I mean, it is quite a must to do some adequate research on New Zealand before our trip officially start, no? Why want to waste precious time on trying to find places when you are there. So, to make things easier for you, I shall dedicate this whole post to the "Must-Eat(s), Must-Try!" on New Zealand. And also some comments on which items you shouldn't waste your time or calories on.
Do not say I never warn you on this picture-heavy post hor.
What I realised from this trip is that you must absolutely trust the locals on their words. Often, we asked about recommendations for places to dine in near our stays and often we are surprised by the recommendations because it was truly, deeply good. HAHA!
Exclaimer : Please do not proceed with an empty stomach. HEHE!
1. Cookie with Mars
We were expecting the cookie to be chewy, soft and oozing with chocolate as we take a bite. But NOooo!
None of that happened. The whole cookie was so hard!
- can be found in any supermarkets
2. Cadbury Chocolate Fish
This Chocolate Fish is made of pink or white marshmallow covered in a thin layered of milk chocolate with the ripples on the fish. It is a popular confectionery item in New Zealand as a reward for kids when a job was well done.
- can be found in service stations and supermarkets
3. Lamington
Lamington is made of sponge cake coated in chocolate or raspberry sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut. A popular snack for them especially for breakfast or afternoon tea.
It just taste like how it was described. Sponge cake with desiccated coconut. Nothing very special. But you might wanna try it if you never eaten one before.
However, you may actually find them in Singapore too.
Click below link.
- can be found in bakeries or supermarkets
4. Pascall Pineapple Lumps
Pineapple lumps are pineapple flavored chews which are coated with chocolate.
Kinda sweet and taste artificial, even the pineapple lover in our group also doesn't like it. Do remember to look out for smaller packs if you guys just wanna have a taste of it. After buying this big pack, then I realized there was a smaller pack size available too.
- can be found in supermarkets and service stations
5. Afghan biscuits
Afghan biscuit is a traditional New Zealand biscuit made from flour, butter cornflakes, sugar and cocoa powder, topped with chocolate icing.
This was not shabby, quite crunchy and not too sweet. Get this as a snack for your long road trip.
- can be found in supermarkets
6. Marmite / Vegemite
For the marmite and vegemite lovers. There's a few kind of choices over here.
- can be found in supermarkets
7. Griffin's biscuits
Griffin's Foods Limited is an Australasian owned biscuit, snack food and confectionery manufacturer operating in New Zealand.
Nothing very special, but you could buy them as snacks for your road trip. I only prefer the Cookie Bear and Hundreds and Thousands Cookie though.
Since you are here already, try to support their products then! Wahahaha.
You may be able to find some of them in Singapore's Supermarket too.
- can be found in supermarkets
8. L&P
Lemon & Paeroa, also known as L&P, is a sweet soft drink manufactured in New Zealand.
It is traditionally made by combining lemon juice with carbonated mineral water.
It tasted like lemon soda drink. Support New Zealand~
Just got to realize that you can find them in Singapore too.
- can be found in supermarket or service stations
9. Cookie Time
Cookie Time Ltd is a New Zealand company based in Christchurch, which has been manufacturing snack foods since 1983. Their first and most recognizable product was the Original Chocolate Chunk Cookie, an individually wrapped cookie with oversized chocolate pieces.
Click below link for more info:
There's a store in Queenstown.
Address: 18 Camp Street, Queenstown 9300
Opening hours: 8am to 10pm daily.
Click below link for more info: https://www.facebook.com/QueenstownCookieBar/
They are selling a lot of merchandises too.
You will find a variety of different cookie flavors.
You may also send a postcard cookie to your friends or families. Cool right?
However, a little tip for you guys. If you wanna buy small pack ones, it's actually cheaper to get them from the supermarket instead of the Popup Store in Queenstown.
- can be found in supermarkets, service stations, store in Queenstown
10. Pavlova
Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert with a crisp crust and soft, light inside like a marshmallow, usually topped with fruit or whipped cream.
It is something like a macaroon but instead of those sweet cream fillings, it is replaced with fruits and fresh creams. We are quite lazy so we just ate it as it is. HAHA! Too sweet for my liking but most probably okay for someone with a sweeter tooth.
You actually can find them in Singapore too.
- can be found in supermarkets or bakeries.
11. Fruits not found in SG
-Kiwano
Kiwano, also known as Horned melon or Jelly melon. Its fruit has horn-like spines, hence the name "horned melon" came about. Its lime green, jelly-like flesh taste a little like cucumber. But was rather refreshing too. You can actually eat the peel too.
- Feijoas
- Quince
- Tamarillo
The one that looks like a tomato, is the Tamarillo and indeed it is a species of tomato, and taste like tomato but with a little spicy note to it.
The one next to Tamarillo was Quince. It taste a little like pear, but its less juicy, less crunchy. I would just eat a pear instead.
Lastly, Feijoas which was above the golden kiwi. The white flesh was sweet. Colourless jelly-liked flesh in the middle. Not too bad. Worth a try. I was quite reluctant to give it a shot initially. The rest tried it before me and gave all the bad reviews like it tasted weird, tasted bitter and sour. But I told myself that I had to try it lah because why not right? So I dug into the flesh part and it actually tasted really sweet leh. Then later I realised the rest ate the fruit with the skin together, no wonder it tasted bitter. So I tried a little of the skin too. It was really bitter with an aftertaste of an indian spice. LOL!
- can be found in supermarkets
The one next to Tamarillo was Quince. It taste a little like pear, but its less juicy, less crunchy. I would just eat a pear instead.
Lastly, Feijoas which was above the golden kiwi. The white flesh was sweet. Colourless jelly-liked flesh in the middle. Not too bad. Worth a try. I was quite reluctant to give it a shot initially. The rest tried it before me and gave all the bad reviews like it tasted weird, tasted bitter and sour. But I told myself that I had to try it lah because why not right? So I dug into the flesh part and it actually tasted really sweet leh. Then later I realised the rest ate the fruit with the skin together, no wonder it tasted bitter. So I tried a little of the skin too. It was really bitter with an aftertaste of an indian spice. LOL!
- can be found in supermarkets
12. Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Hokey pokey is one of the most popular ice cream flavors in New Zealand. It consists of plain vanilla ice cream with small, solid lumps of honeycomb toffee.
We tried them, and felt nothing special though. And we realized that you can actually get them in Singapore lah! Alamak.
- can be found in supermarkets or service stations
13. Ice Cream not found in Singapore
Instead I felt you guys should actually try ice cream which you can't find in Singapore.
Before I took a bite, I was expecting it to be a hard, crispy outer layer chocolate, like what we usually have in Singapore. But to my surprise, the whole ice cream was soft, be it the outer or inner layer of the ice cream. Not bad eh, not too sweet too!
Regretted not trying more of their ice cream!
14. Kit Kat flavors not found in Singapore
For the Kit-kat lovers or collectors~
15. Cherry Flavored Cola
For the Cola lovers or collectors~
16. Subway
Not that Singapore don't have Subway la, but there is Pork Riblet sandwich and Italian Herb and Cheese bread!
17. Beef and Lamp chops
It's cheap and good! Be it to have it in restaurant or cook it yourself!
Yums!
18. Honey
Passed by this Honey shop upon heading to Queenstown from Te Anau.
It is definitely cheaper to get them here compared to the stores in Queentown.
Garston Stables Hunny Shop
Address: 5 State Highway 6, Garston, Southland, New Zealand, 9750.
For more info: http://www.hunnyshop.co.nz/
It's not just about Manuka honey anymore. There's a lot of other honey available here too.
Do try their honeycomb too. So shioks. We have them for our breakfast everyday over there.
If you are going to transit in Australia, then most probably you won't be able to bring them through.
- can be found either in the address given, or any souvenir stores
19. Wines and Ciders
Not that Singapore doesn't have them. Just that they are so cheap over there, you should just drink them everyday! Wahahhah
- Can be found in supermarkets or wine shops
20. Fish and Chips
Seemed like a Must to have Fish and Chips in New Zealand.
We have tried a number of them over there, and will just recommend two of them where we felt were the better ones.
Hydro Cafe
Address: 25 Market PI, Twizel 7901, New Zealand
Opening hours: 7am to 5pm daily.
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/hydrocafetwizel/
Although the Fish was a little small, but there was this creamy layer under the batter which made the whole fish taste even better. Batter wasn't too thick too. Not too bad.
Glenorchy Hotel, Invincible Bar
Address: 42 - 50 Mull Street, Glenorchy 9372, New Zealand.
The portion was generous. Fish tasted fresh. Coleslaw was yummy too.
Thumbs up!
21. Fergburger
Address: 42 Shotover St, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand.
Opening hours: 8.30am to 5am daily
Click below link for more info
http://www.fergburger.com/fullscreen.html
https://www.facebook.com/Fergburger-30815688552/
Address: 42 Shotover St, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand.
Opening hours: 8.30am to 5am daily
Click below link for more info
http://www.fergburger.com/fullscreen.html
https://www.facebook.com/Fergburger-30815688552/
I don't think I need to mention much about this ya, you guys should have read a lot of good reviews already. And they are really worth the try. Generous portion of ingredients. A variety of different burgers to choose from.
One and only in the world because they don't do franchising, afraid that the quality might be different. Keep it as one little special place for those lucky enough to visit Queenstown!
Go grab them already!
22. Fergbaker
Address: 40 Shotover St, Queenstown, 9300, New Zealand
Opening hours: 6.30am to 4am daily
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fergbaker/104511656313003
Address: 40 Shotover St, Queenstown, 9300, New Zealand
Opening hours: 6.30am to 4am daily
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fergbaker/104511656313003
They were just next to Fergburger. However, the pastries we felt was just normal, nothing WOW about them. A little pricey too. Would prefer the savory pastries over the sweet ones if you really wanna get them.
23. Devil Burger
Address: 5/11 Church St, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Opening hours: 10am to 4am daily
For more info: http://www.devilburger.com/
This was also one of the Must-eat! The portion of the burger was big and full of ingredients. New Zealanders are really serious with their food. It's really good. Go try them!
Below are some restaurants which are my recommendations
24. Stratosfare (Gondola + buffet)
I would suggest this place if you guys have got no activities for the evening when you visit Queenstown. Do make your reservation at this restaurant. Ride a Gondola la, have a great view of Lake Wakatipu, followed by an international buffet with pretty night view.
For more info: http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/restaurant/
24. Stratosfare (Gondola + buffet)
I would suggest this place if you guys have got no activities for the evening when you visit Queenstown. Do make your reservation at this restaurant. Ride a Gondola la, have a great view of Lake Wakatipu, followed by an international buffet with pretty night view.
For more info: http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/restaurant/
There are lunch and dinner buffet with different timing of seating. I would suggest to take the 6.30pm dinner buffet, so that you can have a daytime and night time view of Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown.
25. Chocolates Patagonia
Address: 31 Ramshaw Lane, Arrowtown, 9302
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.
For more info: http://www.patagoniachocolates.co.nz/
https://www.facebook.com/Patagonia-Chocolates-198115053559713/
Address: 31 Ramshaw Lane, Arrowtown, 9302
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily.
For more info: http://www.patagoniachocolates.co.nz/
https://www.facebook.com/Patagonia-Chocolates-198115053559713/
We came across at its Arrowtown's outlet for a quick stopover.
Their hot chocolate drink was really good. Rich and creamy, perfect for such a cold weather.
Smells good, taste good!
Worth a try.
26. Ritual Espresso Café
Address: 18 Helwick St, Wanaka 9305, New Zealand
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/Ritual-Espresso-Cafe-83345809778/
Another quick stopover. With the trip advisor logo, can't go wrong right? Saw this carrot cake that we felt that should not be missed! And we bought it, it was so good, The cake was moist and the cream cheese on top was it was good!
Too bad we were not there to try other food!
27. Matheson Café
Address: Lake Matheson Rd, Fox Glacier 7859, New Zealand
Opening hours: 8am to 4pm daily
For more info: http://www.lakematheson.com/cafe/
Let the pictures do the talking. Just finished your walk at the Matheson Lake, and have your meal here.
28. The Plough Hotel
Recommended by the locals. Just trust them when they give recommendations, its definitely good!
Address: 398 High St, Rangiora 7400, New Zealand
Opening hours: 11am till late
For more info:
http://www.theploughhotel.co.nz/8652.html
https://www.facebook.com/PloughHotel/
Great food, great accompany, great weather, good customer service!
The place is also kids friendly with some toys and kids corner~
29. Strawberry Fare
Also recommended by the locals~
Address: 15 Bealey Ave, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8014, New Zealand
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 7am till late, Sat & Sun 8.30am till late.
For more info:
http://www.strawberryfare.com/
http://www.strawberryfare.co.nz/
https://www.facebook.com/strawberryfare/
Their food are really good, be it the mains or desserts. They are so flavorful and generous with ingredients. Go and try for yourself!
WHY NOT LIKE THAT IN SINGAPORE AR?!
Below are some food where we didn't manage to try due to either time constraints or season.
Please go and try them on my behalf!!!
- Whitebait fritters
During whitebait season (Aug to Sept) many cafes and restaurants will have them on the menu. Go try them.
- Hangi
Hangi is a traditional New Zealand Maori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven. There are many variations and details that can be altered.
- Fat Badgers Pizza
Address: 33 Camp St, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Opening hours: 11am to 4am daily
For more info: http://www.fatbadgerspizza.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fatbadgers/
- Hell pizza
https://www.facebook.com/hellpizza/
That's all for my recommendations. Hope you have enjoyed reading.
I really enjoyed my stay in New Zealand. They are really serious about their food. They use fresh and generous amount of ingredients. That's how it should be right?
That's all for my recommendations. Hope you have enjoyed reading.
I really enjoyed my stay in New Zealand. They are really serious about their food. They use fresh and generous amount of ingredients. That's how it should be right?
Thanks for reading.
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