New Zealand 16 Days Self Drive Holiday 2019 – kai!

'Kai' is the Māori word for food.

We did not do much research for appetite for the 16 days! We knew NZ supermarkets were well stocked with delicious food, and were conveniently located e.g. Pak’nSave, Countdown etc. 

As a tourist destination, NZ had many familiar fast food chains, cafes, ethnic restaurants, and nga waahi kai. Partly as similar commonwealth background, food should be accustomed, except for local seafood cuisine!

Snatched up some fruits before start of the 16 Days tour! Countdown, near CHC Airport


We enjoyed a mixture of local dishes, Chinese cuisines, own cooking in the hostel, snacks, local bakeries from Countdown & the like; and occasional must-eat local dishes like the pocket-burning crayfish or kōura in Kaikōura.

Lunch at Cods n Cray, Kaikoura NZ

And for me, I stocked up local beer from Countdown or Foursquare as night companion as you couldn’t drink & drive; or sipping local craft beer in low profile as occasion arose! We enjoyed the kai!

Dunedin

Some beer for night consumption, at Countdown Dunedin Central

Surprised delicious Chinese food found nearby The Law Courts Hotel, Dunedin for lunch before leaving for Invercargill



Invercargill

My night companion while working on next day itinerary; at Central City Camping Park, Invercargill 

Breakfast before leaving for Bluff; common dining hall, at Central City Camping Park, Invercargill

Passed by KFC Invercargill before continuing Highway 99 to Te Anau



Te Anau

Diner in Te Anau, Olive Tree Cafe






Queenstown
We passed by, Pub on Wharf, the famous kiwi pub, home of $20 meal, packed with people, the day before, after just arrived in Queenstown from Te Anau. That’s why we did our own cooking at Abba Court Queenstown on first night.
I had my craft beer the 2nd night at Pub on Wharf; and diner also of course.

Studio room with kitchen, Abba Court Motel, Queenstown

Diner in own room, Abba Court Motel, Queenstown

Pub on Wharf, with 18 taps, Queenstown, 2nd night!
 




Glenorchy
A short morning visit to Glenorchy, about 50km from Queenstown


Waiting for our lunch & table outside the cafe


Glenorchy Café & Bar


Lunch at Glenorchy Café & Bar




Mackenzie Basin
We stopped at Twizel, after we left Queenstown, for refueling, early diner & some groceries before heading to Mt Cook Village for a night.


Four Square Mackenzie, Twizel; getting some local beer


Mt Cook Village




All Stars Inn On Bealey, Christchurch - The Bealey Ale and Steak House

Diner, The Bealey Ale and Steak House


The Bealey Ale and Steak House, one of the best bars/ restaurants in South Island


Breakfast






Kaikoura
Stopped in Kaikoura for the famous crayfish meal before heading to Picton.







The seagull preyed on our crayfish



Picton
Put up in Picton Yacht Club Hotel before taking the ferry across the Cook Strait to Wellington the following aftenoon.

Breakfast at the Chartroom Restaurant, Picton Yacht Club Hotel 




Lunch in the car, while queuing up in Picton Ferry Terminal






Wellington - 2 nights!
Wellington is the craft beer capital of NZ. 

I did not take the famous beer trail as stipulated as we had only 2 days to tour around Wellington; instead I enjoyed in the evening at the bar in The Cambridge Hotel, and at Cable Top Eatery, Wellington Cable Car summit, while having lunch.

Diner in TJ Katsu, nearby hotel


TJ Katsu, Japanese restaurant

Lunch, Cable Top Eatery

Diner at a Chinese restaurant, nearby The Cambridge Hotel


Bistro/ bar, The Cambridge Hotel, Wellington


Enjoyed local beer at the bar, The Cambridge Hotel




Wellington/ Rotorua/ Auckland

Stopped by Foxton - Wellington/ Rotorua



Breakfast at The Dutch Oven, Foxton


KFC diner, Rotorua


Breakast - Sudima Lake Rotorua Hotel



Lunch at KFC Bombay - 40km to Auckland


KFC Bombay - SH1 Hamilton/ Auckland


Diner - Food Courts in Westfield St Lukes, Auckland



Last supper in NZ - Scone & Stella - Waipuna Hotel, Mt Wellington, Auckland


Simple last supper in Auckland


Last minute, snatched up NZ famous Whittaker, PAK'nSAVE Mt Albert 



nga mihi mo te kai
(thanks for the meal)








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