New Zealand Food & Drink:
From the Ocean to the Vineyard

When people think of great culinary traditions, French food, Italian food, Chinese food and maybe Japanese food come to mind. But what about New Zealand food and drink? The key to eating well and saving money is to find out what’s fresh and local. Here’s a guide to some of the best of New Zealand eating that we experienced.

The day that I arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand we ate was at the Viaduct Restaurant Bar & Grill which features upscale Italian cuisine. They are open for breakfast thru dinner and have an extensive menu. You can eat indoors or outside and they even provide outdoor heaters to take out the chill.

Whether you stay at Le Bons Bay Backpackers Hostel or down the mountain in Akaroa (1/2 drive) or in Christchurch (1 hr drive), make a reservation to experience authentic New Zealand New Zealand food and drink at dinnertime. The The owner, of the hostel, Gary, is a chef and everything is homemade and fresh. As a side benefit you will enjoy the friendly conversation with people from all over the world. Gary makes sure that the conversation is lively with this array of interesting questions.

If you want to splurge on an exquiste meal, make a reservation at the Sky City Orbit in Auckland. Atop the rotating restaurant you will enjoy the breathtaking view of the city. This is New Zealand food and drink at its finest. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We celebrated by daughter’s birthday here and I must tell you that the chocolate dessert is to “die for”!

Even if you don’t have a large budget, you can still enjoy New Zealand food & drink. By doing some legwork ahead of time, you’ll know the best restaurants and markets, and should have little trouble finding the best cuisine on your New Zealand vacation.