Auckland, New Zealand
Gluten Free in Auckland, New Zealand
As an Australian, travelling to New Zealand with Coeliac Disease was relatively easy – both countries have similar food standards and they both speak English.
I would always recommend doing your research on gluten free options before travelling to a new place. Some resources I found useful to find gluten free options in Auckland included the Coeliac New Zealand website, the Find Me Gluten Free App/website, and the Gluten Free – New Zealand Facebook group. It is also worth knowing where the closest supermarkets are to your accommodation, and having the Uber Eats App downloaded onto your phone. I always have a list of gluten free options depending on where we are going for the day. If you are going somewhere with minimal options I would recommend packing your own snacks before going out for the day.
Day 1 – Devonport
On the 16th November I embarked on the Disney Wonder 5 night cruise from Melbourne to Auckland, New Zealand.
After disembarking the Disney Wonder on the 21st November we planned our first day. We decided to catch the ferry from Auckland to Devonport. The ferry ride is a quick ride – less than 30 mins. At Devonport we had a walk along the street and checked out some of their shops, which included souvenir shops and a surprising amount of op-shops. A local then recommended that we walk up Mount Victoria, which turned out to be a great suggestion. The walk took approximately 20 mins and is suitable for most levels of fitness. At the top we got to see spectacular view of Auckland, and we even spotted the Disney Wonder! There was also some World War 2 tunnels, and some mushrooms to sit on. This lookout offered some great photo opportunities.
After our hike it was time for lunch. We went to have something to eat at The Kestrel, which was back at the Devonport ferry port. This is a nice waterfront venue with the option to sit inside or outside. We opted to sit inside next to the fish tank, as it was overcast, and I loved seeing all of the colourful fish in their tank. Our server was lovely and outlined everything on the menu that could be made gluten free, as well as mentioning that they have a gluten free fryer. The majority of the menu could be made gluten free. I opted for the classic fish and chips, which were cooked in a gluten free fryer.
For dinner we were tired so we opted for takeaway. I ordered from The Chosen Bun via Uber Eats. This takeaway restaurant has the option for gluten free burgers and fries. I ordered ‘The Chosen Bun’ burger which consisted of a gluten free bun, beef patty, cheese, and pickles with a side of fries. They clearly labelled my GF burger. The burger was great, and I would highly recommend this Auckland restaurant for a quick takeaway option, or to dine in. They even have gluten free buttermilk fried chicken available, which I will definitely be trying next time.
Day 2 – Auckland CBD
Day 2 was our first full day in Auckland. Countdown supermarket (the New Zealand equivalent of Woolworths) was just a short walk down the road, from our accommodation at the Adina Apartments. We brought some groceries and cooked our own breakfast. They had gluten free Vegemite, which I hadn’t actually tried yet (you would’ve thought I had as an Australian) – the verdict was that it tasted just like I remember the original Vegemite tasting.
The activity for the day was riding the beam electric scooters from Auckland CBD to Mission Bay. This was a lovely ride along the water with amazing views. Along the way we stopped at Taco Medic for lunch, which is an entirely gluten free restaurant located in the Auckland CBD. The tacos were delicious – I opted for 2 tacos, which were the Stockman Beef & the Fisherman, with a side of fries. The service was fast, and they have the option to dine inside or outside.
After our electric scooter ride from Auckland CBD to Mission Bay and back we decided to check out the Sky Tower. It was a lovely day with blue clear skies, so we got a beautiful overview of Auckland from the observation deck.
For dinner tonight we had takeaway pizza from Hell Pizza, which we ordered via Uber Eats. I ordered the Lust Deluxe Pizza with a gluten free base, and a side of gluten free garlic bread. I was super impressed that the gluten free pizza & garlic bread came with stickers that clearly said they were made of ‘Gluten Free Ingredients’. The pizza was delicious, and I would highly recommend this restaurant for a quick gluten free takeaway option in Auckland.
Day 3 – Waiheke Island
Today we explored the beautiful Waiheke Island. We caught the ferry from Auckland to Waiheke Island, then used the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus to get around the island. Our first stop we decided to hop off at was the town of Onetangi, where we had lunch at a restaurant called Charley Farleys. This restaurant is located on the beachfront with stunning views, and had the option to dine either inside or outside in an undercover area. They offered a variety of gluten free options on the menu with a gluten free fryer, and for drinks they had the option for gluten free cider. I had the gluten free calamari. This is one of the more cost effective dining options located on Waiheke Island – perfect for families.
After lunch we went for a walk along Onetangi beach, then caught the hop-on hop-off bus to Batch Winery. We hopped off here to go on a walk to the Cascades Waterfall. The walk ended up being a lot longer than expected, as we took a wrong turn. We ended up at a beach instead of the waterfall. After making our way back the way we had come we realised that the waterfall was actually located close to the beginning of the hike (the sign is the wrong way around). Although we took a wrong turn we still got a lovely view from the beach at the end of the trail, and we did end up seeing the waterfall!
Next we hopped back on the bus and made our way to Oneroa Village. This is a nice village to walk around with a variety of shops to look at. I went to The Island Grocer and found that they had a lot of gluten free grocery items available. They also had gluten free Dr Feel Good ice creams available to purchase. I had the chocoholic cacao & cream frozen, which was just what I needed on a sunny day. The grocery store also had gluten free slices available, however there was a sign which said they could not guarantee no cross-contamination.
Once we had finished exploring Onorea Village we made our way to the ferry to head back to Auckland. For dinner we had made a reservation at Dr Rudi’s, which is located in Viaduct Harbour. They have gluten free pizzas available. I had the prosciutto and duck fat pizza, and the gluten free pizza base was surprisingly good. Although the food was good this venue was extremely loud – if you are wanting a relaxing location for dinner this is not it. For dessert we decided to try Giapo, which was a short distance away. Giapo is a dedicated gluten free venue that sells ice cream desserts. They have some very elaborate desserts including gold cones and ice creams shaped in interesting ways (e.g. selfie cone & squid cone). I ordered the brookie, which is a mix between a cookie and a brownie. If you like rich, gooey, warm chocolate desserts, you will love this. With this dessert there is also the option to add a scoop of ice cream on top. If you visit Giapo be prepared to wait in line, and then wait for your dessert. There is a small seating area, however there is no tables/dine in area.
Auckland Airport
In the international terminal of the Auckland airport I found a bagel shop called Best Ugly Bagels, which had the option for a gluten free bagel available. I ordered the tuna melt bagel, and as it was gluten free they cooked it separately. This food option is perfect for an airport lunch before your flight.
Air New Zealand
We flew Air New Zealand from Auckland to Melbourne. Make sure to let Air New Zealand know of your dietary requirements in advance. Unfortunately they did not have a meal prepared for me – I did let them know I required a gluten free meal, however I believe I didn’t give them enough notice. They were, however able to provide gluten free snacks, including popcorn, chips, ice cream, and cheesecake.