For me Queenstown was a lot of firsts…
First ski trip, first zipline, first hot air balloon ride, first helicopter flight, first white water raft, first (and only) proposal, and… first Fergburger.
Well, considering that you can only get a Fergburger in Queenstown, the fact that it was always going to be a first is a bit of a given, but still a worthy first.
Now, I had heard about Fergburger, long before I had even heard of Queenstown! My cherry babe had oft sung their praises as one of the best burgers he had ever had (I think he mentioned this on the first day we met). I was a bit, “yeah right…”, I mean, how good can a burger be? And if you are not even really a fan of burgers at the best of times, it is a bit of a stretch, that they would be even worthy talking about at all!
As famous as their burgers, are their lines… I have personally witnessed the line stream epically up the road, several times. That prompted my second thought process… why would you bother lining up? Well, the answer to that, is really as simple as, they really are that good.
It was winter on my first visit… it was cold (like really cold), I was hungry and yes, my cherry babe was insisting I stand in line with the masses for my burger… urgh!
So I was in line and started reading their menu. Hmmm, okay, so now I was interested… pork belly, venison, tofu… these were not your standard burgers. In fact, the choices were so incredibly good, it was almost impossible to choose. Do I go with the Chief Wiggum or the Sweet Bambi, or the Little Lamby? Then there was the Bun Laden, Holier than Thou and I was also tempted by The Codfather.
There was only one solution… we were going to have to come back, again and again so I could try them all. I couldn’t believe all I wanted to do was eat burgers! I think we pretty much had a burger for lunch almost every day. On the odd occasion we had it for dinner on the days we didn’t have it for lunch, and then we had a grand finale burger on the day we went home (brunch)… final fix. It was going to be a while before we were back. When we went back recently, we pretty much did the same thing – it was our first stop after we checked in.
The thing about Fergburger is they have thought about everything. Every component of the actual burger, through to the waiting and pick up process. It is a well-oiled machine, every cog incredibly efficient. The line proceeded quickly and cheerfully, and it was quite fun chatting to others while you waited your turn, which came about in next to no time. We would place our order and then wonder off to one of the nearby pubs for a local brew, and by the time we were finished our burgers were ready to be picked up.
Big shout out to the staff as well; fun, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Of course I had to be a painful tourist and test this by mixing up one of the combinations to have the ultimate, perfect burger… no trouble at all. No huffing and puffing or rolling of the eyes – instead, friendly, no trouble banter, and then a perfect burger, which we then ate, as ever other day, seated on the walls on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. Sensational (the view and the burger).
Truly, these guys have nailed it. My Chief Wiggum burger – slow roasted, crispy edged pork belly, lettuce, tomato, red onion, hash brown, aioli and an apricot seeded mustard – was insane.
While I have not had a burger since I returned home (no Fergburger here L), I am definitely a Fergburger convert, and now I completely understand what all of the fuss is about.
For a bit of fun, check out their website… and start planning your trip to Queenstown now. Even if you are not entirely convinced about the burgers, trust me, there’s plenty of other things to make a fuss about and I am sure once you have had your first, it won’t be your last.
For a personalised tour for your visit to Queenstown visit www.liveittours.com.au
This story was written by Petra Frieser – Pebbles + Pomegranate Seeds – Her visit was paid for and unannounced.
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