For a day trip away from the city where you get to try a bit of everything, the Kāpiti Coast Food Safari ($125) is a great place to start. Get on the bus from Wellington and head on an afternoon tour of four of the top foodie spots on the Coast. 

You’ll enjoy cocktails and unique small plates from Sunday Cantina, The Waterfront, Hola Mexican Cantina, and Hey Coastie. Our friends Hayley and Jared from a Couple of Foodies went to check it out recently and you can get a taste of their experience on our Instagram.

Those wanting to get a bit more hands-on could check out Divine Spice ($80). The team at Apostle Hot Sauce are opening up their new factory in Paraparaumu Beach and giving you the opportunity to create your very own hot sauce. Guided by Mat and Lydia, you’ll get to taste all sorts of fruits, vegetables, vinegars, chillies, and spices to help you concoct the hot sauce of your dreams. 

Further North at Te Horo’s Bus Stop Cafe, Chef Kirsty is hosting The Secret Garden ($100) in her garden studio. In this fundraiser for Kaibosh Food Rescue, you’ll get cosy in front of the fire and hear about the lost skill of preserving the summer harvest. Spend the evening sharing your own memories across the long table and enjoying three delicious courses. 

When it comes to Burger Wellington there’s plenty to choose from with Hola Mexican serving Breakfast With Queso ($30), which includes a 160g chorizo patty and a quattro cheese pancake. At Passo Pizza Pasta Caffe you can enjoy Casino ($32), with crumbed lasagne replacing the traditional bun housing a beef and thyme patty with pancetta, pilsner and three cheese fondue. Fondue’s also on the menu at the Jolly Pub and Kitchen with their Eager Cheesy ($28) comprising a beef patty, streaky bacon, onion jam, housemade mixed pepper pickle, tomato, Kewpie charcoal slaw, cheese fondue, Marie Rose sauce, and garlic aioli in a Café Lane sesame brioche bun.

On the more playful side, Waterfront Bar & Kitchen’s Mekkie Tu Meke ($29) the opportunity to win your braised brisket burger for free if you can roll a “Mekkie” (a two and a one in the dice game Mexican), while Hudson’s Meat-stry Masala ($23), features lamb masala stuffed in a mashed potato patty and includes the chance to win prizes if you can solve the crossword.

Hey Coastie want you to embrace your inner comedian while you enjoy their Cluckin' Good Chilli Crisp ($33). Dream up a joke while you enjoy this Dorito buttermilk fried chicken burger, with free burgers up for grabs for whoever submits the most side-splitting joke each day.