Since we stayed in Queenstown, most of our food experiences were centered there, and it was an easy place to eat well. Between the lakefront, casual cafés, pubs, and restaurants tucked throughout town, there was no shortage of places to stop after a day of exploring.

Fish and chips were definitely on the menu. With New Zealand being surrounded by water, it felt like one of those foods we had to have while we were there. Simple, fresh, and exactly the kind of meal that works perfectly in a place like Queenstown, especially with the mountains and Lake Wakatipu nearby.

We also made a point of trying mānuka honey, one of New Zealand’s most recognizable local products. Made from the nectar of the native mānuka plant, it has a richer, stronger flavor than regular honey. You see it everywhere in New Zealand, from jars of honey to chocolates and other local products, so naturally it had to be part of our food experience.

One thing we had several times was ice cream from Patagonia in Queenstown. Clearly, once was not enough. With so many flavors to choose from, it quickly became one of those places we were more than happy to keep returning to while we were there.

And then there was Marmite, New Zealand’s answer to Australia’s Vegemite. We actually brought a jar home with us so we could give it a proper try. Unfortunately, in our opinion, it was just as bad as Vegemite. Apparently, dark, salty yeast spreads are simply not going to be part of our culinary love story, no matter which country makes them.

There were plenty of other classic Kiwi foods around too, including kūmara, pavlova, hokey pokey ice cream, savory pies, and cheese rolls. Overall, eating in Queenstown was easy, relaxed, and varied. We could grab something casual during the day, enjoy dinner surrounded by incredible mountain scenery, and work our way through a few classic New Zealand foods along the way—while apparently finding plenty of excuses to go back for more ice cream.