New Zealand Food & Wine Itinerary

In New Zealand, indulgence with regards to delicious food and wine doesn’t have to be expensive.

Even if you are on a New Zealand budget holiday there is no need to have beans on toast day in, day out in order to save money for activities and accommodation. On the contrary: in New Zealand you can readily pick up inexpensive local delicacies in farmers’ markets and indulge in delicious treats during your entire holiday – that is what we call backpacking deluxe! So while you’re on the road, here are some regional gourmet goodies to plan your ultimate New Zealand Food and Wine Itinerary around.

Start your culinary road trip in Northland, at the very top of the North Island. Here, you should keep an eye out for the region’s award-winning cheeses and subtropical fruit. Before you hit Auckland, make sure you sample honey in Kumeu, just north of Auckland. In Auckland, you can browse the city’s farmers’ markets. A must for seafood lovers is the Auckland Fish Market, while the Otara Market is great for sampling Polynesian goodies.

Heading on to the Coromandel, get your hands on seafood (especially scallops). A bit further down, make sure you sample the famous kiwifruit in Te Puke and then drive on to Rotorua for a Maori hangi. This experience isn’t normally found at a farmers’ market, but it’s worth splashing out on this great Maori culture activity, which is often combined with performance art.

In New Plymouth, make sure you spoil your taste-buds with paua fritters, while over in Hawke’s Bay on the other side of the island you simply have to sit back with a wine and indulge in olives and handmade chocolates. End the North Island part of your culinary road trip with a trip to Martinborough Wine Village in the Wairarapa, and artisan breads and cheeses from the Porirua Farmers’ Market.

Take a ferry or scenic flight to the South Island and continue your trip of indulgence in Marlborough, considered the Sauvignon Blanc capital of the world and also great for mussels and scallops. More seafood and fruit is to be found in the beach paradise of Nelson. Down the coast, Kaikoura is famous for crayfish and Canterbury for racks of lamb, while Akaroa dishes up great French food. Over on the West Coast a must-try is whitebait (very yummy when served as fritters sandwiched between slices of bread!).

Heading south from Christchurch, you’ll encounter gorgeous chutneys and berries in gourmet haven Geraldine and delicious cheeses in Oamaru. To finish off your New Zealand food and wine trip, head inland to Central Otago for a bottle of renowned Pinot Noir and juicy stone fruit during summer (the cherries, nectarines and apricots are amazing!), before sampling oysters and other seafood down in Southland.

Finally, if you’re a rugby fan travelling to New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup 2011, watch out for REAL NZ Festival events being held all over the country. This festival showcases New Zealand sports, culture, nature and – you guessed it – food and wine!

Now, if you’re concerned you might put on weight with all those delicacies waiting for you (which is perfectly justifiable!), there’s no need to worry. Simply combine your culinary adventure with activities such as cycling, walking and hiking or kayaking. Those activities not only keep you fit and are heaps of fun, but you’ll also get to explore some scenery which is simply inaccessible by road! Enjoy!