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Award Winning Food Along the Trails

Revealed! The best places to eat along the cycle trails for 2022.

Carrick Winery & Restaurant, Lake Dunstan Trail


                                
                            Food & Wine

Love food and love to ride?
Then check out the winners of the 2022 Eat Taste Central Awards which are located along the Otago Trails!

Winners of the 2022 Eat.Taste.Central Awards

About Eat.Taste.Central Awards

Eat.Taste.Central is a month-long event hosted throughout Central Otago where you try exciting new flavours and dishes. Local cafés, restaurants and cellar doors collectively produce a Central Otago Regional Menu and a range of events and experiences that celebrate the produce, people and tastes of the region.

Many of the cafes & restaurants also happen to be located on, or close to, the cycle trails. So, work up an appetite on your bike and enjoyed a well-earned lunch!

For more inspiration check out the World of Flavour website. 

Read more about About Eat.Taste.Central Awards

Pitches Store, Ophir on the Otago Central Rail Trail

Best Main Meal 2022 - Pitches Store, Ophir

Located just off the Otago Central Rail Trail, the historic Pitches Store is a favourite stop for cyclists for lunch and dinner with wonderful accommodation also available on site.

In 2022, the ETA award for the best main meal went to Pitches Store for their Provenance Lamb Loin.

Read more about Best Main Meal 2022 - Pitches Store, Ophir

Burger Afloat on the Lake Dunstan Trail

2022 Best Burger or Sandwich - Burger Afloat, Lake Dunstan Trail

An icon of the Lake Dunstan Trail, Coffee & Burger Afloat is a floating cafe and burger bar docked halfway along the trail between the Cromwell Heritage Precinct and Clyde Historic Village. Stop in on your ride and enjoy one of the most remote coffees or burgers you’ll ever have!

For the second year running, Burger Afloat took out the best burger award with their sensations Cardrona Baa Burger.

Read more about 2022 Best Burger or Sandwich - Burger Afloat, Lake Dunstan Trail

Carrick Winery & Restaurant, Lake Dunstan Trail

Best Pie of 2022 - Carrick Winery, Bannockburn

Cyclists on the Lake Dunstan Trail will ride through the vines of Carrick Winery and right past the restaurant itself. With exceptional views and even better cuisine, Carrick is one of the best restaurants located anywhere on the Otago Trails.

Carrick's Rabbit Pithivier wowed the judges to win the 2022 award for best pie.

 

Read more about Best Pie of 2022 - Carrick Winery, Bannockburn

The Cloudy Bay Shed, Cromwell

Premium Plate Award 2022 - The Cloudy Bay Shed

OK, so the Cloudy Bay Shed just outside of Cromwell isn't technically on one of the cycle trails, but the food is just too good to leave off this itinerary of best places to eat, and it's only a 6km ride from Cromwell or a short 5min drive, so close enough!

Nestled amongst the vines and with spectacular views over Lake Dunstan, The Cloudy Bay Shed has been one of the Central Otago's leading providers of fine dining for many years.

In 2022, they won the premium plate category with their exceptional lamb tartare.

Read more about Premium Plate Award 2022 - The Cloudy Bay Shed

Coffee & Burger Afloat, winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award

Awards for People and Businesses

In addition to award winning food, E.T.C also recognises and awards local people and businesses: