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Is Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand?

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Ask any seasoned traveller or local what the best burgers in New Zealand are and they will most likely mention Fergburger (or possibly Burgerfuel).  This reputation as Aotearoa’s finest purveyor of burgers has resulted in queues outside their sole outlet in Queenstown (on Shotover Street) that can only be described as ‘lengthy’ (or ‘ridiculous’).

Are Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand? Blog post

Indeed, Fergburger’s reputation on the Queenstown (and international) scene is so hot right now that they’ve expanded into several other food forays in town, including the Mrs Ferg Bakery and the Mrs Ferg Gelateria (we’ve no clue why Mr Ferg doesn’t figure in the expansion – maybe too busy flipping burgers).

Fergburger’s have been a part of Queenstown’s quirky scene since 2001, originally opening in a hard to find hole in the wall establishment in Cow Lane. Fast forward 17 years and the ‘gourmet burger’ bar is visited by thousands of hungry tourists every year, as well as a few famous faces including Ed Sheeran, whose ginger picture is on the walls inside the restaurant heartily declaring this to be ‘NZ’s best burger’.

Are Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand? Blog post
Are Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand? Blog post

Depending on what time of day you visit Fergburger, you can be waiting up to an hour to order and take receipt of your order. Although if you visit during off peak hours and avoid the lunch / dinner rush, you can have a burger in your hands in as quick as ten minutes.

But do their burgers live up to the hype? Is it worth $12 to $18 (NZD) a burger and the one hour queue? Yes, the burgers are pretty good but they certainly aren’t the best we’ve tried in New Zealand. The burgers are very big (much heftier than anything you’d get in the UK) with ample fillings, but they are just so-so.

The buns are pretty standard and as you get to the end of the burger, there is so much sauce oozing out everywhere that the buns have become saturated with sauce and grease, and limply fall into your hands, a messy massacre of their former self.

However, that said, if you are a first time visitor to Queenstown, it is rite of passage to try a Fergburger on the shores of Lake Wakatipu (what a view!) and Ferg’s onion rings are something truly special. We aren’t saying the burgers aren’t nice (hell no) but just that they don’t live up to the hype.

Are Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand? Blog post
Are Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand? Blog post
Are Fergburger in Queenstown the best burger in New Zealand? Blog post

In our opinion there are much better burgers out there including ‘Too Fat Buns’ on Waiheke Island and ‘Better Burger’ (both near Auckland). We also think Ferg Bakery is the unsung hero here – their spinach and cream cheese muffins are possibly one of our favourites in New Zealand, as are their selection of hot pies (mince and cheese, yum!).

Let us know your thoughts on the Fergburger experience and whether you disagree or not. If you have any burger recommendations (mmmm, burgers), please do let us know in the comments as we are already planning our next New Zealand road-trip…

Watch our New Zealand South Island video!


More New Zealand blog posts


Queenstown accommodation

Backpacker: JUCY Snooze / YHA Lakefront / Haka Lodge / Adventure Q2 Hostel

Flashpacker: Rydges / Copthorne Hotel / Scenic Suites 


Words by Neil Hassall. Photography by Neil Hassall and Caroline Keyzor.

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