Food Activities in Dunedin
When you’re in a New Zealand city, you HAVE to try the local foodie experiences. With creative artisans producing craft beers, unique chocolates and more, the food and beverages in Dunedin are full of surprises. Try the latest creations at the local farmers’ market on a Sunday or produce straight from the farm! It’s all possible in and around Dunedin, so be inspired by these things to do in Dunedin for foodies.
While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Foodie Guide to Dunedin.
1. Tour the Speight’s Brewery with Beer Tastings and a Two-course Meal
If Dunedin was the “capital” of something, it would have to be beer. The city is home to a couple of popular breweries, one of which is New Zealand’s oldest operational brewery, Speight’s Brewery. To show you how they make the good stuff, Speight’s offers brewery tours, making for a fun and affordable way to spend an hour in the city. We recommend their Brewery Tour & Ale House Lunch experience, with a tour of the brewery complete with pouring your own pint. The tour concludes with a two-course meal accompanied by a glass of your new favourite beer. Find out more about the tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.
© Speight's Brewery2. Check Out the Emerson’s Brewery
If craft beer is more your style, then check out Emerson’s Brewery, one of the South Island’s most popular beers. Emerson’s offers a behind-the-scenes look at their 5,000l brewery and 1,200l workshop to show you every step of the beer-making process, from ingredients to bottling. At their Taproom, find your next favourite beer with their tasting trays, as well as a variety of sharing plates and mains to indulge in. See more tours like this in the 5 Damn Good Brewery Tours in New Zealand.
© DunedinNZ3. Browse the Otago Farmers’ Market
In Dunedin on a Saturday morning? Be sure to head down to the Otago Farmers’ Market where you can browse around 65 stalls of local produce, home-baked treats and artisan goodies. The event usually includes buskers, as well as coffee and breakfast stalls for a village-like ambience. Plus, new recipes are available to try every week at the Market Kitchen. Find the market at the Dunedin Railway Station. If you need to find accommodation where you can spruce up meals with your local produce purchases, take a look at 10 Best Accommodation in Dunedin for Foodies.
© Unsplash4. Join a Chocolate Factory Tour
Learn how artisan chocolate with Kiwi twist is made at the OCHO Chocolate Factory. At OCHO, you’ll find out how cacao is turned into chocolate bars, as well as taste the difference between cacao grown across the South Pacific Islands. At the end of the tour, just try and resist not stocking up on goodies to bring back to friends back home! Plus, this activity makes a great thing to do in Dunedin on a rainy day! Learn more about the OCHO Chocolate Factory tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.
© DunedinNZ5. Drink Real Cow’s Milk
Ever tried really fresh cow’s milk? Local farms around Dunedin gives visitors the opportunity to try milk that hasn’t been homogenised or standardised. For instance, stop by the Windy Ridge Dairy in Benhar to purchase milk presented in old-fashioned glass bottles with cream on the top! Alternatively, Holy Cow down Reynoldstown Road also sells traditional-style milk from their small herd of Jersey cows.
© Unsplash6. Indulge in High Tea at Larnach Castle
One of Dunedin’s most popular attractions just happens to combine as a foodie experience. Larnach Castle on the Otago Peninsula is New Zealand’s one and only castle, serving high tea either in their beautiful gardens or in the historic ballroom. Indulge in a selection of homemade sandwiches, slices, cream cakes, and a pot of tea to wash it all down with. What’s more, you can complement the experience with exploring the gardens and the castle’s lavish interior. Check out more 10 Dunedin Must-Dos.
© Pixabay7. Grab Some Cheap Eats Around the City
Food trucks and street eats are pretty popular in Dunedin, appearing at all of the local events and busy spots around the city. Often seen around, Citizens – Street Food for the People is set in a funky Bedford Ambo truck serving Asian-Mexican fusion favourites, from tacos to rotis. For the uni-street eat experience in New Zealand’s most popular university city, pick up some steamed buns from The Dumpling Lady often found at the University of Otago campus. And for a taste of Kiwi seafood – and a secure location – head to The Fish Hook on George Street for local tarakihi, groper and blue cod and chips. Check our a full list of recommendations in The Top Cheap Eats in Dunedin.
© Unsplash8. Treat Yourself to Some Fine Dining
And if you prefer a sitdown dining experience to local cuisine, try popular restaurants like Moiety at 42 Queens Gardens. Although this restaurant advertises themselves as “definitely not fine dining”, their impeccably-presented plates of Kiwi-style cuisine begs to differ. Try their local fish and venison dishes, with a couple of thoughtful vegetarian options. Alternatively, Bracken on Filleul Street gets you into the Scottish spirit of the “Edinborough of the South” with its decor and farm-to-table cuisine. Finally, hit the award-winning Bacchus Wine Bar at The Octagon for delightful beef and lamb dishes paired with local wines and whiskeys.
© UnsplashMore About Dunedin and Food
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Dunedin New Zealand (Regional tourism website)
- Dunedin City Council (Local council website)
- Otago Regional Council (Local council website)
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
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