New Zealand · FOOD & DRINK

15 Food & Drink Experiences in New Zealand That Repay the Detour

49 tours  ·  from $43

New Zealand leaves you fewer spare days than you planned for. These 15 food & drink experiences justify one, priced and timed so the choice takes a minute.

Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise - The 45-minute cruise from Steamer Wharf
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Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

1.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95Our pick

Cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw steamship or Spirit of Queenstown. Enjoy a generous local BBQ buffet, gardens beside Lake Whakatipu, and a lively farm show with sheep shearing and working dogs. Presenters and dogs vary, with past shows featuring Pete, Josh, Joe, Echo, Mia, and Kim.

“The gourmet BBQ was insane! So much food available and lots of different cuisines to choose from. Highly recommend. ☺️ Staff were all lovely too.”

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Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū - Learning through song, games, and movement
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Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū

2.Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,546 reviews · from $167Top rated

Spend three hours at Te Pā Tū near Rotorua for a powhiri welcome, Māori song and dance, hands-on cultural learning, and a three-course seasonal fusion feast. Return transport from central Rotorua is included. Expect shared platters, bonfires, forest scenery, and a warm family-led presentation.

“Family of 4 (kids ages 11 & 13) really loved this experience! It was a cold, rainy night but the hosts adapted and the program was wonderful. Really educational and we felt like part of their family for the evening. Great vocal talents and they fed us well. Worth a visit!”

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Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise - How the three-and-a-half-hour schedule feels
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Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

3.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Lunch & Queenstown Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,196 reviews · from $98

Take a 3.5-hour round trip from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Cruise aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw when scheduled, enjoy a chef-prepared BBQ buffet, then watch sheep shearing and sheepdog demonstrations before returning across Lake Wakatipu.

“The lake view during the cruise was quite beautiful, and the BBQ lunch was nice! They got all kinds of meat, so don’t miss it if you are a meat lover!”

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Taste of Waiheke Food and Wine Tour - Allpress Olive Groves adds something different
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Taste of Waiheke Food and Wine Tour

4.Taste of Waiheke Food and Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 465 reviews · from $179

Travel from Auckland to Waiheke Island for a private, guided food and wine day. Taste olive oil at Allpress Olive Groves, enjoy lunch and wine at Batch Winery, then visit Cable Bay and Mudbrick. Guides such as Victor and Kai have led past departures, but assignments vary. Ferry tickets are included, though you must collect and board them on your own.

“A wonderful day of wine tasting and food! The one caveat is the start of the day - the Auckland quay is a big place to meet and it wasn’t clear where to meet, what line for the ferry to get into, or that we would be met after the ferry over. Better information on the start of the tour needed. One member of the trip didn’t make it, potentially because of this. The operator needs to do better at the start.”

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Auckland: Flavours of our City Food Walk - Artisan products, chocolate, and a sweet pause
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Auckland: Flavours of our City Food Walk

5.Flavours of our City Food Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 371 reviews · from $127

Meet your guide at 188 Quay Street for a relaxed 2:30pm walk through central Auckland. Expect several generous tastings, which may include seafood, chocolates, cheese, dumplings, Korean food, ice cream, and local wine or beer. Guides such as Laura, Sarah, Alex, Jono, and Kath add food knowledge, city history, and useful restaurant advice before finishing near Britomart.

“Great food, great mini city tour, and great hostess with the mostess!! Sarah was fantastic with city info and knowing food!! 😁”

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Gourmet Food and Wine Tour Queenstown All-Inclusive Tour - From Lake Hayes to the Kawarau Bridge
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Gourmet Food and Wine Tour Queenstown All-Inclusive Tour

6.Gourmet Food and Wine Tour Queenstown All-Inclusive Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 332 reviews · from $204

Spend about six and a half hours touring Central Otago from Queenstown with Appellation Wine Tours. You’ll visit four wineries across Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Cromwell, taste wine in Gibbston Valley’s cave, enjoy five lunch courses cooked in retired oak barrels, and finish with cheese and wine. Guides such as John, Lindsay, Al, and Craig add local stories along the way.

“This wine tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Our guide Martin was very knowledgeable and a fantastic guide. The wine and food was 10/10. Would highly recommend this tour as a must to anyone. Thanks for a great day!”

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Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour - Kennedy Point Vineyard begins the tasting
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Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour

7.Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 329 reviews · from $212

Meet your guide at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for 5.5 hours of boutique vineyards, Waiheke oysters, olive oil, shared lunch, and a final whisky or wine tasting at The Heke. Guides such as Michael, Nick, Grant, and Fleur bring local stories and an easygoing style. Venues can change, and ferry tickets are separate.

“Nick was a fantastic tour guide and offered a ton of insight around the wineries as well as commentary about the island as we went. The food was overall good as well, the only reason this isn’t higher rated is the first winery was very sales focused without tasting that good, and our luncheon service left a bit to be desired. The other two wineries were lovely though and had excellent pairings.”

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Queenstown: Wine & Food Tour, Scenic Tastings & Paired Lunch - Meeting your van in central Queenstown
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Queenstown: Wine & Food Tour, Scenic Tastings & Paired Lunch

8.Wine & Food Tour, Scenic Tastings & Paired Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 276 reviews · from $132

Spend 5.5 hours touring three Gibbston wineries from Queenstown, with hosted tastings, a main course paired with estate wine, and stories from guides such as T, Ed, Angus, Andrew, and Claire. Expect a small-group feel, scenic drives, boutique cellar doors, and possibly a wine cave at Gibbston Valley.

“Brilliant day with a very competent and entertaining guide! Would highly recommend .”

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Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch - Meeting your guide at Matiatia Wharf
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Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch

9.Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 267 reviews · from $185

Spend five hours touring three Waiheke boutique vineyards with an English-speaking local guide. Taste wines with island foods such as oysters, olive oil, honey, and smoked salmon, then share a generous vineyard lunch before free time in Oneroa. Guides may include Nick, Simon, Craig, Michael, or Fleur.

“A fantastic tour/day out! Glenn was a great guide and all of the wineries were wonderful. Lovely wine and delicious food.”

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Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch! - Kinross for the main course and final tasting
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Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch!

10.Queenstown Wine & Food Tour: Scenery, Tastings & Delicious Lunch!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 257 reviews · from $154

Travel from Queenstown through Kawarau Gorge to Gibbston Valley, Mt Rosa Wines, and Kinross. You’ll taste estate wines at three wineries, visit New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, and choose a wine-paired main course. Guides such as Claire, Blake, T, and Andrew add local stories and lively commentary.

“Great fun, well planned and executed. Well worth the time. Showed up on time, everything went off as planned. Thank you”

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Waiheke Island Wine Tour with Tastings & Gourmet Beachfront Lunch - Cable Bay: a broad first taste
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Waiheke Island Wine Tour with Tastings & Gourmet Beachfront Lunch

11.Waiheke Island Wine Tour with Tastings & Gourmet Beachfront Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 237 reviews · from $186

Meet your local guide at Matiatia Ferry Terminal for a five-hour Waiheke tour with three vineyard tastings and lunch at beachfront Three Seven Two. Guides such as Caleb, Nooroa, Debbie, Rob, Karen, and Shirley share island stories while you visit Cable Bay and other wineries, with stops changing by availability.

“Overall the wines and food were awesome!! Would definitely do it again! Surprisingly enough though the best part might have been the tour guide Nooroa, the views and the people on our tour.”

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Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese - Kinross: a strong opening tasting
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Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese

12.Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · from $148

From Queenstown, join a small-group afternoon tour to Kinross, Gibbston Valley, and Mt Rosa. You’ll taste wines at three cellar doors, tour New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave, enjoy a cheeseboard, and pass the Kawarau Bridge. Guides such as Paul, John, Kate, and Phil add local color and practical wine insight.

“We had a fantastic time on the wine tour, made even better by our amazing guide, Paul. He was incredibly friendly, engaging, and truly knew his stuff—sharing great insights without ever making it feel overwhelming. Each of the three wiRead more”

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Auckland: Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour - The route from Quay Street to the older city
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Auckland: Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour

13.Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 202 reviews · 3 hours · from $122

Walk Auckland’s central streets with a local English-speaking guide such as Sarah, Jono, Clare, or Alex. Over three hours, taste local cheese, Kiwi classics, restaurant dishes, artisan chocolate, and a cold local drink while learning the city’s story. The walk covers downtown highlights and includes enough food for lunch.

“Elle was great. The locations were incredibly tasty and the sights were lovely.”

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Marlborough Wine Tour - Afternoon of Cuisine & Wine 4hrs - Lunch first, with wine at the table
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Marlborough Wine Tour – Afternoon of Cuisine & Wine 4hrs

14.Marlborough Wine Tour – Afternoon of Cuisine & Wine 4hrs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 143 reviews · from $121

From Blenheim, you’ll begin with a winery lunch at your own cost, then visit up to four Marlborough cellar doors in an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides such as Bill, Toni, Vic, and Kevin add local stories, while tastings cover the region’s famous white wines and smaller producers. Hotel pickup is included.

“Our guide, Bill, was knowledgeable, friendly, and had a terrific sense of humor. At the end of our tour he dropped us at two different destinations and that door to door service was greatly appreciated. The lunch we had at the first vineyard was delicious. At each vineyard we visited each host provided interesting details about their vineyard's history and the make-up of each wine. Interesting stories were given how the wines got their names and in each presenter you could see their enthusiasm for the products they were serving. The wines were delectable. Highly recommend this tour.”

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The Tastebud Tour, award winning food tour of Auckland - The Auckland Fish Market and the city’s seafood side
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The Tastebud Tour, award winning food tour of Auckland

15.The Tastebud Tour, award winning food tour of Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 124 reviews · from $170

Taste Auckland with a local guide such as Kath, Elle, Sarah, or Allie. In four hours, you may visit a farmers market or coffee roastery, the Auckland Fish Market, specialty food shops, and a city-centre restaurant, with morning tea, lunch, wine, and plenty of samples included.

“Elle was amazing. She took us to some most amazing restaurants and drove us through interesting neighborhoods. She knows the food and city very well. Amazing tour guide/driver.”

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