Imagine where your taste buds could lead you. 

New Zealand is famed for extraordinary fresh food and wine that’s original and world-class. Its youthful Pacific fusion cuisine is inspired by the land, sea, and its melting pot of cultures. And, its freshness and vibrancy are only matched by the warmth of the welcome visitors receive.

You’ll taste the goodness, the luscious flavors of New Zealand whether you’re fine dining or eating from a humble roadside food truck. You can top that off with world-class wines, craft brews, and genuine hospitality. Discover how innovative Kiwi chefs blend fresh produce from the garden, farm, and sea with unique indigenous ingredients and Pacific influences into world-class cuisine experiences, matched with the warmth of the welcome that Kiwis call ‘manaakitanga’. 

World-Class Wine

First, it was sauvignon blanc, then it was pinot noir – New Zealand’s new world wines have exploded onto the world stage over recent decades. With more than 450 vineyard experiences all over the country, you’ll find plenty of reasons to stop by to discover those silky seductive reds, intensely layered whites, redolent with the beautiful terroir they come from, and maybe even meet the winemakers. Our experience over the holidays in 2018 was just a “tasting” of what all there is to do in New Zealand. 

Food Experiences

There are some dishes you’ll only find in New Zealand, from fresh meat and vegetables cooked in a hāngi (Māori earth oven) or fast-cooked in boiling thermal waters to dishes featuring ingredients unique to these islands. New Zealand chefs are increasingly incorporating these flavors into their menus so keep an eye out for dishes using manuka honey and foraged native herbs and spices. 

With two oceans at the backdoor – the Pacific and the Tasman Sea – New Zealand has a huge variety of the freshest seafood that you can imagine. Go to the source to feast on crayfish (lobster) from Kaikoura, whitebait from the West Coast rivers, salmon from glacial waters, Bluff oysters, Coromandel scallops, and famous green shell mussels from the Marlborough Sounds. 

Foody Tours, Trails and Markets 

Take a food and wine tour or follow a self-drive or cycle trail to discover the local foody secrets, the best coffee roasts, craft beer, creamiest ice cream, and tastiest cheese. It’s no secret that New Zealand’s green pastures produce dairy to-die-for, so you’ll want to try hokey pokey ice cream, and there’s a network of great farmers’ markets to nibble your way round. 

Choosing where to start in your planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. It starts with a conversation about the time of year you want to go, leading into the discussion about your dreams for this journey, and coming full circle with collaboration on some of the finer points of your expectations. I will then deliver to you a plan for your curated experience in New Zealand. 

So what are you waiting for? Contact me today to move your bucket list dream into reality.