Besides its enchanting nature destinations, New Zealand is famous for its locally sourced and farm-to-table cuisine. There is abundant food that can be accessed easily due to its climate, clean air, much water, and perfect temperature that support the growth of plants and animals there. Hence, it is no wonder that New Zealand offers varied meals, either from fish, lamb, or their plants.

New Zealand is surrounded by the ocean, giving the inhabitants various seafood that becomes an essential and abundant part of its food. Besides, the weather there is perfect, which affects the quality of plants and fruit.

Another plus point is that indigenous Maori, Polynesian, and European traditions and culture have influenced the cuisine. It gives the authentic and unique taste in their meals that you have to try when you visit New Zealand one day.

Every country has their own iconic and must-eat cuisines, and so does New Zealand. We have summarised the cuisine lists you should try while visiting New Zealand.

Restaurant: Nin’s Bin, at Jul-20 NZ, State Highway 1, 6, Kaikōura 7400, New Zealand

Price: Starts from NZ$ 112.45

Opening hours: Every day, from 09.00 AM to 06.00 PM

It is not complete if you visit this country, but do not try seafood. The legendary and many people recommend it is crayfish or ‘rock lobster’. Each year, many crayfish are served to tourists who visit.

The best thing to taste is crayfish sprinkled with garlic, butter, and a slice of lemon while enjoying the panorama of the sea. New Zealand has over 14,000 kilometres of coastline, especially for crayfish and other seafood.

Finding the providers is easy. There are plenty of kiosks in Kaikōura that sell seafood. One of them is Nin’s Bin. It is a family-run business that has been selling and serving crayfish since 1977. The uniqueness of this kiosk is that they do this with their old camper, which usually parks on the coastal beach. It is the best place to savour seafood while looking at the beach.

While enjoying the crayfish and fresh seafood in New Zealand, you can also do a fun thing by visiting Kaikoura Wings Over Whales to see the Kaikōura from above on a small plane near the restaurant

Restaurant: Vault 21, 21 The Octagon, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand

Price: Starts from NZ$ 56.23

Opening hours: Every day, from 11.00  AM to 07.45 PM

Besides seafood, New Zealand is one of the top countries that export meals worldwide. It has good quality and feeds grass throughout its life. Then, it's no wonder New Zealand’s lamb is highly appreciated worldwide.

The best way to taste it is by cooking a roasted lamb in bruschetta with edamame and scrambled table cheese, black vinegar jam, and pomegranate juice. Or by shaping it into spring rolls with hand-made lamb neck, black garlic mayo, and mint caper salsa.

Restaurant: Pātaka Kai Restaurant, Bar and Cafe

Price: Starts from NZ$ 102.82 to NZ$ 144.59

Opening hours: Sunday, from 09.00 AM to 02.00 PM | Wednesday to Saturday, from 10.AM to 02.00 PM | Friday, from 10.00 AM to 02.00 PM and 05.00 PM to 09.30 PM

Hāngī is a traditional method of Maori Tribe cooking, cooked in a hole dug in the ground. At first, the Maori Tribe used it when they wanted to eat fish and sweet potatoes. Traditionally, it was wrapped in flax leaves with heated volcanic stone.

The stones were covered by a layer of damp sacks on which baskets of kai (food) wrapped in hemp leaves were placed. The hole was then covered with a mound of earth, and the food was cooked and ready in about four hours.

Nowadays, they cook it with various food items, such as pork, lamb, pumpkin, and cabbage. The old method was also left; they used mutton cloth, aluminium foil, and wire baskets to do Hāngī.Despite that, you still can enjoy the taste of Hāngī-cooked style. Let your tongue dig in the slow-cooked delicious fish, meat, and vegetables from an underground oven by the Maori tribe. You can enjoy the dining after visiting the Geothermal Valley Te Puia, which is not far from the restaurant.

Restaurant: Smileys Pizzas Takeaways & Deliveries - Westport, which is located at 232 Palmerston Street, Westport 7825, New Zealand

Price: Starts from NZ$ 25.78

Opening hours: Every day, from 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM

If you want to try local snacks, we suggest you try fish and chips. This popular takeaway meal is easy to find, usually served with salad. But it can also be eaten alone with bread and tomato sauce.

This meal is made from freshly fried fish, providing a crispy experience and boosting your mood. Given New Zealand's abundant fresh seafood, fish and other seafood are commonly used in meals. This snack is popular in New Zealand due to its affordability, delicious taste, widespread availability, and healthiness.

After enjoying the delicious fish and chips at Smileys Pizza Takeaways & Deliveries, you can also find the history of New Zealand at the Auckland Museum located nearby.

Restaurant: Mikano, located at 1 Solent St, Mechanics Bay

Price: Starts from NZ$ 18.47

Opening hours: Every day, from 11.30 AM to 11.30 PM

After a snack and heavy meals, let’s move to the desert, and we recommend you try pavlova. The sweet, soft cake and fresh fruit will give you a unique taste. It is like a combination of sweet, sour, gentle, and mushy colourful fruits.

Pavlova is a traditional dessert in New Zealand and is usually served on Christmas Day as dessert after putting it in the fridge. Yet, you can also find it in summer in outdoor gathering events. You'll regret it if you don't try one of the rich-culinary.

After reading this, are you excited and can't wait to visit New Zealand? Then, book your flight to New Zealand via the Traveloka App to make your journey convenient.