Kiwi food and drink
You can't visit New Zealand without enjoying some of the excellent local food and drink so here are some ideas for when you are wondering what to order.
Whitebait
Caught locally in the spring and turned into mouth-watering whitebait fritters. Catch them yourself at the mouth of rivers on the West Coast of the South Island, especially around Fjordland.
Trout
New Zealand boasts some of the finest trout fisheries in the world and areas in the Central North Island around Rotorua and Lake Tongariro are renowned for the excellence of their trout.
Seafood
With its huge coastline New Zealand is not short of decent seafood supplies. The area around Kaikoura in the South Island is particularly well known for crayish and in springtime holds a large seafood festival. Green lipped mussels are also well worthy of ordering.
Sausage rolls
More sausage then pastry and not like any sausage roll you will have tasted before. Great at lunchtime after a hearty morning's activity.
Blue cod & chips
Not just any old cod but Blue Cod freshly caught in the stormy Southern Ocean. Large, succulent and not overfished, just how it should be.
Hangi
Traditional Maori feast, nowadays mostly served up at tourist events, particularly in and around Rotorua. If you can get past the tourist gloss then do try and sample a Hangi in a good fun evening of Maori culture and food.
Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
This is the national icon when it comes to ice cream and simply has to be tasted to experience a New Zealand summer to the full.
Beers
If you enjoy a good beer then trying the Kiwi brew is a must. Amongst the more popular breweries are:
- Speights
- Macs
-
Cantebury Ales
Wines
Your choice of wines in New Zealand is huge and the best are among the best in the world so simply try as many as you can and you'll soon get a nose for the ones you like.
See Also Kiwi Beers, Beer Consumption and Famous Kiwi Pubs