Anyone have any recs for north island? Be it dining or anything? Spending maybe a couple of weeks there.
Any info appreciated!
I dont have any specific restaurant recommendations other than to say that in the last 20 years the NZ culinary scene has improved in leaps and bounds. It used to be dominated by imported foods, but they have now discovered the value of local foods. The locally grown veggies and farm raised meats are just wonderful. There is a lot of lamb and venison on menus in contrast to where I live in the US. What is really impressive is the seafood, charcuterie and cheesesâŚoh my goodness they are wonderful. Farm raised mussels and fresh oysters from Bluff are just amazing. I ate my weight in oysters and mussels when I was there a few years ago. My wife just returned from a trip there with our niece and enjoyed a lot of Thai and Viet food as well. Just know that the kiwi chefs are really embracing their abundance and farm to table cuisine. I think youâre in for a tasty trip.
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Local site, Urban List, has a fab section on Auckland dining:
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Thanks for the pointers @wabi and @klyeoh
Iâll have a look and start posting to this thread about my adventures!
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In Auckland, my favorite meal was at Hello Beasty on the Viaduct Harbour. It is an Asian Fusion small plates.
Not food related âŚ
In Wellington, I recommend the night tour at Zealandia. You need to book in advance.
https://www.visitzealandia.com/zealandiabynight
I ate most my meals in Wellington at the various casual restaurants along Cuba Street. I canât remember any specifics (no bad meals but nothing particularly memorable). I got coffee every morning at Customs
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I missed my opportunity to dine there, but when I thought I was going to New Zealand last year, I was planning to go to a banquet in Hobbiton. Yep, a cask ale at the Green Dragon and a banquet in a cozy Hobbit home. And I failed in my missionâŚ
It is expensive and the food may not even be all that great, but I wish I could eat in a Hobbit home.
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I forgot about Hobbitton. I thought it was well worth a visit and I have never seen âThe Lord of the Ringsâ films or read the books. I had lunch there in the Green Dragon Inn. It was fine, but the food was not particularly memorable to me. It was a buffet.
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I was there about 2 years ago â with mixed results! My objective was âfinerâ dining, so not sure if I was at the same price point.
AUCKLAND
Pasture (now closed) â but served me a fish called âTrevallyâ that was superb â try it if you find it!
Sidart - very good, but somewhat âcorporateâ â a âspecial occasionâ type of place.
Cassia - bustling Indian restaurant, with BYOB at zero corkage
WHAKATANE
Roquette Competent but not groundbreaking
GISBORNE
Crawford Road Kitchen, Cross between a wine bar and restaurant. Solid & Reliable.
NAPIER
Pacifica Renowned, but didnât deliver. Coasting on laurels. HOWEVER, place was for sale when I visited. Possible that new owners may have revived this.
WELLINGTON
Logan Brown Just didnât wow for me. Cavernous space, well-appointed, but food too middle-of-road. Wine list was above average
Spring Kitchen (in Doubletree Hotel) - Asian Fusion - Unbelievably good food, hot, excellent spicing; Wine list was âinaccurateâ but they gave us a higher priced wine at the same price as the one we attempted to order. On reflection, this was my favourite meal on the North Island!
I hope they still have the same chef (Asian, female).
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Thank you will bookmark some of these places
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Went to kingi in britomart
Food was outstanding minus their signature crayfish taco that was really bland and bad. Came with kiwi and guacamole but totally drowned out the crayfish. Tortilla was inedible
Otherwise the dinner was quite fantastic. Especially their mains of yellowfin and flounder. Everything is local and line caught. Bread was also a winner.
One thing to note service was dreadful. They did apologize said it was super busy for a Monday. Reading online it seems to be a common compliant.
y
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Auckland is a really fun city. Highly walkable, lots of parks and very safe lol. Suprising that so many guidebooks tell you to head out asap but I guess sights in the country are definitely something to behold.
Stopped for a casual dinner at kk Malaysia . Everything was excellent, the laksa being slightly less pedestrian but still good. Great tasting, good qpr, casual dining, packed with locals these types of restaurants are my favorite! The wok hei was like Asia street style levels.
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Before leaving Auckland stopped at Cazador on the old dominion road which has a bunch of Asian restaurants reminiscent of LAs San Gabriel valley.
Cazador is a European family owned business that does casual lunches and fineish dining dinners. Theyâve been around since the 80s and specialize in wild game and charcuterie. Got a house smoked pastrami, some duck liver mouse, charcuterie and a terrine for a picnic on mt Eden.
Excellent way to soak in the sun with some views/lunch
Now entering the boonies portion of my trip. Out of civilized society and into the great unknown lol. Or basically what everyone comes to NZed for, the amazing scenery.
Got some fresh snapper from a local chippy in Thames.
Made our way to hahei
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Had a very decent pizza at woodys in hahei. Wood fired with decent char, one side was slightly over cooked but overall great chew and well balanced. Canât complain for a 16nzd which is approx 9 bucks usd. Subbed salami for ham, I usually go with sausage and pineapple if sausage is available.
Full Moonrise above the hills of hahei. The country side is pretty pretty good.
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