The Best Food and Drink to try in Queenstown New Zealand

New Zealand dining boasts a delicious combination of foods from around the world, including Māori, Pacific Rim, Mediterranean and British influences, plus many more besides. Situated off the South coast of neighboring Australia, New Zealand cuisine includes plenty of fresh, seasonal local produce, all of which makes for a banquet of extra-flavorful dishes and a must-visit destination for foodie travelers.

Queenstown in particular is an excellent destination for the culinary-curious: it’s an adventure for all the senses, tastebuds included. With so much variety on offer, knowing what to eat could present something of a challenge.To help you plan out your trip, here are some of the best dishes in Queenstown to try out, whether you’re hungry for gourmet cuisine or a quick bite to eat.

Breakfast

While some are content to start the day off with a simple bowl of cereal or a couple of rounds of toast (marmite optional), for others breakfast is the main event. In New Zealand, expect the usual (staple breakfast items are typically available), but also the unexpected: instead of sticking with the usual breakfast order why not try something a little different, like grilled bananas with smoked kahawai fish, or “breakfast pie”.

Main Events

If you’ve landed in Queenstown and you want good food without having to wait too long, fish and chips (New Zealand-style) is an ever-popular option: think fresh hoki, red cod, tarahiki, blue warehou or elephant fish served with a side-order of traditional kūmara (sweet potato).

Another popular dish is hāngī; vegetables and meat slow-cooked using traditional Māori  pit-cooking methods, served with hot, buttered Rewena Paraoa, a sourdough bread with just a hint of sweetness. Most menus feature vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, in particular Asian eateries. If you’re looking for Japanese restaurants in Queenstown, agedashi tofu, vegetable tempura and delicious mushroom gyoza are just a few meat-free dishes for you to sample from.

Light Lunches

Everyone loves a barbeque, and few do it better than New Zealanders, whether you fancy a burger or a chargrilled veggie kebab, or for a quick lunch, try a creamed paua pie filled with mince inside a flaky, buttery casing. Local street food places are full of delicious options as well: from fresh whitebait fritters, and Malaysian-inspired vegan bao buns to Mexican tacos.

For those dining in, Queenstown offers a host of cafes, bars and other eateries catering to lunchtime diners looking for a quick bite to eat. For al-fresco dining, New Zealand has it all: stunning views, delicious food and the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of local culture while you eat.

Marine Parade and Steamer Wharf offer a range of waterfront locations, while just  20 minutes from the main center is Arrowtown, a pretty rural town with plenty of excellent picnicing spots to choose from, including beautiful lakeside views at Kingston (a 45-minute drive away), or for somewhere a little closer, there’s also picturesque Earnslaw Park, a tranquil spot overlooking The Remarkables mountains and Lake Wakatipu situated in the middle of town.

Desserts

Ice cream lovers will find an abundance of flavors to choose from, but for the true New Zealander experience, don’t miss out on a scoop of hokey-pokey (creamy vanilla ice cream with crunchy honeycomb balls). This is so iconic, it’s referred to by New Zealanders as an example of “Kiwiana”, things attributed specifically to the country.

For baked treats, there’s lolly cake, lamingtons (tiny cubes of spongy cake covered in coconut and chocolate sauce), afghans (crispy cornflake confections topped with chocolate icing and walnuts), or Anzac biscuits, a type of sweet, syrupy cookie with rolled oats also popular in Australia.

Alternatively, you can try a locally-sourced fruit salad with fresh golden kiwi (sweeter and more aromatic than its green cousins), passionfruit and feijoa (pineapple guava), either on its own topped with mānuka honey or as a variation on the traditional topping of strawberries and fresh whipped cream on another popular New Zealand dessert dish, the pavlova.

Cheese Platters

When you think of New Zealand, one animal might spring to mind, namely the curious-looking, yet adorable kiwi bird. Others might instantly think of fluffy herds of sheep, who in addition to producing  an astounding 220,000 tonnes of wool per year also make single farm origin milk.

When combined with 50% cow’s milk, this makes “fifty-fifty”, a balanced, tangy aged gouda. Other suggestions for your cheese board (whether as an appetizer or if you still have room to spare) include the smooth-tasting, semi-soft Airedale, nutty, crumbly Mainland cheddar and buttery brie, paired with local grapes and your favorite tipple of choice.

Drinks

Surrounded by beautiful vineyards country-wide, finding a drink to pair with your food-order shouldn’t be a challenge. Enjoy a glass of full, spicy syrah or bright, fruity sauvignon blanc with your meal, or, if you’re a craft beer lover, the country also happens to be home to more than 160 microbreweries and breweries.

For alcohol-free options, there’s feijoa juice,or lemon and paeroa (or “L&P”), a light, citrusy soft drink you won’t find anywhere else. New Zealanders also have a huge love of coffee (it’s even the birthplace of the world-famous flat white), or if you have kids in tow, why not treat them to a “fluffy”, which is whipped-up, frothy milk topped with chocolate sprinkles and a melting marshmallow.

Photo by Peter Luo on Unsplash.