’s due to their common British colonial heritage. In fact, many dishes normally thought to be Australian were actually conceived by Kiwis like the pavlova, lamington, Afghan and Anzac biscuits, while iconic drinks like the flat white are claimed by both!

So what is unique about the food there that you must try? Read on for some of the best eats and only-in-New-Zealand experiences!

Whether you crave their famous bluff oysters, tuatua shellfish, mussels or incredibly fresh fish, you’ll find plenty of options wherever you go in NZ. Not only do they offer excellent fish and chips options (or fush and chups in the locals’ lingo), you can often ask for a side of kūmara sweet potato fries instead of regular fries.

If you are feeling like something more local, you can have green-lipped mussels, larger and fattier than regular mussels, straight from the source at Marlborough, where 80% of their production is based.

You can even enjoy a cruise on the Pelorus Sound and Kenepuru Sound and visit a mussel farm through Klook! 

Or you want to catch your own seafood, you can try a fishing experience out of Christchurch:

The Māori hāngi is a traditional way of cooking all kinds of food, from meats and vegetables to pudding, using heated rocks buried in a pit oven. You’ll find great options to visit villages like the Tamaki Māori Village, Te Puia, and Mitai Village, all of which offer hāngi dinners from Rotorua. While you are there, try some boil up, another Māori specialty.

Check out some of the experiences available near Rotorua or head to the Bay of Islands for a dinner and Māori performance night:

You can also combine them with other Rotorua famous attractions:

If you have to eat at a single ice cream parlour in New Zealand, Giapo Ice Cream should be at the top of your list. Home of the colossal squid cone (another New Zealand resident) and the ready-for-Instagram wearable ice cream, Giapo is an Auckland institution with new flavours coming out all the time. And while we’re talking about dairy, do yourself a favour and try one of the flavoured milks from Lewis Road Creamery, from classics like chocolate and strawberries to s’mores.

Hokey pokey is the local name for honeycomb toffee, which for its namesake flavour is added to plain vanilla ice cream in small chunks. It’s a popular local flavour from supermarket brands to premium gelato.

Address: 12 Gore Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Reservations: giapo.com

Two ingredients set Kiwiburgers apart from American traditions: a fried egg and a generous slice of beetroot. New Zealand had top notch beef and burgers can’t be far behind. The only question that remains: in which city are you having yours? 

If you are in Auckland, visit retro-style Burger Burger that does American joints justice, or if you are in Queenstown, hit super famous Fergburger.  Just be ready to wait along with the après-ski crowds at night.

Address: multiple locations around Auckland

Address: 42 Shotover Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

And when you're tired of the slopes, head out to some of the most incredible views in Queenstown:

One of New Zealand’s top exports, lamb is ubiquitous, from lamb mince pies and Sunday roasts in the nearest pub, to fine dining. One of the best places to try is Orphan’s Kitchen in Auckland, with their mission of looking everywhere for “national flavors and identity”. Another local favourite is Pedro’s House of Lamb

Address: 47 Gorge Road, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

Address: 118 Ponsonby Road, Auckland, New Zealand

Made exclusively from the flowers of the mānuka tree, this pricey honey has a stronger, more earthy flavour and is prized worldwide for its supposed health benefits. Only buy from reliable shops in New Zealand, as counterfeit products abound outside the country unfortunately.Mānuka honey is usually consumed raw (or as an expensive sweetener), but if you’d like to find an ideal pairing, a local bowl of porridge at Misters in Auckland is a good option.

Address: G/12 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

This Brazilian native has found a new home in New Zealand where it enjoys newfound popularity. It is also known by even stranger names like 'pineapple guava' or 'guavasteen' and has a sweet flavour with a peculiar aroma. While you can’t nick them off a neighbour’s tree like a true local, you can still easily find it in local markets or even falling on the streets if you are visiting in autumn.

If you want to eat it like a local, half it and the flesh with a spoon like you would a kiwifruit.

Feijoas are packed full of vitamin C making it a great snack if you want a boost to fight off any colds you might get in a glacier hike:

From the Māori word for abalone, pāua is valued both for its beautiful shell and unique flavours of the meat, fetching premium prices for both. If you are ready to splurge, Logan Brown in Wellington offers pāua ravioli, while the Amisfield vineyard’s restaurant offers it in pie form, while you can find the shells in most shops offering souvenirs.

Logan Brown

Address: 192 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6141, New Zealand

Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door

Address: 10 Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road, Frankton, Queenstown 9371, New Zealand

Excited to visit New Zealand yet? See what else you can do while you’re there.

If you've spent all the money on food...