Much of New Zealand’s cuisine, similar to the people themselves, tends to be straightforward and unpretentious. The country’s economy is largely based on agriculture, so not surprisingly the cuisine is based on fresh produce from the sea and the land. It isn’t all basic, the wave of immigrants from China, Korea and other parts of Asia have meant an explosion in ethnic cuisine.

The country was a British colony for much of the 19th century, and the influence can be felt in the food and drink. Most English visitors will feel completely at home in New Zealand, from the traditional Sunday roast, to the afternoon cup of tea. Such favorites as scones and porridge are popular and a meal of fish and chips wrapped in newspaper may not be healthy – but it tastes delicious.

The influx of immigrants as well as the Maori influence has given rise to what is known as Pacific Rim cuisine. The food draws its inspiration from Asia, Polynesia as well as Europe – creating a wide range of flavors and food. You might have a meal with hints of both French and Thai; or a dish that mixes Hawaiian with Greek – the numbers of options are seemingly endless. Somehow, this all seems to work and the end result is usually a memorable meal

Pacific Rim cuisine can be found all over the country, particularly in the larger cities and Auckland especially has a large concentration of such restaurants. Most first time visitors are pleasantly surprised at the quality and diversity of the food in Auckland – you can sample such exotic cuisines as Belgian, Russian and Turkish, among others.

New Zealanders are among the top consumers of meat, butter, eggs and ice-cream in the world. Throughout the country, you can find small farms or roadside stalls from which you can purchase delicious home made bread, pies, chocolate, honey and jam. In many of the coastal communities, fresh seafood is for sale by the roadside or down by the harbor. And don’t miss the local farmer’s markets, another excellent place to sample local cheeses, meat and wines.

The country also has regional food specialties, oysters are the attraction in the small town of Bluff at the tip of South Island. Dunedin has a distinctly Scottish feel to it, with food to match. The province of Canterbury is the place to go for an excellent rack of lamb and neighboring Marlborough is well known for taking its bounty from the sea – mussels and scallops.

New Zealand’s wines make an excellent accompaniment to any meal – be aware that if you are dining out and want a glass of wine, some restaurants are classified as BYO (Bring your own) And many vineyards run restaurants as well, employing world-class chefs and using fresh local produce such as venison, lamb and seafood – accompanied of course by a glass of the local white or red.

The country boasts several wine growing areas and it’s possible to organize a tour of the country around visiting vineyards. Varieties of grape have been chosen to thrive in the soil conditions and climate of each region. One of the best places to experience New Zealand’s wine culture is in the Wairarapa region, not far from Wellington. In addition to the many wineries in this area, you can also inspire yourself by attending classes at the famous Ruth Pretty cooking school.

If you fancy dessert after your meal, you should sample a Pavlova, the delicious meringue dessert that originated in New Zealand, or Australia, as some maintain. The dessert is usually enjoyed with a topping of whipped cream and accompanied by fresh fruit. Its often eaten on holidays or special occasions, although it can of course, be enjoyed any time.

New Zealanders are fond of their barbecues during the summer months; typically a barbecue will feature lamb, beef or seafood. One experience not to be missed is the traditional Maori meal prepared by cooking food over hot stones buried underground for several hours. You can experience the hangi, as it’s called, at several tourist locations in New Zealand including the Maori village at Tamaki.

Perhaps the food most associated with New Zealand is the kiwifruit. If you just can’t get enough kiwifruit, take a trip to the Te Puke area where hundreds of growers harvest and ship the fruit worldwide. And there’s even a theme park – Kiwi 360 – which offers a tour of the orchards and a kiwifruit dining experience.

There are many reasons to visit New Zealand – spectacular scenery, a fascinating culture, friendly people and undoubtedly, excellent food and drink.

There are so many different areas of Fiji that you could plan a vacation to because the geography is so incredibly unique. Fiji is made up of over 300 islands, but only 106 of them are inhabited. There are two major islands that comprise Fiji: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Both of these islands are very mountainous and are absolutely covered with tropical forests. Viti Levu is home to the capital of Fiji, Suva, and includes about three fourths of the entire population. There are really only two major cities that reside on the island of Vanua Levu: Labasa and Savusavu. Both Labasa and Savusavu are major trade centers and bring in a lot of money for the island. Some of the other notable islands are Tveuni, Kadavu, Mamanuca, Yasawa, the Lomaiviti islands and the Lau island group.
Viti Levu has one of the most interesting histories of any island in the entire world. Geologists actually believe that it has been completely submerged in the ocean a number of times throughout its history. The eastern side of the island of Viti Levu is widely known for its heavy rainfall which is likely to have contributed to the possible submersion. Viti Levu has been exposed to many volcano eruptions and earthquakes which has caused it to have a very rugged terrain in some areas. This is a great place for a Fiji vacation because the history is so diverse. The western side is much drier than the west and that creates a very unusual balance of climates on the island.
Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji, only second to that of Viti Levu. Although smaller in physical size, Vanua Levu has a much larger history to it. Most people believe that Vanua Levu is actually a type of combination of other islands that were submerged and then fused together by shifts in the earth. This event has caused a rather peculiar shape of the island. The main part of the island is in the shape of a very long, thin triangle and the rest of the island is surrounded by coral reefs. The terrain is rough and hilly, not unlike that of Viti Levu.
A Fiji vacation is definitely something that will forever change your life and the way you view traveling in the future. All you must do is decided what you want to get out of your Fiji vacation and the rest will just fall into place.