2 Best Restaurants in Upper South Island and the West Coast, New Zealand

This is definitely one of the best on-the-road cafés in the whole area. Friendly locals serve great breakfasts and wholesome, homemade lunches to both passersby and the campers in the adjacent Department of Conservation campsite. The venison pies are great, too. It's located beside the rocky, tree-lined Pelorus River, where the hobbits in Lord of the Rings performed their famous "Barrel Scene." It's usually busy in January and February, but the staff takes the crowds in stride. A bonus is the swimming hole down the track just across the road. 

Every town needs a darn good café, and this one is Blenheim's. The breakfast menu runs all day on the weekends, with all the standard Kiwi options like hotcakes, eggs, and muesli. The menu offers fresh, simple food for lunch, with plenty of wheat- and gluten-free options, as well as an impressive tea and coffee menu. Try the smoked chicken Caesar salad. Locals love this place, with its sharp, almost industrial decor.