Top 10 food and wine events

Welcome to Flavours of Plenty Festival(opens in new window) where the Bay of Plenty’s passionate foodies, chefs, producers and storytellers come together to celebrate and elevate all they have got to offer as a food region. From pop-up restaurants to hands-on workshops, degustation dinners to meet the makers tours, and so much more. Everyone’s appetite is catered for, so come and visit Te Moananui ā Toi for a tantalising feast of events!

Flavours of Plenty Festival

It's 'all hands on deck' for the months of June and November, as Hawke's Bay locals come together to accommodate the masses! The annual Food and Wine Classic event (better known as F.A.W.C), showcases the very best of Hawke's Bay food and drink. Restaurants, food trucks and eateries set the bar high, serving gourmet cuisine affectionately prepared by established chefs. Breweries, cideries and wineries tease your taste buds with superb liquid creations. Book early, experiences sell out fast!

Find tckets to F.A.W.C

Each year, an entire month is dedicated to EAT.TASTE.CENTRAL. This gourmet food and drink event is proudly hosted by Central Otago local cafes, restaurants and cellar doors who create exceptional dishes that take your taste buds to another level. Get your EAT.TASTE.CENTRAL passport online to see which eateries are participating. Next, taste your way through the meal categories at each venue. As established chefs plate-up their new creations, you can vote for your favourites. A month of gourmet food, matched with Central Otago pinot noir and other New Zealand wines, is sure to be a 'foodies' heaven! 

Explore Eat.Taste.Central

Each year over 60 of the best New Zealand wineries share their best creations with the crowd at Winetopia(opens in new window). It's not just about wine tasting, get hands on with a 40 minute wine masterclass with expert winemakers and sommeliers. Or, learn some new wine making tricks at the educational talks with industry professionals. 

Go to Winetopia

Celebrating the unique food and drink of the West Coast, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is unlike any other food festival. One minute you could be feasting on suculent New Zealand lamb and venison, the next minute you're trying crocodile bites, possum pies and deep fried pigs ears! You'll need to be adventurous to sample the locals' culinary creations. Are you brave enough to try huhu grubs? 

Tickets to Hokitika Wildfoods

One of New Zealand’s most popular seafood events, the Whitianga Oceans Festival (formally known as the Whitianga Scallop Festival) sees many food stalls turning out mouth-watering dishes. Entertainment from famous New Zealand performers and seafood cooking demonstrations by iconic New Zealand chefs help round out the exceptional scallop and other seafood celebration.

Whitianga Oceans Festival

New Zealands longest running food and wine event, the annual Marlborough Food and Wine Festival takes place on the second Saturday in February. Showcasing the very best wines from over 30 local wineries, the event is the best way to indulge in Marlborough sauvignon blanc. As food trucks line up in Food Truck Alley, make your way through to sample gourmet street food creations from local cooks and established chefs. Talented musicians create the relaxing atmosphere the event is known for.

Marlborough Wine and Food

Eat and drink your way around the Wellington region for four weeks during the Visa Wellington on a Plate(opens in new window) (also known as W.O.A.P) event each August. You'll be served some wild and wacky (and equally delicious) burger creations, quirky cocktail creations, degustation dinners, wines and melt in your mouth chocolates and more. Get hands on and attend a cooking class or try locally produced craft beers at Beervana(opens in new window). 

Get tickets to W.O.A.P

Martinborough(opens in new window)’s picturesque setting has been a major drawcard for wine-lovers since the festival started in 1992. There’s no better time to try the region's best wines than at Toast Martinborough(opens in new window), when top-flight Martinborough wineries team up with some of the region’s best chefs and musicians to offer a fully immersive and indulgent experience to suit all tastes. Get your tickets early, they sell out fast!

Tickets to Toast Martinborough

Attracting visitors from all over New Zealand and overseas, the North Canterbury Wine and Food Festival showcases the very best of Waipara Valley wine and food. Taking place during summer under the shade of old oak trees, local musicians and performers entertain the 4,000 festival lovers. The festival is less than one hours drive from both Christchurch and Hanmer Springs. Book your tickets to ''the coolest little wine festival'' in New Zealand. 

North Canterbury Festival