Hokitika Wildfoods Festival
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival takes place Expected mid-Mar 2027 (one day; 2026 edition ran Mar 14) in Hokitika, New Zealand. The dress code is Costume and fancy dress encouraged (there is an annual theme); pack a rain layer for West Coast weather. Typical cost ranges from 25 to 60 EUR per person.
A one-day festival on New Zealand's rugged West Coast daring visitors to eat wild and unusual bites - huhu grubs, whitebait patties, mountain oysters - at Cass Square in the small town of Hokitika. Half food dare, half costume party, it is the cheerful antithesis of the polished food fair and a beloved South Island institution.
- When
- Expected mid-Mar 2027 (one day; 2026 edition ran Mar 14)
- Where
- Hokitika, New Zealand
- Dress code
- Costume and fancy dress encouraged (there is an annual theme); pack a rain layer for West Coast weather
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 25 to 60 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 14 - 20C, late summer, changeable and prone to rain
- When to book
- Buy day tickets in advance online; Hokitika's scarce beds book out months ahead, so sort lodging first
- Getting there
- HKK (Hokitika), 5 min to Cass Square; connect via CHC (Christchurch)
- Where to stay
- Beachfront Hotel Hokitika, Teichelmann's Bed & Breakfast, Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation
- Official site
- https://wildfoods.co.nz/
How to attend
Buy the day-entry ticket in advance via wildfoods.co.nz (gates open at 10:00 at Cass Square) and pay per taste at the stalls inside. Hokitika is reached by a short flight from Christchurch or a scenic three-plus-hour drive over Arthur's Pass. Open to all ages; accommodation in the small town books out months ahead.
Insider tip
Commit to the costume theme and pace yourself on the huhu grubs early - the locals judge you kindly for trying and harshly for hesitating, and the mountain oysters come later.
Get inside Hokitika Wildfoods Festival
Booking matters here: buy day tickets in advance online; Hokitika's scarce beds book out months ahead, so sort lodging first. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.