True foodies and lovers of “fruits of the sea” won’t want to miss out on trying these tasty fresh seafood delicacies while travelling in New Zealand. New Zealand has one of the world’s longest coastlines and richest marine environments. The waters of the vast surrounding oceans offer some of the best seafood on the international market.
Marlborough Tour Company’s Seafood Odyssea departs from Picton Harbour every afternoon. You can cruise through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds while enjoying a lunch of freshly steamed mussels and a visit to the mussel farm. Blenheim airport is a 30-minute drive from Picton. Air New Zealand flies daily to Blenheim from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Crayfish in Kaikoura
Kaikoura means “eating crayfish” in Maori (kai = food/eat, koura = crayfish), so it’s not surprising that eating crayfish is a must-do in a town by that name.
New Zealand crayfish is marketed as lobster in some overseas markets but, in reality, these are two different species. While crayfish resembles lobster, it is much smaller, averaging 5 – 15 cm (2 – 6 inches) in length. A common way to cook crayfish is to boil whole, split and serve with a seafood dressing.
The South Island coastal highway, southeast from Blenheim to Kaikoura, has been described as one of the most beautiful ocean roads in the world. The little town of Kaikoura, which sits between the ocean and mountains on this highway, is famous for its diverse marine wildlife including whales and seals, and some of the best crayfish in the world.
Travel Tip
Nin's Bin food trailer restaurant has long been an iconic roadside stop for international tourists and locals alike. You'll want to try their crayfish lunch to tick that off your New Zealand bucket list. Nin’s Bin is on SH1, 20 minutes north of Kaikoura.
Kaikoura is two hours from Christchurch by road, close to the Waipara wine region and the alpine spa village of Hanmer Springs.
Mt. Cook King Salmon
New Zealand accounts for over half of the world’s production of king salmon. Of all the salmon species, the king salmon offers the highest natural oil content of Omega-3, which benefits both heart and joint health.
In the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon’s Tekapo site, at 677 metres above sea level, is the highest salmon farm in the world. It’s fed year-round with cold, fast-flowing water from mountain glaciers and has been recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable salmon farming operations. Where better to purchase fresh salmon for a picnic than on the shores of Lake Pukaki, with New Zealand’s highest peak Aoraki Mt. Cook on the skyline?
It can be even more satisfying to fish for your own salmon in rocky mountain rivers, such as the Ahuriri and Tekapo. For a local fine-dining experience, you can eat at The Hermitage Hotel’s Panorama Room at Mt. Cook Village, but you will also see Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon served as sashimi, grilled and smoked in many fine-dining restaurants around New Zealand.
The New Zealand salmon season runs from early October through to late April.
Travel Tip
Mt. Cook
Alpine Salmon is an easy 3.5-hour drive from Christchurch, or 2.5 hours from Queenstown. It is located in Mackenzie Country, on the South Island. At 3,754 metres, Aoraki Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain. Explore New Zealand’s largest glacier, the Tasman, by boat from October to May and get close enough to touch the icebergs. The skies above Mt. Cook and more than 4,300 sq. km of New Zealand’s South Island is recognized as an International Dark Sky Reserve – the world’s largest starlight reserve. Take a nighttime stargazing tour at Mount John, above Tekapo.
West Coast Whitebait
The juvenile stage of five native fish species, New Zealand whitebait is a tiny fish with a big reputation – and is one of most sought-after seafood delicacies in the country.
Whitebait is found in many New Zealand rivers, but catching it is an art. Fishermen need the appropriate net and loads of patience to score enough of the tiny fish during the short fishing season (mid-August until late November). The largest volume of whitebait is found in the rivers of the
South Island’s West Coast. A great option would be to plan your visit to coincide with the West Coast Whitebait Season Festival in September.
The most popular way of cooking whitebait in New Zealand is in a whitebait patty. When you see a whitebait patty on the menu, don’t hesitate to order it so you can understand what all the fuss is about.
If you’re travelling south from the glaciers on SH6, stop at Curly Tree Whitebait Company, just north of Haast, to find out much more about whitebait and try some of their wares.
Travel Tip
Monteith’s Brewing Company, in the West Coast town of Greymouth, has a lovely whitebait fritter (or patty) on their tapas menu. Do the brewery tour and try local beers with your patty. Travel from Christchurch to Greymouth on the TranzAlpine scenic train line, passing through the patchwork Canterbury Plains, across spectacular gorges and river valleys, climbing into the Southern Alps, and back down into the West Coast via lush beech forest. New Zealand’s most scenic train ride departs from Christchurch daily.
Bluff Oyster
Large, plump and juicy, the New Zealand oyster has earned a reputation as one of the finest in the world. Bluff is the home of oyster production in New Zealand and the Bluff oyster is a must-try for any visitor. Only a certain number of Bluff oysters are carefully harvested from the cold sea in New Zealand’s “deep south” each season, so the industry can maintain sustainable stock for the future.
Held in May, the Bluff Oyster Festival is the tasting event to attend. At this community-run festival, you can enjoy a great range of entertainment and oyster-related fun, such as the oyster eating and shucking competitions.
Fresh, raw and straight from the shell is a perfect way to enjoy the Bluff oyster. You may also spot Bluff oyster shots on some restaurant menus – “neat,” both in presentation and in character.
Travel Tip
Bluff is a 30-minute drive from Invercargill town centre. Air New Zealand flies to Invercargill from Wellington and Christchurch. In season, many restaurants in Invercargill and the Southland region feature Bluff oysters and do signature dishes.
Oyster Cove is one of the best-known restaurants. It is located right at the edge of Stirling Point in Bluff and has spectacular 180-degree views of Ruapuki, Dog and Stewart Island (8 Ward Parade, Bluff 9814).
Air New Zealand has direct non-stop flights from Vancouver to Auckland and offers flights from many other North American cities. For more information about New Zealand, or to begin planning your trip, please visit:
NewZealand.com.
