Chasing the Stars in Wellington and Auckland

A food and travel journalTrip: 25 Jun to 2 Jul 2026. Hosted by Tourism New Zealand

We are privileged to be invited again by Tourism New Zealand to visit a country known for its fresh air, wonderful produce, and beautiful scenery. We had thoroughly enjoyed our last trip to Christchurch and Arrowtown, which is why we were quick to accept the invitation.

This trip carried a little extra weight, though. We were there for the inaugural Michelin Guide Award ceremony. It is the very first time New Zealand would be receiving Michelin recognition. It is the first country in all of Oceania to do so, ahead of Australia.

Having visited Christchurch and Queenstown two years ago, this time around we wanted to visit Wellington, sampling restaurants potentially tipped as Michelin contenders, with side trips to the Wairarapa region and Martinborough wine country.

But, New Zealand had other plans for us.

Wellington is famously windy, and true to its reputation, the winds got the better of our schedule almost immediately. Our connecting flight was cancelled, leaving us stranded an extra day in Auckland. (We were told this is NOT a...