Frequently asked questions

Tickets

All tours must be booked in advance to make sure our suppliers are all ready and waiting for you. If you want to book within 24 hours of a tour email info@thebigfoody.com to see if we can squeeze you in.

Our tickets at The Big Foody Food Tours are non-refundable. We do our very best to reschedule your tour booking. If tours are canceled due to severe inclement weather or a dangerous situation such as tornados we will be glad to reschedule or refund the price of your tickets.

If the tour is sold out we will quite often run a second tour, email us at info@thebigfoody.com to see what we can do

In Auckland: Yes we do!

Walking Tours

All of our tours are very relaxed with a maximum of three kilometres (slightly less than 2 miles) of walking for the walking tours.

No but we will be in the same area, nearby our starting point. All our guides will be able to advise you on how to return to your hotel.

Yes at every location we go to apart from two.

Absolutely not – our tours combine architectural commentary, historical facts, local culture and culinary insights. We also meet some of the fabulous people who make this city so special.

With enough notice we try very hard to accommodate a special start time – please email us at info@thebigfoody.com for assistance.

When you book your tour you will receive a very comprehensive description of how to get to us. 

Auckland: We offer pick ups for certain tours and can arrange Airport and Port transport for you if you wish. Please email us at info@thebigfoody.com for any further questions.

Portland: The Portland Makers Tour is easily accessed by public transportation from anywhere in Portland, or if you are staying at a downtown hotel, the distance is easily walked to from most.

Food & Drink

We serve enough food that will be the equivalent of a small meal. You’re certainly not going to leave hungry! We do recommend you have a light breakfast before any morning tours as our tours are not designed to replace meals.

Water is available at each location we stop.

Portland: Otherwise, we will be tasting spirits, coffee and tea. If you require something without caffeine or alcohol please let us know when booking and we can accommodate you.

Yes in The Big Beer Tours, The Tastebud Tour, The Afternoon Tour & The Queen Street Food Tour.

Food is provided from a variety of different eateries, markets and artisans throughout the city and the region. We also taste local ethnic cuisines and some true New Zealand staples. Please advise of any allergies when booking.

Our destinations change depending on the day and the tour. If you are planning a meal somewhere and don’t want to double up, please email us on info@thebigfoody.com for more information.

Yes

We do our very best to provide alternatives with enough notice. There are some tours that this may not be available. Please do email us with particular requests and we will see what we can do

Pre Tour Information

Our tours are the perfect way to introduce you the city and the country, so we really recommend you consider taking one of our tours first to make sure you know all the other wonderful places to go and eat around the country and the city while you are here.

Very very rarely and if we have to cancel a walking tour because of the weather we will try and accommodate you into a driven experience. Please be advised this will only happen in very severe circumstances.

Auckland: The weather in Auckland changes very quickly so we recommend you have a look on our website on the day of your tour for the weather conditions. A light jacket is always a good idea for any sporadic rain fall. Comfortable shoes are very important. And don’t forget your cameras! There are some lovely photo opportunities along the way.

We can offer tours in Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Spanish and English.

We are at our first location for 15 mins which is just around the corner from the meeting point. This allows for stragglers to catch up. We can’t hold the tour up though, so please call our free phone number on 0800 366386 to find out where we have gone on to.

Our Takapuna Food Tour is the most wheelchair friendly tour due to the flat nature of the terrain. Auckland is built on a number of volcanoes so is subsequently very hilly. Please email us at info@thebigfoody.com and we will be happy to see what we can do to accommodate.

Yes of course!!! We love to see your pictures too, so send them through to us, or tag us on social media!

Of course and we love to host them. Children under three who are not having the tastings are invited to join us for free. Please be aware the tours are a minimum of three hours, so please consider carefully whether it is something your children would enjoy. Children’s tickets are available here.

Gift Certificates & Private Tours

Yes, please click on the "Gift Us" link in the main navigation. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Of course, please see our private tour page information here.

Other Queries

If you had a wonderful time on our tour then of course gratuities are accepted, however they are never mandatory.

Yes, there are opportunities to purchase from our host businesses on tours, and we’ll be happy to tell you when. There are also occasions when we just don’t have time, so please don’t be offended if we have to leave before you get a chance to spend some money, we highly encourage you to come back and purchase after the tour as well!

Our tours are led by passionate, trained tour guides.

Absolutely! You can never know enough about your own country and we have access to some of the most wonderful artisans and experiences you won’t necessarily have a chance to meet otherwise.

Yes

Please email us at info@thebigfoody.com

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The Big Foody Food Tours. All rights reserved.
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