New Zealand · month by month
Auckland food calendar
What is in season in Auckland, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Auckland
Peak seasonThe best of January: Hāngī and Summer.
In season
- Summer
Stone fruit, berries and the start of the vintage on Waiheke.
Dec–Feb
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Auckland
Peak seasonThe best of February: Hāngī and Summer.
In season
- Summer
Stone fruit, berries and the start of the vintage on Waiheke.
Dec–Feb
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Auckland
Peak seasonThe best of March: Hāngī, Hangi and umu food at Pasifika, Pasifika Festival.
In season
- Hangi and umu food at Pasifika
The Pasifika Festival at Western Springs serves hāngī and 'otai in March.
- Autumn
Feijoas everywhere, and the Waiheke grape harvest.
Mar–May - Bluff oysters
From the far south, the season opens in March.
Mar–Aug
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
On the calendar
- Pasifika Festival
14 and 15 March 2026 at Western Springs; hāngī and 'otai among the food.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Auckland
Shoulder seasonThe best of April: Hāngī and Autumn.
In season
- Autumn
Feijoas everywhere, and the Waiheke grape harvest.
Mar–May - Bluff oysters
From the far south, the season opens in March.
Mar–Aug
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Auckland
The best of May: Hāngī, Autumn and Bluff Oyster & Food Festival.
In season
- Autumn
Feijoas everywhere, and the Waiheke grape harvest.
Mar–May - Bluff oysters
From the far south, the season opens in March.
Mar–Aug
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
On the calendar
- One of the world’s 100 best food eventsBluff Oyster & Food FestivalExpected Saturday 15 May 2027 · usually the third Saturday of May
Celebrating the famous Bluff oysters, dredged from Foveaux Strait, with oyster-opening and eating contests and a lot of beer.
How to go: Fly to Invercargill, 30 minutes away; tickets sell out early.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Auckland
A hard monthThe best of June: Hāngī, Bluff oysters and Matariki.
In season
- Bluff oysters
From the far south, the season opens in March.
Mar–Aug
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
On the calendar
- MatarikiMatariki
The Māori New Year in midwinter, a public holiday with feasts.
Jun–Jul
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Auckland
A hard monthThe best of July: Hāngī, Bluff oysters and Auckland Food Show.
In season
- Bluff oysters
From the far south, the season opens in March.
Mar–Aug
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
On the calendar
- Auckland Food Showlate July or early August
Tastings from producers.
Jul–Aug - MatarikiMatariki
The Māori New Year in midwinter, a public holiday with feasts.
Jun–Jul
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Auckland
The best of August: Hāngī, Bluff oysters and Restaurant Month.
In season
- Bluff oysters
From the far south, the season opens in March.
Mar–Aug
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
On the calendar
- Restaurant Month
1 to 31 August (2025 edition) in the city centre, with set menus and collaboration dishes.
- Auckland Food Showlate July or early August
Tastings from producers.
Jul–Aug
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season.
Jun–Aug
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Auckland
The best of September: Hāngī and Whitebait.
In season
- Whitebait
Spring whitebait fritters.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Auckland
The best of October: Hāngī and Whitebait.
In season
- Whitebait
Spring whitebait fritters.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Auckland
Shoulder seasonThe best of November: Hāngī, Whitebait and Auckland Feast.
In season
- Whitebait
Spring whitebait fritters.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
On the calendar
- Auckland Feast
Inaugural edition 12 to 22 November 2026, special menus and one-off dinners.
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Auckland
Shoulder seasonThe best of December: Pavlova and summer barbecue, Hāngī.
In season
- Summer
Stone fruit, berries and the start of the vintage on Waiheke.
Dec–Feb
Eat it now
- Pavlova and summer barbecueChristmas
A summer Christmas.
- Hāngī
The Māori earth-oven feast, cooked on the marae and at cultural evenings.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.