Christmas Lunch Ideas in New Zealand

"If you and your family are dreaming of a white Christmas and have always wanted to celebrate in the snow then it's time to check out Snow Planet for a novel idea for Christmas Day lunch. Celebrate in sleigh-bell style with a Christmas Day buffet and then hit the slopes for some skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. There are two sittings for the Christmas Day Buffet at 11am and 2pm and it's all about warming family fare. Plus at $68 a head for adults and $35 for children (with infants under two free!), it's a fantastic price for a winter wonderland Christmas Day the kids will never forget. Plus Santa will even make an appearance."

"What could be better than sitting by the water, basking in the sun and supping on a craft brew to celebrate Christmas Day? And when it comes to the Christmas lunch on offer, The Riverhead's Landing Restaurant has an excellent multiple-course menu featuring festive traditional Christmas lunch delights such as roasted lamb rump, orange and cranberry-stuffed turkey and pan-fried salmon. You can choose any two courses for $45 or three courses for $55. Plus no decent Christmas Day celebration is worth its salt without a belly-filling dessert and that's where The Riverhead come into their own. For the big day, they are serving up a delicious homemade chocolate brownie and mini pavlovas. Or for the traditionalists, a steamed Christmas pud with custard and cream."

"The restaurant at DeBretts Hotel in inner-city Auckland, aptly named Kitchen, is one of my favourite glamorous hole-in-the-wall haunts. The food is superlative and the clever decor makes the whole place light, bright and a fantastic dining experience. It was much to my delight then that I discovered DeBretts Kitchen will be serving up Christmas Day lunch and dinner with a four-course set menu. The hotel is so cool (don't miss the library) that I reckon it's worth booking a night so you can indulge all day and then just head upstairs to sleep off the festivities."

"To experience the majesty of Auckland from one of its best vista points, Christmas lunch at Auckland's Waitakere Estate is a must-do, especially if you have visitors in town. Nestled deep in the heart of the city's rainforest - the Waitakere Ranges - the estate is at the very top of one of the highest hills in the range giving you an uninterrupted view of Auckland, all the way to Great Barrier Island. The place is very kitsch and there's a blazing fire so wear your best Christmas jumper and make like you've stepped into a Northern Hemisphere Christmas. Plus, the prices are nice with the Christmas Day meal priced at $135 a head for adults and $67.50 for children (note: children under the age of five are not permitted)."