Anyone who remotely calls themselves a foodie will know the Michelin Guide, which spotlights the finest restaurants across Europe, Asia and North America (but not here). Recently, Michelin made its Australia-New Zealand debut with the launch of Michelin Keys – basically the hotels equivalent of restaurant stars – and 35 Aussie hotels earned their place. Now, the world’s most prestigious dining authority is bringing its food guide to Oceania for the very first time – but Australia still isn’t on the menu.
Michelin announced this week that it has partnered with Tourism New Zealand to launch the inaugural Michelin Guide Aotearoa New Zealand in mid-2026. The first edition will cover the country’s four major cities – Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown – with Michelin’s anonymous inspectors already on the ground, carefully curating their restaurant selections.
Using its standard methodology, Michelin will evaluate venues on five key criteria: ingredient quality, technical mastery, harmony of flavours, chef personality and consistency. One Michelin star recognises ‘high-quality cooking that is worth a stop’, two Michelin stars signify ‘excellent cooking that is worth a detour’, and three Michelin stars signify ‘exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey’.
We have no doubt that chef Josh Emett’s restaurants, Onslow in Auckland and Rātā in Queenstown, are likely strong contenders, given his international career includes stints in multiple Michelin‑starred kitchens. Meanwhile, the obvious three‑star candidate is Amisfield Restaurant & Cellar Door in Queenstown, widely celebrated as one of New Zealand’s finest destinations for both dining and wine.
The Australian Financial Review (AFR) reports that Tourism New Zealand will invest around NZ$2.5 million (~AUD$2.23 million) in the first year of the partnership – but the tourism payoff is expected to be substantial. According to research commissioned by the tourism body, 80 per cent of travellers from China, India and the US say they’re more likely to visit New Zealand now that it will appear in the Michelin Guide.
Is the Michelin Guide coming to Australia?
According to the AFR, Michelin first approached Australia about launching a local guide here in 2016, with several follow-up discussions since. In the most recent talks, back in June last year, Michelin reportedly asked Tourism Australia for a $40-million investment over five years. The AFR reports Tourism Australia’s response to having a guide wasn’t a flat "no" but rather a "not yet".
There have long been criticisms around the Michelin Guide and the fact that it only covers restaurants in certain regions – not based on the quality of the culinary landscape in a region, but based on a region's investment, as we can see here with the Tourism New Zealand payment.
With or without a Michelin Guide, locals know Australia’s food scene is absolutely world-class – and we here ourselves at Time Out run our own Food & Drink Awards in Sydney and Melbourne, with results based off anonymous, starred reviews. Tick off our personal recommendations on the country’s best restaurants and bars.