Fresh From the Farm: New Zealand’s Farmers’ Markets

New Zealand cuisine is world-renowned and that doesn’t come as a surprise.

With a 15,000-kilometre coastline and such a diverse landscape, New Zealand’s offshore seafood paradise is complemented by the wide variety of ingredients which can be grown in New Zealand. And while New Zealand’s top (celebrity) chefs certainly know how to make use of the fresh, local produce for their world-class restaurants, there’s another way to sample New Zealand cuisine.

Weekly farmers’ markets take place all over New Zealand and they are a colourful (and inexpensive!) showcase of home-grown seasonal New Zealand produce. Farmers’ markets can be found anywhere from the smallest country village in the South Island to the cosmopolitan hustle and bustle of Auckland. They take place on a regular basis, mostly on the weekends, and are a great way to mix and mingle with locals while indulging in New Zealand delicacies. Think organic fruit and veges, exotic cheeses and cured meats, and wines and boutique beers. You’ll also find home baking, chutneys, Maori delicacies and many other treats.

And New Zealand farmers’ markets don’t just feature the best in Kiwi food and wine – you’ll often be entertained by Kiwi live music, arts and crafts stalls, and even workshops on how to grow your own!

The best way to find out about local farmers’ markets is to ask the locals, but some of the most well-known New Zealand farmers’ markets include the City Farmers’ Market and La Cigale in Auckland, the Porirua Farmers’ Market just north of Wellington, the Christchurch Farmers’ Market and Lyttelton Farmers’ Market in Christchurch, the Queenstown Farmers’ Market in the Southern Lakes Region or the Otago Farmers’ Market in Dunedin. The latter actually just won the Taste Famers' Markets NZ Award! For a full list list of New Zealand's best farmers' markets check out www.farmersmarkets.org.nz.

Farmers’ markets are especially handy if you are planning a backpacking New Zealand holiday. You can easily stock up on inexpensive foods even in the smallest communities, where supermarket prices are bound to be higher than in bigger centres. If you are a food and wine lover you could even plan your whole itinerary around highlights of New Zealand cuisine. You can, of course, join a food and wine tour. If you’d rather be entirely flexible, the destination-nz.com team can help you with some handy tips. Simply check out our New Zealand Food and Wine Itinerary, covering both the North Island and South Island with a wide range of regional Kiwi delicacies.