Not eating meat or dairy is zero problem in New Zealand. Vegetarian and vegan dining is both
easy and delicious throughout the country. There’s a plethora of places
offering wholly plant-based menus and plenty more who let seasonal produce be
the hero.
Here’s a list of a bunch of places that can whet appetite of vegetarians:
Kokako
Cafe culture is king in New Zealand – their standards for
coffee are set high, with uncomplicated, fresh food following suit. Coffee
roaster Kokako not only serves the best ethically traded, organic coffee in
town, they also offer a completely vegetarian menu (much of it also vegan),
showcasing the best of seasonal, organic produce in unfussy, delicious dishes.
Try their blends and single origins in espresso or batch brews. Plus there’s
kombucha and popular nitro cold brew coffee on tap.
Kokako occupies a beautifully renovated former post office
in Auckland’s fringe suburb of Grey Lynn, a five-minute car or 10-minute bus
ride from the CBD.
537 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland; +64 9 376 6086;
weekdays, 7am to 3.30pm, weekends, 7.30am to 4pm.
Gatherings
Gatherings is a “living wine bar and restaurant” by talented
young chef Alex Davies, whose wholly plant-based cuisine is inspired by the
bounty of the Canterbury region’s distinct seasons. Walking the talk, Davies
spent a year working on an organic vegetable farm in north Canterbury in order
to learn more about sustainable food systems. The five-course dinner set menu
costs a very reasonable $60, or you can opt for snacks at the bar. There’s an
“organic and living wine list” to accompany the cuisine and the space often
hosts live performances organised.
Gatherings is located close to the city centre in
Christchurch.
Unit 5/2 Papanui Rd, Christchurch; Wednesday-Saturday, lunch
from noon to 2pm, happy hour 4pm-6pm and dinner 6pm-11pm.
Ten Twenty Four
It’s a recipe for success: a seasoned fine-dining chef, a
Spanish Mission-style stucco building at the end of a palm-lined driveway, and
the stunning countryside of New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay “food bowl”. Then there’s
the food. At Ten Twenty Four, his kitchen counter cluttered by bottles of
locally grown garnishes – edible flowers, fronds, shoots and leaves – chef Kent
Baddeley transforms left-field ideas into remarkably delicious dishes. Ten
Twenty Four isn’t an exclusively vegetarian kitchen, but seasonal, hyper-local
produce is the star and those with dietary requirements are well catered
for.
Ten Twenty Four is a short drive out of Hastings in Hawkes
Bay. This is wine country, but also where most of New Zealand’s stone fruit is
grown. The road to Ten Twenty Four is dotted with orchard stalls, some with
honesty boxes.
1024 Pakowhai Rd, Hastings; +64 6 870 6440; Tuesday to
Sunday for lunch; Friday and Saturday for dinner.
Boquita
Vibrant Mexican flavours abound at Boquita. This bijou
central Wellington spot features a concise organic plant-based menu of tacos,
salads and sides made with fresh local produce and top-quality ingredients that
the proprietors import directly from Mexico (browse the selection for sale).
You can park up at the bench to dine, but if it’s a fine day, grab your goodies
and have a picnic at nearby Oriental Bay or up on Mount Victoria, also close,
gazing down on the city.
In central Wellington, pretty much everywhere is within
walking distance.
23 Kent Tce, Wellington; Tuesday to Saturday, lunch
11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 5pm-9pm. No bookings.
Little Bird Unbakery
The raw cuisine Little Bird Unbakery in Auckland’s Ponsonby
certainly won’t leave you feeling cold. In this warm, bright space, you’ll feel
the love and attention of the kitchen in everything on the menu, which is predominantly
raw, with a few cooked items. Fresh coconuts are cracked open for smoothies,
kimchi and kefir are made onsite, as are sprouted breads, nut milks and
cheeses. As well as great coffee and an arm-long list of juices and smoothies,
there’s a wide range of teas.
Little Bird Unbakery in Ponsonby is just five minutes’ drive
from the CBD or a 10-minute ride on the Link bus. Another Little Bird is at Britomart by the train station. Cnr Summer St and Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland; +64 9
555 3278; open daily 7am-4pm.
Visa procedure
One may forward their application to the TT
office in Mumbai or Delhi, which will then be directed to Immigration New
Zealand. A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days.
www.immigration.govt.nz
Airline connections
Connecting flights to New Zealand are
available on Singapore Airlines/Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific
and Malaysia Airlines with stop-overs in their respective hubs. New Zealand’s international gateways are
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Domestic services
You can fly between all New Zealand
cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and
Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional
airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators.
For more information, check: newzealand.com/in or hashtag #NZmustdo
