Hokitika Wildfoods Festival
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival takes place Mar 13, 2027 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
- Mar 13, 2027
- 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
- Day tickets are sold at the gate; 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
Day-entry tickets are sold at the gate on the day (gates open at 10:00 at Cass Square), and a VIP ticket at NZD 250 is listed at wildfoods.co.nz; 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: day tickets are sold at the gate; Hokitika's scarce beds book out months ahead, so sort lodging first. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 571 more events across the season.
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