Beyond Fergburger – What a Pie in Cromwell Taught Me About Taste, Travel, and Trust

There are two things Kiwis take very seriously: their coffee… and their pies.

And no, I’m not talking about the sweet, fruit-filled variety that show up on American Thanksgiving tables. I’m talking about the glorious, golden, savory meat pies that are more like a pot pie had a baby with a perfectly crisp hand pie and then leveled up with Kiwi culinary precision.

If you’ve been to New Zealand, you’ve probably heard of Fergburger, the viral sensation in Queenstown that’s been blessed by influencers, TikTok tourists, and backpacker bucket lists everywhere. Don’t get me wrong… it’s good. Maybe even great. But here’s the thing about real adventure: it rarely happens where the crowds are already standing.

Which brings me to Cromwell. A humble town in Central Otago that most travelers speed through without a second glance. But if you trust the locals, and in this case, a fly fishing guide who knows her backcountry streams and her baked goods you might find yourself weaving through an industrial warehouse district, pulling up behind a mechanic’s shop, and wondering if you took a wrong turn.

Spoiler alert: you didn’t. You just found Sanga’s Pies.

Definitely not the first place I’d expect to find one of the best meals of my trip. But that’s part of the magic.

The Holey Smokes steak and cheese pie? Absolutely worth the detour. Perfectly seasoned, just the right amount of gooey cheese, and nestled in a light, buttery phyllo shell that made me pause mid-bite and reconsider everything I thought I knew about pies. It wasn’t just the taste, it was the surprise. The discovery. The thrill of being let in on a local secret that you’d never find by following hashtags.

Why This Matters (And Not Just For Foodies)

This isn’t just about a pie.

It’s about the value of going off the beaten path.

It’s about trusting local knowledge over viral trends. About being curious enough to stop somewhere unexpected. About learning that excellence often lives quietly in places that don’t scream for attention.

It reminded me a lot of how I approach both business and the outdoors. The best water isn’t always where the crowds are. The best people aren’t always the loudest ones. And the best experiences? They show up when you take the detour, follow your gut, and trust someone who’s been around the block or in this case, the riverbend.

So here’s your sign: If you find yourself deep in the southern stretch of New Zealand’s South Island, skip the burger line and head to the back of that warehouse lot in Cromwell. You won’t be disappointed. And you just might walk away with a little more than lunch, you might rediscover that thrill of finding something real in a world obsessed with what’s popular.

I’ll take that kind of adventure any day.

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Stay curious. Stay hungry. And always ask the fly fishing guide where to eat.

#GypsyAdventures #OffTheBeatenPath #KiwiPiesOverTikTokBurgers #TrustTheLocals #AdventureTastesBetter