Exploring the middle of New Zealand’s South Island is made much easier when you make your choice of places to stop based on great food and wine – and there is plenty to choose from in this fertile part of the country.
- Divine hand-made Belgian chocolates and great views at She Chocolate in Governor’s Bay
- Cooking school class in Akaroa, featuring freshly caught fish or locally grown salmon
- Fresh cooked crayfish (lobster) eaten in the outdoors from one of the caravans at Kaikoura
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE
Day 1 Start your exploration of the best regional food and wines in the Garden City of Christchurch. Great restaurants and cafes are still one of the highlights of a stay in the city, and you will find plenty to choose from in the outer suburbs. Base yourself at the Christchurch TOP 10 to the north of the city, and head to the nearby towns of Rangiora, Oxford (check out Seagar’s for great food and an awesome cookshop next door) and Pukeko Junction just before Amberley. Highly recommended day trips also include exploring Banks Peninsula, stopping at the She Café in Governor’s Bay for lunch and chocolate tasting, checking out the Arts Centre market now relocated to Ferrymead, or exploring the cafes and restaurants of Tai Tapu – don’t miss the Raspberry Café with its rambling gardens, or Rossendale Winery for something a little more sophisticated.
Day 2 If you want to venture further afield, head up to Waipara – a great day trip from Christchurch on its own, and hit the wine trail. Make sure you stop at Pegasus Winery or the Mudhouse for lunch and some sampling before carrying on north to Hanmer Springs to stay the night at the Hanmer Springs TOP 10. From Hanmer you can enjoy a number of local cafes, but venture a little further afield to sample locally grown and pressed olive oils from Amuri Estate, Terrace Edge and Graval Estates. You can also sample Lowry Peaks range of gourmet foods, including locally grown quince fruit pate, bitter orange splash, Cumberland sauce, and rich tomato sauce. Lowry Peaks owners, the Davisons, are the largest growers of quinces, damson plums and medlars in New Zealand.
Day 3 Head via the inland road to the coastal town of Kaikoura, renowned for its fresh seafood – especially the locally caught crayfish – New Zealand’s answer to lobster. Stop at Nin’s Bins – for the classic Kaikoura crayfish experience, or for more delicious seafood options, sit down at one of the outdoor tables at the BBQ on the Beach – with your choice of fresh fish, mussels, crayfish, whitebait, prawn patties and more. Spend the night at Kaikoura TOP 10 and the next day book in a whale watching trip or head up the coast and stop for lunch at The Store, Kekerengu. This is a beautiful remote spot, with an award winning reputation, just perfect for relaxing and their menu includes Kaikoura Blue cod, pacific salmon, crayfish, and West Coast whitebait patties. From here decide whether you want to carry on up to Blenheim for some wine tasting and more gourmet adventures, or back down the coast road to Christchurch to continue your Canterbury foodie experience.
Day 4-5 If you are keen to do more peninsula exploring, plan a night or two at the Akaroa TOP 10, where you can book yourself into a class at the Akaroa Cooking School, sample delicious cheeses at the Barry’s Bay Cheese Factory, enjoy a selection of locally grown organic produce at the Akaroa General Store, and sample wines from French Farm Winery and Takamatua Winery. You might also want to go dolphin watching or visit the Takamatau Lavender Farm while you are in the area. En route to Akaroa, make sure you stop in Little River at the Little River Café and Gallery. A great selection of quality New Zealand art, plus excellent coffee and giant sized portions of freshly made goodies from the counter cabinet.
Day 6 Heading back from Akaroa, exchange the winding hill road for the long straight down to Timaru, once known as the Riviera of the South and home to the historic Caroline Bay Carnival, held every year over the summer months. Base yourself at the Timaru TOP 10 and explore South Canterbury. It’s worth a trip to Pleasant Point purely to sample the delicious and nationally known Denheath Custard Squares, now sold at a café called Legends, formerly known as Denheath House. Take time to visit beautiful Geraldine, and do some sampling of locally made Talbot Forest Cheeses, handmade chocolates from Coco on the main street, and the wide range of fruit sauces, chutneys, jams and juices at the Barkers shop. Geraldine has been a popular destination for years, with several lovely cafes, great shopping and a farmers market every Saturday morning from October 31 through to the end of April.
Day 7 Head on back to Christchurch, laden down with all your goodies and plan a feast for your final nights in the city.