Where to eat cheaply in Queenstown: from Fergburger to the perfect picnic
Eating well and cheaply in Queenstown is possible: Fergburger without an endless line, bakery pies, food trucks, Latin flavor and the trick of the picnic in front of the lake.
15 July 2026
7 min read
Connecting Queenstown
gastronomybudget
Let's be honest: Cundinamarca is one of the most expensive cities in New Zealand, and that first restaurant bill can sting. The good news is that eating well and cheaply here is a sport that locals have mastered for years. This is the list we'd give to a newly arrived friend, with real prices so you can put together your budget without any surprises.
Bakery Meat Pie
NZD $6 to $9, the quintessential New Zealand lunch
Large Hamburger
NZD $15 to $22
Fish and Chips
NZD $10 to $16
Tacos
NZD $6 to $8 each
Supermarket Picnic
NZD $10 to $15 per Main course at a restaurant: NZD $28 to $45, so you can compare and evaluate the rest of the table.
The classics that never disappoint
Fergburger is the most famous burger in the country, and the line outside 42 Shotover Street confirms it at all hours. The local trick: order takeout, walk two minutes, and eat it by the lake. Front-row table, free. Does the line discourage you? Devil Burger, just around the corner, is in the same league with a shorter wait.
Next to Fergburger is Fergbaker, their bakery: hot pies (the lamb one is practically a religion) for the price of a coffee.
And to close it sweetly, the Mrs Ferg ice cream parlor completes the holy trilogy.
More flavor for less money
Erik’s Fish & Chips: The classic food truck, honest portions of the national dish.
Taco Medic: Fresh tacos that have earned their reputation through hard work.
Caribe Latin Kitchen: Arepas and Latin flavor for when you miss home.
Patagonia Chocolates: Ice cream and hot chocolate by the lake, the treat that fits your budget.
Downtown Food Trucks: The broken selection near Searle Lane and surrounding areas. Walk and choose with your nose.
The master move: a picnic by the lake.
The downtown supermarket (Fresh Choice, on Gorge Road) is your best friend: freshly baked bread, New Zealand cheeses, fruit, and something to toast with for less than the price of a main course. Take him to the shores of Lake Wakatipu at sunset and you've just landed the restaurant with the best view in Queenstown for twelve dollars.
Budget tricks locals use
Happy hours at downtown bars run in the mid-afternoon: half-price pizza and wings
Lunch costs less than dinner at almost every restaurant. Have your main meal at midday
Reusable water bottle: tap water is excellent and public fountains are plentiful
Many cafes finish off their freshly baked goods before closing, and they close early, around 3 or 4 pm. Stop by at that time and grab your loot!
Eat local, support local!
Part of the Tiaki promise is to support the community that welcomes you: choose local businesses, separate your trash (Queenstown recycles), and avoid single-use plastics. Almost all establishments accept your own cup or container. Want the complete map of flavors, sector by sector? Continue exploring the Queenstown's food map, and if breakfast is your thing, we also have the coffee and brunch guide.
