Great food/local favorites
 

Planning a 4 week trip to Australia and South Island NZ in October--looking for some local favorite places to eat (dare I call them holes in the wall) where I can get great food inexpensively (love good fish & chips). Here are the places I plan to spend time in--

Pt. Douglas/Cairns ----Sydney ----- Apollo Bay-----Port Campbell-----Melbourne
Franz Josef-----Wanaka-----Queenstown----Te Anau----Owaka----Oamaru-----Lake
Tekapo ---Akoroa--Christchurch

Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

We like the Blue Ice in Franz Josef, consistently good pizzas over several visits years apart.

QT - The Cow is a local institution, Fergburger is famous for it's burgers (be prepared to stand in line and not get a seat), their bakery next door is excellent too. Patagonia makes fab ice cream and desserts (locations in Wanaka & QT). The Bistro at Amisfield in Arrowtown is a good option for a splash out winery lunch, don't miss the pinot noir.

The Spice Room in QT is excellent for Indian (also in Wanaka) as is Mantra in Wanaka, the bakery in Wanaka managed to turn my fussy brother into a pie lover (as in meat pies), the pie shop in Te Anau is also quite popular, and we like the pizza place there will have to look up the name.

Ma Masion in Akaroa makes very nice food, and the crepe places Sweet As (across the street) makes delicious, filling crepes at a good price.

If planning to self-cater in Akaroa, best to do your shopping beforehand, as grocery prices there are pretty shocking, even for veteran NZ visitors like myself.

Melnq8--these all sound like great places to go for good food at a reasonable price...we are definitely NOT foodies as hubby is a very picky eater with only eating the most simple foods. Can you find out the names of the 2 meat pie shops in Wanaka and Te Anau for me as well as the pizza place in Te Anau. Thanks for the heads up on grocery prices in Akaroa---luckily it is at the end of our trip and shouldn't need to get any as we fly out the next day. As we do our loop on the south island are grocery stores easy to find and what is the name of the most common one with the best prices?? Thanks for all your help

Fish & chips: Manly Fish Market ( beach end of Wentworth street)

Balmoral Beach. Can't remember the name, but you can't miss it. On the corner, facing the beach, southern end.

Costs: don't forget - in Australia, there are no extra taxes (GST is included in the ticketed advertised price ) and you don't have to tip everyone who breathes.

Thanks Bokhara2--looking forward to 2 good suggestions for fish and chips. And I wasn't aware of the no extra taxes there...here in California there are taxes are everything but breathing!!

Yes - we have so many whinges about the cost of things here compared to the US, but none of them bother to mention those little facts, which can knock 25% or more off the bottom line cost comparison.

Wanaka - The Dough Bin

Te Anau - Miles Better Pies & La Toscana (pizza)

Only one or two places to eat in Owaka, don't get your hopes up.

There's an Amigos in Wanaka and a Sombrero's in QT if you get to missing Mexican food.

Lake Tekapo is basically a single street - several food options, but none stand out for me. The Astro Café at the top of Mt John makes a decent lunch and good coffee though.

You'll find simple, good food and coffee in just about any café in NZ.

If you find yourself in Hokitika, Café de Paris makes excellent food, and according to my brother, the best fish and chips he had on the SI.

As for grocery stores - New World, Fresh Choice and Countdown are the big three. Best to stock up in larger towns, more choices, lower prices.

You'll not find much in the way of groceries in Franz Josef and Owaka. Akaroa & Tekapo have very small Four Square shops, which tend to be pricy and quite limited.

Thanks Melnq8 for finding all of those names for me. Also we will be driving through Hokitika on the way to Franz Josef so can eat there before getting to FJ. If you think of any more info that would be helpful would sure appreciate it!!

The South Island has some of the best pies in the world ( much better than Aussie pies IMHO). Make sure you try a steak & cheese from just about any bakery. I've never had one I didn't like in NZ.
If you stop in Hokitika be sure to take a walk down on the beach. It's breath taking.
Grocery prices in Franz Josef are exorbitant ��

Forgot to say, if you push on to Warrnambool instead of Port Campbell after Apollo Bay you will find a lot more accommodation and eating options and you might even see some whales at Logan's Beach.

Kwaussie-- I liked what you mentioned to do--will be staying at Warrnambool and not Port Campbell--any good places you can recommend to eat--what grocery stores might be there that are reasonable...also will be stopping in Hokitika so will do the beach--are there grocery stores here that we could stock up at for our 2 night stay at Franz Josef???

Yes, Hokitika has a New World grocery store.

In Carins, our favorite reasonably priced was the German restaurant. http://www.bavarianbeerhouse.net/

Melbourne recommend http://www.youngandjacksons.com.au/

Lovely meal with friendly server.

Best meal in Sydney, at the old pub, had shepherd pie, excellent. http://www.lordnelsonbrewery.com/

Apollo Bay-the Fishermens co-op should be operating near the pier for some really fresh fish.

Thanks Northie and rncheryl--some great options---still looking for more local favorites so keep them coming!! I'll be eating my way through Australia and New Zealand....

Fergburger - the best burger in the whole world.