HOKITIKA WILDFOODS FESTIVAL Saturday 14th March 2026

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is a vibrant celebration of the West Coast’s unique wild food, culture, and lifestyle, complemented by top New Zealand entertainment. Visitors can sample a diverse range of foods, from gourmet specialties to daring local delicacies, including wild game, fresh seafood, and foraged herbs.

The festival began in 1990 when Hokitika local Claire Bryant introduced the idea as part of the town’s 125th anniversary celebrations. Her home brews, including gorse flower and rose petal wine, sparked excitement, and the event quickly grew into an iconic gathering that attracts food lovers from all over New Zealand.

Beyond food, the festival features live music, a lively atmosphere, and the popular Feral Fashion competition, where participants craft creative outfits inspired by nature. Families are also well catered for, with the Kids Corner offering fun activities like face painting and an inflatable pirate ship, ensuring entertainment for all ages.

Plan your trip

Options to get here, Road trip, grab your friends and make you way to the West Coast. Make it a long weekend and spend time here on the West Coast. Travel over by train book with Great Journeys and take the TranzAlpine Train over to Greymouth. Grab a rental car or use Great Sites to travel down to Hokitika. Also available fly over with Air New Zealand arrive the evening before or the morning of. Use the Hokitika Taxis to get into the township.

Accommodation is available throughout Hokitika and surrounding areas.

Contact the Greymouth isite to help with all of your bookings.