Dunedin International Airport

Dunedin International Airport may be compact, but it punches above its weight when it comes to decent food before you fly. The main terminal houses a small but well-curated selection of cafes and eateries, with Caffe Bacio being the standout — a cosy spot serving proper espresso, cabinet food loaded with fresh-baked pastries, and warming soups that feel genuinely homemade. For a regional city airport, the coffee quality alone is worth arriving a little early for.

If you're after something more substantial, the airport's cafe options lean into New Zealand's cafe culture beautifully, offering hearty cabinet lunches, filled rolls, and seasonal slices. Look out for local Otago produce making appearances on the menu — think South Island cheeses, manuka honey on the side, and occasionally Central Otago stone fruit in season. It's unpretentious, honest food that reflects the region's farm-to-table sensibility without making a fuss about it.

For travellers with a sweet tooth or those grabbing a last-minute gift, the retail area stocks Otago-made chocolate, locally roasted coffee beans, and Hokey Pokey ice cream — New Zealand's beloved golden toffee-studded flavour — in small take-home tubs. The selection is modest, so don't expect a sprawling food hall, but what's here is chosen with care. Grab a flat white, tuck into a proper pie, and enjoy the view of the Taieri Plain stretching out beyond the runway.