New Zealand in August (their winter/spring)?

[notmartha]

I am contemplating on visiting New Zealand in August, which is their Winter/Spring. Of course being a foodie I want to sample New Zealand produce, seafood, wine, etc.

Is it a bad time to visit for chowish-activities? I know I can still go to the restaurants, but what am I limiting myself to? Will the farmer's markets be open?

Unfortunately I have a kid in school, so it's either summer or winter break (which is not long enough!)

[kmh]

there was an excellent article in one of the recent qantas in flight magazines - i could scan it and send if you like?

[Glow_worm]

I lived in Nelson for 18 years and it is a beautiful part of the world (and as far as I know it has never been snowed in).. I have lived in Christchurch for the last 17 years and would recommend the Pegasus Bay Winery in Amberley which is about an hour from Chch. They have fabulous wines, an amazing restaurant and all set in immaculate surroundings.. If you want to research restaurants in NZ then I would recommend www.dineout.co.nz.

[notmartha]

Thanks for the offer. Not sure how to get it as I can't post my email address here. I noticed Quantas website has some article from the magazine though - what is the title?

[The Chowhound Team]

You are welcome to add your email address to your profile as some other 'hounds do.

[mlgb]

Hope I am not too late in responding. Many of the farmers markets will be closed in August. However some are open. Check the following website for specific markets.
I wouldn't really call August spring in NZ, it's really winter. You need to get into October for spring, and sometimes even November.

http://www.farmersmarket.org.nz/locat...

[notmartha]

Thanks for your response and the link. No, not too late yet. Still haven't made up my mind.

Guess it's wishful thinking about spring...

[PakaloloDreams]

Just got back from a 7-month stint in Wellington. was there from Jan to Aug 2007. first of all, as you know, NZ has become a first-class wine country (the pinot noirs are coming along nicely yummm), therefore the cuisine has grown up from its British colony origins (though there are still great pasties and meat pies to be had in chowhoundy places, and good roasts to be had too, and the fish and chips are to die for (go to Paraparaumu, a beach front resorty type area on the lower west coast of the north island and go to any fish and chip shop, the terakihi is an especially good white flesh fish)) and now has encouraged a more bold take on the bountiful produce and free-range animals (they don't have feed-lots, or mega-ranches, but have lots of green green grass on mostly small family owned farms) and ocean resources. The fresh oysters from the south island (called Bluff oysters) and clevedon oysters in the north island will be available during your visit and they are very good indeed with NZ's famous sauvignon blancs or chardonnays. Also, NZ stretches a long way, so while the canterbury plains might be snowed, nelson will be fairly pleasant, the north island can be nice in the far north, and in wellington, winter will be like San Francisco in the summer, haha, a joke. Wellington is known as the cafe capital, and the many cafes have different offerings and styles, cozy and hip, sedate and quiet, loud and punkish, and the food served in those places are just as varied. And it's a tiny city, really walkable, so you can try lots of places fairly quickly.
The last note. The Kiwis (as they call themselves) are a wonderful people (not without their problems of course), the Maori the same. Hope this encourages you to go there.

[notmartha]

Thinks for the info! Fish & chips and oysters sounded great. I love them!

[PakaloloDreams]

a chowhoundy find: a favorite of the Kiwi and served everywhere is a hamburger served with a fried egg on top. sinful and delicious. heh. and again, the meat is free-range, grass fed beef: different but good.

[kmh]

i think fried egg on hamburgers must be an antipodean thing. it's common in australia too. that and beetroot on a burger (with bacon too). YUM

[notmartha]

Thanks!

[kmh]

the south island of nz can be snowed in or pleasantly crips in august.
having spent several months commuting to Christchurch in 2006 I was pleasantly surprised about the standard of everything chowish. check the board for the "christchurch topic" as there is plenty of info there"

as for Herzog, I believe it is the best in NZ; I have not been, but met Hans and Therese at a dinner in Sydney and they blew me away.

[rhema64]

I can't speak for Sth Island, but I think you will be fine in the cities and North Is. you just need to check the opening times for wineries -- they might only be open in the w/ends. Would recommend cuisine.co.nz and also "New Zealand Wine country". Unfortunately Herzog (my all time favourite in NZ - in Blenheim) is closed over winter.