Will be in NZ later this week, any restaurants worth checking out around Auckland, Wellington, or Queenstown?

Lot of good Vietnamese joints in Auckland.

Queenstown is basically exactly like Vail. Lots of good places but mercy they can get expensive. My quick go-to is a NZ chain called Hell Pizza but that's very casual. If you want a nice place, book in advance by a few days, bookings go quickly.

I live in Auckland and could give you some good recs depending on what type of food/budget you're after.

I've lived in other "big" cities and can say that the restaurant scene here is elite.

Not picky with what kind of food it is. Looking at 1-2 nicer dinners, and then normal meals for the rest.

Would like to keep the nicer dinners under $300 for a couple, but not sure how reasonable that is with higher food prices there.

Any other tips and tricks for the country?

We are heading to NZ late this year. My eye doctor lived there a while and she told me to eat all the beef, ice cream and honey I can while there and bring home as much honey as I can. She said all three are outstanding. I talked with some other friends of mine that have been there and they said her recommendations were spot on.

Can't wait to find out.

Fergburger is a popular tourist spot, but does have really good burgers. Flame bar and grill has some good meat, but can be pricey

NZ is tip top. That south island as close as you gonna get to being on another planet. You can be in a tropical forest, adjacent to a turquoise river and also looking at a glacier in the distance. Wild place. Looks like it was rendered in a video game.

Burgerfuel is good.

There's a place in Auckland where you pick your own cut if meat and they had Venison but I don't remember the name.

I'm pretty sure it was here:
https://www.angussteakhouse.co.nz/

Plenty of good times to be had in the Viaduct area in AKL.

Here's a quick list of some solid "nicer" options in Auckland:

Amano - good for breakfast, brunch or lunch. In the Britomart area of the CBD. Upper-mid tier pricing. Locally famous for just being solid all day food. An alternative to this is a place called Ortolana, not far from there.

Alma - Spanish style food. Located not far from Britomart. They have a tomato martini style cocktail that is excellent. Highly recommend.

Ahi - more on the fine dining end of things, but not overly formal. NZ local ingredient centric dishes. Located at Commercial Bay. Good views too.

Mr Morris - another higher end option that I really enjoy every time I go. Unique menu.

The Grove - local institution. White tablecloth type place, so it isn't cheap. However, a top tier dining experience. Actually owned by an American - really nice guy.

Hello Beasty - in the Viaduct area, good spot if you like Asian fusion.

Kingi - good local seafood, if you're into that.


There are some great food & wine experiences if you take the 40 minute ferry from the CBD to Waiheke Island. Good day trip.

A cool rooftop bar just opened up at One Queen (where the Intercontinental is, connected to Commercial Bay)

+1 on the Waiheke Island wine tour

We hit 3 wineries and by the time we left the 3rd one, my wife was wrecked. Great trip.

Ferg Burger in Queenstown

Bookmarking this thread for later. We've booked a cruise for Jan '26 with stops in Picton, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin.

Waiheke Island is the answer.