New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures are well-known, but there’s a quieter revolution brewing—a food movement that’s about to put the country on the global culinary map. A growing collective of talented chefs and small-scale producers are reshaping the dining scene, creating thoughtful, sustainable, world-class dining experiences.
World Expeditions is championing this exciting food revolution with the launch of Forage and Feast New Zealand, an intimate journey into the heart of New Zealand’s gastronomic awakening. Guided by acclaimed travel writer and gastronome Ben Groundwater, who has been visiting the Land of the Long White Cloud for more than 30 years and knows it top to bottom, this exclusive 10-day tour departing April 5, 2025, offers an unparalleled exploration of New Zealand’s culinary renaissance.
Ben Groundwater, whose love affair with Aotearoa spans over 30 years, will introduce guests to the creative forces behind the revolution. From foraging in the verdant hills of Wellington with award-winning chef Asher Boote to fishing for crayfish along Kaikoura’s dramatic coastline, every experience is a hands-on celebration of flavour, sustainability, and place.
“I travelled to New Zealand on a food-focused trip a few years ago, and it completely changed my perceptions not just of New Zealand but of food and dining in general. There’s such an exciting scene over there at the moment of chefs and cooks focused on small-batch, sustainable produce, using the best ingredients to create incredible dining experiences on a small scale,” says Ben.
“On this tour we’re capturing the essence of that small-batch food scene, while also getting hands-on with the produce, touring through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes, and meeting some absolute legends of the scene. We’ll be foraging and fishing, dining at some of the most exciting restaurants on the planet right now, plus visiting wineries and breweries that are turning out some seriously high-end drops. And there might even be time for a classic Southland cheese roll.”
Highlights include dining with Vaughan Mabee at New Zealand’s most avant-garde fine-diner, learning the traditions of Māori kai in Christchurch, and indulging in Marlborough’s finest biodynamic wines. Guests will also enjoy a high-country smoko with cookbook author Philippa Cameron and an unforgettable evening with Eat New Zealand founder Giulio Sturla at a rule-defying restaurant.
With its unique blend of indulgence and exploration, Forage and Feast New Zealand promises to immerse travellers in the stories, landscapes, and flavours behind one of the world’s most exciting food movements. The tour is part of World Expeditions’ eclectic range of exclusive Curated Adventures by inspirational people who are well-known for their expertise in their fields.
Tour Details
Departure date: April 5–14, 2025
Cost: 10 days from $7590 (AUD)
Accommodation: 8 nights in 3–5-star hotels, 1 night at Braemar Station
Explore more about this incredible trip here.
