What's easy, what needs planning, and how we build a route so nobody goes hungry in a small town at 8pm.
New Zealand eats well and eats late-ish, but it is a country of small towns, and small towns close early. For travellers with dietary needs the planning matters more than anywhere else on the trip.
Vegetarian
Easy in the cities and the tourist towns; every café has options and Indian, Thai and Middle Eastern restaurants are everywhere. Thinner on the West Coast and in the small farming towns. We flag the days where a packed lunch is smart.
Halal
Halal meat is in most supermarkets (look for the certification on the label) and there are halal restaurants in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Rotorua and Queenstown. Outside those, we book stays with kitchens and point you to the right supermarket. Fish, of course, is everywhere and excellent.
Jain and strict vegetarian
Possible with planning. Self-catering stays for most nights, Indian restaurants in the main centres that understand Jain requirements when told in advance, and a shopping list for the first day. Tell us at the enquiry stage and we shape the accommodation around it.
Gluten-free, dairy-free, allergies
New Zealand is very good at this — cafés label everything, and staff take allergies seriously. Coeliac travellers usually find it easier here than at home.
What we do
- Ask about diet in the first conversation and put it in your trip file.
- Choose stays with kitchens where the town is thin on options.
- Tell restaurants and lodges in advance, and re-confirm before travel.
- Map the supermarkets on the route into your itinerary.
Ready when you are
