• About
  • Travel Resources

One Day in a City

24 Hour Travel Itineraries to Make the Most of a Day in a Destination

  • United States
    • California
    • Pacific Northwest
    • New England
    • Midwest
    • South
    • West
    • New York
    • Hawaii
    • Florida
  • Europe
    • Austria
    • Croatia
    • Czechia
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Netherlands
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Russia
    • Scandinavia
    • Slovenia
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • Turkey
    • United Kingdom
  • More Destinations
    • Canada
      • Quebec
      • Vancouver Island
    • Caribbean
      • Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Rico
      • Jamaica
      • St. Maarten / St. Martin
      • St. Thomas
    • Central & South America
      • Argentina
      • Colombia
      • Mexico
    • Australia & New Zealand
      • Victoria AUS
      • Queensland AUS
      • North Island NZ
      • South Island NZ
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Nepal
      • Singapore
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • South Pacific
    • Africa
      • Kenya
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel with Babies & Toddlers
    • Couple Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Cruise
    • Packing Tips
    • Work and Travel Balance
  • Shop
    • Gift Guides
One Day in a City > Destinations > Australia & New Zealand > South Island NZ > The Cray Pot Restaurant in New Zealand

The Cray Pot Restaurant in New Zealand

November 2, 2020 By Gina
Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Pin5
Share10
Tweet
15 Shares

One Day in New Zealand, I Ate Here…

The Little Cray Pot Restaurant Makes a Big Impact

You have to go out of your way to get to the Cray Pot restaurant near Haast, New Zealand. It’s about 30 minutes off the main highway to Haast and once you reach there, you’re basically at a dead end and will just have to turn around once you eat.

The view from the outdoor tables at The Cray Pot restaurant in New Zealand.
The view from the outdoor tables at The Cray Pot.

Seriously, this is the town…er, or lack of town.

The town's main street. It pretty much just consists of these buildings and The Cray Pot.
The town’s main street. It pretty much just consists of these buildings and The Cray Pot.
And you may see a tractor or two.
And you may see a tractor or two.

Then, there’s the restaurant.

Another view of the main street with The Cray Pot to the left.
Another view of the “main street” with The Cray Pot to the left.
The kitchen entrance and, farther down, the main entrance to The Cray Pot.
The kitchen entrance and, farther down, the main entrance to The Cray Pot.

The Cray Pot is delightfully small. It’s in an old trailer that has been converted into a narrow restaurant with the open kitchen on one end.

Doesn't take many people to fill up The Cray Pot.
Doesn’t take many people to fill up The Cray Pot.
Doesn't take many people to fill up The Cray Pot.
Space is at a premium in The Cray Pot so supplies were stored under the chairs of the tables. It gave it a very homey, lived in feeling.

The menu only consists of a few seafood items which are all fresh and locally caught. To my disappointment, crayfish was not on the menu, so Tom and I opted for the fish and chips, which we had heard through the grapevine was very good.

The blackboard menu of The Cray Pot restaurant.
The blackboard menu.

While waiting for our meal to arrive (which took only about ten minutes) I surveyed the wall, which covered in pictures of old fishing boats battling monstrous waves in the sea.

A couple of the fishing ship posters hung high on the walls of The Cray Pot Restaurant in New Zealand.
A couple of the fishing ship posters hung high on the walls.

It was a vast difference from the current day, which was sunny and calm with nary a ripple in sight on the ocean. Then the phone of the Cray Pot rang and reminded me it’s not always like this.

“Ah, yes, we just reopened today,” the owner said in her thick kiwi accent. “The road was closed all week. No one could get through.”

She paused.

“I’m doing alright on products, but some more milk would be great.” Another pause. “Yes, just drop it off by my door.”

I marveled at a restaurant that was so out of the way, it was dependent on one lone road – and at the whim of nature – to get both people and ingredients into its doors.

Luckily for Tom and me, the rain had subsided just in time for our day driving by the Cray Pot and we were about to enjoy the fruits of its reputation.

The fish and chips were delivered in wire baskets. The fish tasted fresh and was the perfect blend of flakiness and crispness. The flavor was a bit mild, but dressed up with tartar sauce and vinegar made it delectable. Putting some salt on my fries with one half of the adorable kiwi salt and pepper shakers was also a nice touch.

The Cray Pot's freshly caught fish and chips.
The Cray Pot’s freshly caught fish and chips.
The darling little kiwi salt and pepper shakers.
The darling little kiwi salt and pepper shakers.

Was it the best fish and chips I’ve ever had? No…but it was one of the best. And was definitely the best setting I’ve ever had fish and chips in.

Indoor view of the ocean from our table.
Indoor view of the ocean from our table.

A local fishing boat out to sea.

A local fishing boat out to sea.
A panoramic view of the seaside spot The Cray Pot restaurant is on.
A panoramic view of the seaside spot The Cray Pot is on.

It’s wise to call the Cray Pot before you go to make sure it’s open, due to things like weather and other reasons a remote restaurant may be randomly closed. Their number is: 03-750-0035. There is also a walking trail nearby that takes you down to a rocky part of the area, where penguins sometimes hang out.

About Gina

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

About One Day in a City

One Day in a City: Start Here
Hi! I'm Gina, a former cruise and tour marketing director turned independent travel writer who helps those short on time make the most of their travels, even if you just have 24 hours to spend somewhere. Read More...

Travel Writing

Gina Tarnacki Writing

Top Travel Tips

Travel Resources and Websites to Make Your Vacation Easier

Travel Inspiration

One Day in a City: Start Here
I have over a decade of experience working in the travel industry and use what I've learned to help you take control of your travels and design YOUR best trip with however much vacation time you have. Start Here...

Recent Posts

  • Should You Use a Travel Agent for Your Disney World Vacation? 
  • Ultimate List of the Best Cities to Visit in Europe
  • 20 Best Beaches in California to Add to Your Bucket List
  • Best Weekend Getaways in Michigan: A Local’s Ultimate Guide
  • The Best Winter Family Vacations for Fun and Snow

Search for a Destination…

Contact
Advertise
Content Writing Services
Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · One Day in a City is a property of Ports and Pen Media LLC.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided 'as is' and is subject to change or removal at any time.