TAKE ON OTAGO THIS AUTUMN

Otago is a province of outstanding natural beauty from rugged mountain peaks to glacial lakes, native forests interlaced with a traditional farming heritage which produces some of the best beef and lamb in the country.  Queenstown lies at the heart of this beautiful provInce and local chefs love to forage and use fresh seasonal ingredients to showcase their beef and lamb dishes.  It's the perfect time to visit, as Otago celebrate their annual anniversary this weekend and the golden colours of autumn begin to show.  So if you're heading to Queenstown for a break this autumn, check out some of these award-winning restaurants while you're there.

1. ROARING MEGS

This little gem of a restaurant is located in central Queenstown and is appreciated worldwide with visitors returning each year to sample chef Dom’s award-winning lamb.  Testament to its consistently good food are the twenty gold Beef and Lamb Excellence Award plates hanging proudly on the restaurant’s wall.  Swiss born chef, Dom Jeanneret and his wife Sharon love to use home-grown herbs and berries and foraged walnuts, mushrooms and other seasonal produce growing abundantly in the area.  roaringmegs.co.nz

2. TRUE SOUTH DINING, THE REES HOTEL, QUEENSTOWN

Award-wining chef Ben Batterbury heads up the kitchen at The True South Dining Room which offers a sophisticated elegant dining experience. Ben has cultivated a following as he treats guests to a sense of surprise when they dine at True South with something delicious, exciting and unexpected.  Enjoy a meal here or spend the whole weekend at the hotel indulging in their luxury accommodation and waterfront location. therees.co.nz

3. LOMBARDI RESTAURANT, HOTEL ST. MORITZ

Enjoy the views of lake and mountains from Lombardi, the award-winning restaurant at Hotel St. Moritz.  Lombardi offers a superb New Zealand dining experience accompanied by a carefully crafted wine list which focuses on the famous Pinot Noir variety renowned in the Central Otago Region, match it with their Southland beef fillet or duo of lamb and you will have a dining experience to savour.  stmoritz.co.nz

4. MACKENZIES RESTAURANT, HERITAGE HOTEL

Enjoy an intimate dining experience complemented by a glowing fire and a seasonal menu using the freshest local ingredients.  As early settlers to Queenstown's Wakatipu region, the Mackenzie family were renowned for their generosity, hospitality and pioneering spirit.  This feeling inspires the service, ambience and cuisine at Mackenzies Restaurant. heritagehotels.co.nz

5. CAPTAINS RESTAURANT

Located in The Mall, in the heart of Queenstown, this is a great spot to sit and people watch while enjoying their award-winning beef and lamb dishes. Their superb herb-crusted lamb rack is a staple on their menu or check out their delicious prime steaks form the char-grill cooked perfectly to your liking – just add your favourite sauce.  captains.co.nz

6. MUSKETS AND MOONSHINE

Following in the footsteps of Queenstown’s early settlers, Musket and Moonshine’s rustic simplicity perfectly represents these pioneering beginnings.  The building has a long history as a venue of trade so its only natural this is where the inspiration for this restaurant comes from.  Their daylight and moonlight menus provide customers with award-winning cuisine in a relaxed environment.  muskets.nz

7. OBSERVATORY RESTAURANT, MILLENIUM HOTEL

With a cosy fire and rustic stone walls the Observatory Restaurant offers a warm, relaxed dining environment.  Their contemporary cuisine is thoughtfully prepared and served by a dedicated team of culinary professionals.  In the evening you can choose from a grill menu or the chef specials menu where you may find a few surprises!  millenniumhotels.com