Tourists are obsessed with Fergburger in Queenstown, NZ
The lines are long, but tourists don’t just come to this town and ignore this now viral joint. It’s an institution – and for good reason.
The moment my friends and I decided to go to Queenstown, my immediate thought was — we have to go to Fergburger.
Apart from its breathtaking landscape, a trip to the South Island wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the burger joint.
One quick search for ‘Fergburger’ on TikTok and you can understand why it’s become a viral sensation with 3.6 million views under the hashtag alone.
And with good reason — it’s one of very view viral things that’s actually worth the hype.
Fergburger has been around since 2001 — and since then it has managed to attract the masses, becoming an institution that tourists can’t seem to get enough of.
The last time I experienced a Ferburger was back in 2009 when I visited Queenstown for the first time.
I quickly understood what all the fuss was about (long before the days of TikTok).
There was something about the juicy OG Fergburger that made go back for seconds (and thirds) despite the long lines.
The town sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by the Southern Alps and in it is where you will find the iconic Fergburger.
Just look for the sea of people clogging the pavement along Queenstown’s Shotover Street.
After convincing my girlfriends (which wasn’t hard) that we had to make a pit stop, let’s just say we ended up there almost every day of our one-week trip — but not just there, it has since expanded to a bakery and gelato bar.
However, there’s two things that haven’t changed — the quality and taste of the burgers and the lines, which have become even longer with its sudden boom on TikTok.
But fear not, it moves pretty fast. It takes roughly 20 minutes, including actually getting the burger(s).
A guy by the name of Tom, from the UK, who was standing in the line behind me, told me he heard about the burgers from his Aussie mates.
“I can’t count how may times I was recommended to go here,” he told me. “Countless times. “[My mates] said it’s the one thing you have to do when you come to Queenstown.”
And he's right.
While there’s a wide range of burgers to choose from, I went straight in for the original ‘The Fergburger’.
It’s made up of prime New Zealand beef, lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli and tomato relish.
It was warm, succulent and unlike any burger I have ever tasted. It cost $NZ15.90 ($A14.70) and was well worth the 20-minute wait.
The staffer who took my order told me it’s packed every day, and not just on a specific day, but of all days of the week which is nice to hear since the town faced hardships after the pandemic.
Compared to visitor arrivals in 2019, 2022 saw a 59 per cent recovery for Queenstown, according to International Travel & Migration Statistics NZ.
For Aussie travellers specifically, visitation represented 71 per cent recovery compared to pre-Covid levels.
“As international travel has resumed, it’s been great to see so many Australian visitors continue to head to Aotearoa,” Andrew Waddel, General Manager – Australia, Tourism New Zealand tells me.
“While recovery is gradual and different in each region, the positive signs have been welcomed by New Zealanders and the industry.”
As for Fergburger, Andrew said he’s not surprised it’s [still] such a hit.
“Fergburger isn’t your average burger bar. It’s been an institution on Queenstown’s Shotover
Street for over 20 years, so it’s no wonder it’s become a must-do experience when in the region,” he said.
“[It] has elevated the humble burger with incredible flavours, all while showcasing local New Zealand produce.”
But he said what many Aussies might not know, is its success has led to its expansion into baked goods, at Fergbaker, gelato and sorbet at Mrs Ferg, and a bar at Ferg’s Bar.
“A must-visit for any trip to Tāhuna Queenstown,” he added.
And he’s right. I highly recommend the chilli, beef & cheese for $NZ8.30, it’s equally as good as the OG Fergburger.
It’s filled with slow braised beef steak, jalapeño peppers, kidney beans, cheddar cheese and sour cream and all I can say is ‘wow’.
I never eat pies, but this won me over. So fresh, so flaky, so good.
There’s also brekky wraps, to bagels and pizza slices. And of course a long list of fresh pastries from chocolate brownies, a white chocolate cheesecake to apple pie slices. Next door is the gelato bar – we also went there … we also went back.
Where to eat in Queenstown
Queenstown has a bunch of great places to eat at — and not just at Fergburger. If you’re after something a little fancier, head to Arrowtown where you will find Aosta, an Italian restaurant with a menu inspired by the cooking techniques of Northern Italy. The food is delicious and worth a visit.
It depends on how fancy you want to go, but I had to try Amisfield as I heard so many great things about it and it too lived up to the hype.
But it will set you back around $180 for the tasting menu. It’s something you will try once and when you’re surrounded by such stunning scenery, it’s hard not to have a wonderful experience.
The three-hatted restaurant is located in Central Otago and as it says on their site, it “takes you on a culinary journey through the tastes of this beautiful place, infusing an element of intrigue into everything we bring to the table”.
If you’re after a funky bar with good food, good music and good vibes, head to Margo’s. It’s got an affordable Mexican-inspired menu that’s pretty darn tasty. Cocktails are also awesome.
What to do in Queenstown
In 2022, Queenstown saw more than 190,000 arrivals, with 87 per cent (167,000) from Australia alone.
Andrew tells me Tāhuna Queenstown has always been a popular destination for Aussie travellers.
“In fact was recently ranked as one of the most loved destinations in the world, and there’s no questioning why,” he added.
“Often referred to as the adventure capital, the variety of experiences on offer proves popular among Australians. From exploring local award-winning wineries, gliding down the luge at
Skyline Queenstown, taking in the view on a scenic cruise to mountain biking through world-
famous trails, there’s something for everyone.”
One thing I did and loved was a winery bike tour with Around The Basin Bike Queenstown.
You hop on a shuttle from Queenstown and head to Arrowtown and then ride back to Queenstown at your own pace. Obviously there’s a bunch of wineries and lunchspots along the way. But if I were you I’d upgrade to an e-bike. It can get pretty hilly and after a few hours of riding, mixed with wine, you will thank me.
If you love a thrill, hop on a quadbike. We did it through Nomad Safaris and had a pretty incredible experience. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t scary — after all you are riding on the edge of a cliff.
As one of the instructors said: “It’s one of the most dangerous things you will do in Queenstown”.
It’s why they are massive on safety and why you should listen very carefully to every thing they say during their safety intro.
Milford Sounds is obviously a must-see if you haven’t seen it before — it’s New Zealand’s most spectacular natural attractions with its magical combination of mountain peaks, ink-dark waters and superb dramatic forest-clad cliffs.
We booked through Altitude Tours and Mitre Peak Cruise which cost about $NZ250. It’s only a small group.
They pick you up from your accommodation, and it’s about a five-hour drive one-way. Lunch is also included and is given to you on the two-hour boat cruise.
It truly is a wonder and provides for some amazing photos.
To top off the trip, my girlfriends and I booked in at Onsen Hot Pools. If you haven’t seen photos of it plastered over social media, it’s the one with the open hot tub that overlooks the picturesque Shotover River.
They’ve given a unique kiwi twist on a Japanese tradition with tubs filled with pure water from the surrounding mountains which is heated to about 38.3 degrees. You also get a complimentary drink and snack as you soak up the spectacular views.
It won the 2021 World Luxury Spa Awards and with good reason. There’s nothing really like it.
Meanwhile, expect a bunch more flights from Australia to New Zealand from June to September as Air New Zealand has ramped its direct services from Melbourne and Sydney to daily, to get as many Aussies into the adventure capital as they can.
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