I dined in a lot during my trip there as most of the motels had kitchenettes. Two suggestions:

Wellington: One Red Dog (9 – 11 Blair Street) – pizzas

Christchurch: The Lotus Heart (595 Colombo Street) – vegetarian

I was in New Zealand this past Easter, and while I still had a great time, much of the country shuts down during Easter. The few places that are open charge an Easter surcharge. Not kidding here. NZ takes Easter quite seriously.

So, I don’t know if there’s anything much you can do that’s Easter specific that’s dependent on retail being open. Perhaps it would be best to plan more solo outdoor type activities during Easter itself. Or maybe you know people in the country whom you’d want to celebrate Easter with?

I’m not sure what you’re hoping to do in New Zealand. There’s quite a range.

As far as the time of year though, March and April are great times to visit, if you don’t mind a sweater, as autumn comes swiftly right around that time. It’s far less expensive to go then instead of earlier in the year, too.

Food: The K Road area in Auckland is chock full of great options, especially Indian. And in Wellington, there’s a great Chinese vegetarian restaurant off Cuba Mall, although you’ll find all sorts of options everywhere in the city centers of all the cities you mention. Mediterranean food is everywhere. If you enjoy gyros or falafel, you are set in New Zealand!

Really depends what kind of food/pubs you like… In Auckland there’s a great variety of Asian restaurants… Kyber Pass and Newmarket are great, look out for East (Newmarket & Ponsonby) they serve noodle in the box, Otto Woo in Newmarket (same), Tanuki’s cave on Queen Street – probably the coolest Yakitory place ever – be there early to get a spot or you will end up eating upstairs (not bad either…). Pubs… well, a few good Irish places in town (with live music and all). Try Murphys in town, Pog Mahone in Ponsonby or the Claddagh in Newmarket. If you are the more upmarket kind of person, try the Viaduct.

like mackro said, watch out for changeble weather if you go as late as April, especially in the South Island, it could even be snowing :-)

check this out for a rundown of last year’s weather…

National Climate Summary – April 2006
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0605/S00004.htm

dont sweat it about food, there a loads of obvious food choices in all the big cities

If you like Mexican food, give the Flying Burrito Brothers (yes, really) in Wellington a try; they’ve got great fare and a nifty atmosphere. Also, for breakfast, there’s a small cafe whose name I can’t remember at the corner of Ghuznee St and Willis St you might enjoy. Wherever you eat, have a wonderful trip!

In Auckland, we ate at a place called Valentines dont know if it is still there but it was a buffet eat as much as you like and it was amazing, also we did something in rotorua which was were the food was all cooked in the ground and then there was a night of entertainment i dont know if anyone else can shed light on wether is was rotorua or not and as to there opinions,

I’m out of touch with the restaurants in the main towns, but if you want to go wine-tasting in Marlborough I’ve been to most of the wineries.

We found a fabulous pizza place in Auckland. I can’t remember where exactly but it was on a hill, a little way out of town very near a hostel called something like the garden hostel…. That was nice too :-) Pizza was very cheap and BYO which made it even cheaper. Sorry not to be more useful.

We also ate at a lovely swiss restaurant in the bay of islands.

Can’t remember where else, we tried to cook as much as possible to save some money.

I only changed planes in Christchurch and Wellington, but I found it difficult to get a bad meal in Aukland. If you like fish, order John Dory.

Best pub bet in Auckland:
Mon nights at Margaritas on Queen St – show a passport and get 8 drinks (any kind) for $5 NZ. Kiwi Tavern close to the Railway station is great fun too

Food in Auckland – walk up Parnell from town and there are some great restaurants including a fantastic Italian restaurant on the left (bay) side as you are walking uphill past the go cart place. I think it might have been called Portabella’s or something similar.

I lived there for 8 months

Hi, sorry it took me so long to answer.. I’ve been in the UK for a month for Xmas, and had no internet access where we were staying.
But…. Easter – mmmm bearing in mind a lot of retail places are closed around this time, this is a big holiday period for NZ so most people go away camping etc, holidaying, beaches etc. Also a lot of restaurants charge a surcharge for being open on public holidays, which would be Easter Friday (good Friday), Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday.
My favourite place to eat – in Auckland on the North Shore in Mairangi Bay is Zavitos, excellent food, fantastic service, and reasonable prices. If you are in central Auckland try the Asian foodcourt on Albert st, you get a wicked feed for under $5! Also if you want HUGE servings for a reasonable price go to ‘Lone Star’, (massive wicked feeds) there is one in all main areas in Auckland (Takapuna, Newmarket, city and New Lynn) also all throughout NZ.
Hope that helps.. Ta.

In Christchurch, try Indochine on Columbo St ( www.indochine.co.nz). If you like Asian food, there is a food court called East on Hereford Street in the City Centre with Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Chinese BBQ, Dim Sum etc stalls which seems to be very reasonably priced. Have a good trip.

Oh yeah – best pub in Christchurch (IMHO)is the Twisted Hop in Poplar lane between Lichfield Street and Tuam Street. Hoppin’ Russian Vodka bar just across the road as well for a little variety.