The MICHELIN Guide recommends the world’s best culinary experiences. So, the gourmet bible naturally selected Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique food and drink scene for its Down Under debut, inspiring travellers to savour its epicurean bounty and travel advisors to discover it all firsthand through Tourism New Zealand’s self-famil initiative.
MICHELIN Guide New Zealand launches on 30 June 2026, bringing fresh inspiration for travellers seeking a world-class dining and imbibing experience and shining a global spotlight on some of the country’s culinary hotspots.
It’s a foodie coup for New Zealand – with 85 per cent of Australians considering a trans-Tasman trip wanting to try the local cuisine, it caters directly to traveller demand to experience the culture through regional food and beverages.
If your clients travel for the food, the inaugural edition will highlight the diversity of the food and drink scene in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
But you can also tempt them to visit year-round with only-in-New-Zealand culinary experiences and a must-attend annual calendar of food and beverage events.
Manuhiri (visitors) will experience the deep connections to culture and the environment that season their gourmet exploration through tiakitanga (guardianship and protection), manaakitanga (a deep expression of hospitality), shared moments and the pure flavours of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Indulge in culinary experiences
New Zealand offers a smorgasbord of exceptional food and beverage experiences that link travel with immersive activities, just like homegrown ingredients pair with regional wines.
In Rotorua, indulge in a curated 3.5-hour multi-course feast that follows the changing seasons of the Māori lunar calendar at Te Pā Tū, while Āmiki Tours in Christchurch will take you on a guided culture and kai (food) urban walk led by Māori guides that delves deeper into the flavours.
For more immersive themed dining, you can’t go past a Hobbiton™ Evening Banquet Tour – a 4.5-hour day-to-night two-course banquet and tour by lantern light, or an all-day Milford Sound Business Class Cruise, pairing a five-course tasting menu with wines and storytelling on a premium excursion.
Get hands-on at Hapuku Kitchen in Kaikōura and create your own farm-to-table meal, from harvesting seasonal local ingredients to cooking, eating and drinking, on a half- or full-day cooking class.
You can also DIY your food and beverage exploration on a multi-day Classic New Zealand Wine Trail road trip through Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough, tasting your way through more than 120 cellar doors.
Be immersed in food and beverage events
No matter when your clients travel to New Zealand, they can experience the best of local produce and providores, from freshly caught seafood and orchard-grown fruits to artisan cheeses, wines, beers and more.
Kick things off in February at the Marlborough Food & Wine Festival – the nation’s longest-running culinary event, filled with world-famous drops, delectable food and epic scenery in the globally renowned viticulture region.
The Flavours of Plenty Festival in April shows off the bounty of the Bay of Plenty’s rich coastal culinary culture across almost three weeks of events – the annual Battle of the Snack between local chefs is a standout highlight.
In August, head to the capital for Wellington on a Plate – New Zealand’s largest food festival with three weeks of free entry and ticketed events, including the iconic Burger Wellington competition with local chefs gunning for foodie glory.
It’s followed by the two-day Beervana extravaganza, celebrating craft brews and effervescent vibes from local and international breweries with festival food and roving entertainment on tap.
Choose your own culinary exploration
Savour, sip and indulge in New Zealand’s award-winning culinary scene through Tourism New Zealand’s self-famil initiative for travel advisors.
Experiencing it all firsthand on an immersive adventure is the perfect way to sell New Zealand to your clients, allowing you to inspire their travels and craft the ideal itinerary with personal recommendations.
First, increase your knowledge of all things New Zealand through the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme online training, and complete the eight Foundation Courses to become a Graduate Specialist and a recognised expert.
Then join the Tourism New Zealand Australia Closed Facebook Group and subscribe to the Tourism New Zealand Australia Travel Trade Newsletter to stay up to date on the latest news.
Graduate Specialists can then apply for the Explore NZ Discount Programme – the secret recipe for unlocking more than 480 discounts from local operators and an invitation to indulge in New Zealand’s world-class food and wine firsthand.
Full-time Aussie agents can experience the manaakitanga (a deep expression of hospitality) of New Zealand’s local hospitality on your own self-famil – think guided walking food tours, wine tastings at award-winning cellar doors and sampling fresh local produce from the source.
The trade-only Tourism New Zealand program has exclusive deals across accommodation, activities and land transport through Qualmark-accredited tourism businesses.
Access everything from free offers to up to 30 per cent off for travel in off-peak months.
Tourism New Zealand’s self-paced famil option gives you the freedom to go when you want (between March and November) and do what you want (across 22 regions) with whoever you want (your plus-one doesn’t even have to work in travel).
Learn and explore more of New Zealand at onlinemodules.newzealand.com
This article is brought to you by Tourism New Zealand:
