By James Drakeford

Posted: 12th June 2012 14:51

New Zealand is a food and wine lover’s paradise. Vineyards stretch throughout every region, chefs put playful local twists on fine cuisine and festivals serve up taste sensations with a side of local music.

World Class Wine

The Hawkes Bay, Martinborough and Marlborough are signature New Zealand wine regions; explore your pick of the 120 vineyards by driving the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. If you’re after a really thorough wine tour, add West Auckland, Gisborne, Canterbury and Central Otago to your itinerary. 
 
Most wineries are open for tasting, and many have fine restaurants onsite. There are plenty of bicycle and chauffeur-driven wine tours too – a great way to take in the full spectrum of local flavours. The internationally acclaimed varieties include sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir and the Bordeaux (cabernet sauvignon/merlot blends), so get ready to sample!

Fancy a beer instead? 

You'll find several major breweries and more than 50 boutique micro-breweries around New Zealand to keep your beer belly happy. Be sure to visit Nelson, the hop growing captial. 

Pacific Rim cuisine

New Zealand food goes way beyond fish and chips and barbeques – chefs have developed a distinct Pacific Rim cuisine. Expect to indulge in plenty of seafood (like greenlipped mussels, crayfish (lobster), Bluff oysters and fresh fish), award winning cheeses and of course the famous lamb. You should also expect a laidback, friendly atmosphere wherever you eat; we Kiwis love to keep things casual.

Fabulous food experiences

For fine dining amid spellbinding scenery, try one of New Zealand’s many remote luxury lodges. For urban eats, try a waterfront restaurant at Auckland’s Viaduct or a bohemian ethnic café in Wellington’s Cuba Quarter. For a truly authentic experience, head to Rotorua for the smoky flavour of Maori food from a traditional hangi earth oven. And if you’re visiting in the summer months, the wine and food festivals are a must – check out the Kawhia Kai Festival or the West Coast’s Wildfoods Festival for something really adventurous.

Get cooking

Keen to hone your kiwi cooking skills? Take part in a cooking class and learn some local secrets, including Maori cooking using native plants. When shopping for fresh ingredients, remember to stop by a Saturday morning farmers’ market. And for take-home inspiration, pick up a cookbook by one of the celebrity chefs, like Annabel Langbein or Peter Gordon.