Published on : Friday, July 29, 2016
See New Zealand through the eyes of local producers, ethical chefs and organic retailers who have changed the way the country thinks about food.You’d expect New Zealanders to eat well. The country’s rolling pastures, ample rainfall and isolation has always produced plenty of seasonal produce and the traditional food culture, was based on wholefoods, home baking and preserving. In recent years though, Kiwis have gone further, embracing clean eating, organics and artisan producers as part of their daily routine.
Hitting the road to visit the new breed of farmers’ markets, local producers and organic shops is a great way to see the country.
Auckland – city insider
In Auckland’s bijou inner-city suburbs of Grey Lynn, Ponsonby and Kingsland – along with yoga studios and shops selling exercise gear – there’s a plethora of clean and healthy eating. None of the cult organics shops are as cult as Little Bird Organics ‘unbakery’: the cafe now has three Little Bird Organics’ range of products, like the famous macarons and trail clusters, are the perfect accompaniment to a New Zealand wellness roadtrip
In Grey Lynn, meanwhile, you’ll find the original Auckland wholefoods store, Harvest, which stocks everything from organic lima beans to skincare. Raw Essentials, meanwhile, sells paleo pet food for the seriously committed ethical eater.Close by you’ll find Ponsonby’s Raw Kitchen, which has original butcher’s tiles and a long scrubbed white table and serves ‘tonics’, ‘elixirs’ and smoothies.
In neighbouring Kingsland, meanwhile, ivy-covered Mondays is down a little lane off the main street: the coffee is filter and the salads are wonderful. The courtyard here is a particularly restful spot; there’s a yoga studio upstairs.
The city also has a multitude of farmers’ markets: head to the Parnell Farmers’ Market on Saturdays for heirloom tomatoes and organic blueberries, or the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market on Sunday for nut butter and heritage greens.
Travel Tips
Auckland’s combination of harbours and volcanoes, as well as a flourishing restaurant and Solscape in Raglan, New Zealand, is a retreat just out of town where you can stay in a tipi or an architecturally designed eco-house.
retail scene, makes for a heady mix of urban sophistication and natural diversions. Be sure to make time to head north to Matakana, where vineyards sit alongside white sand beaches and Goat Island, one of the country’s finest marine reserves.
Raglan – east coast cool
Raglan’s charming mix of surfers and backpackers on yoga holidays makes for a relaxing spot: nowhere is this seen better than Solscape, a retreat just out of town where you can stay in a tipi or an architecturally designed eco-house. The huge covered deck makes for an excellent breakfast spot. Meals are made using produce from the property’s garden and the green smoothies are particularly good.
In town, meanwhile, you’ll find the Herbal Dispensary. If you’re not on a full detox, they also serve excellent coffee and Ruapuke Artisan Bread. Look out for local hero Raglan Coconut Yoghurt while you’re there – dairy free and taking the country by storm.
In the network of laneways behind the main street, meanwhile, you’ll find Wok Raglan, selling locally-sourced products – look for Jersey Girls milk from nearby Matamata and Sweetree Honey from nearby Gordonton.
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