Six Beautiful Places to Celebrate Mother's Day Across Aotearoa

For the mum who loves beautiful food in a relaxed, stylish setting

Nestled in the heart of the City Works Depot precinct, Odettes Eatery is one of Auckland's most beloved all-day eateries — and for good reason. The space itself feels like a sun-drenched Mediterranean escape: the interior, designed by Simon James Design and Nat Cheshire of Resident, has the easy elegance of a chic beach house, complete with indoor-outdoor flow onto a broad, shaded courtyard lush with greenery.

Head chef Jonah Huang brings a genuinely exciting culinary perspective, having honed his craft in Japan and at some of Auckland's finest kitchens. The menu is Mediterranean-influenced at heart, drawing in Levantine spices, African flavours, and global techniques — always seasonal, always punchy. Think dishes like the big breakfast with avocado, crispy bacon, and feta; herbed scrambled hummus and falafel; and vibrant seasonal small plates that change with what's best from local producers.

Odettes opens from 8am on Sundays — and walk-ins are welcome for groups under six, making it a great option for a spontaneous brunch as well as a planned occasion.

✨ Best for: Relaxed all-day brunch or lunch with a stylish, laid-back feel

🍽️ Must-try: Seasonal fritters, vibrant small plates, and their Mediterranean-influenced weekend brunch menu

For the mum who deserves a truly stunning fine dining experience in a setting unlike anywhere else

If you haven't discovered Nero Restaurant yet, this Mother's Day is the perfect reason to. Tucked away on Amesbury Street in Palmerston North, Nero is housed in a beautiful 1918 heritage building set on a quarter-acre of lush, landscaped grounds — and it is, quite simply, one of the most gorgeous dining settings in the North Island. Think French doors opening onto expansive garden decking, canopy of established trees, elegant heritage interiors, and the kind of atmosphere that immediately makes you feel like the occasion is already special before the food has even arrived.

Chef-owner Scott Kennedy — a beef and lamb ambassador — has been crafting innovative, seasonal menus here since 2000, celebrating the very best of Manawatū's outstanding produce. The menu is Modern New Zealand at its most thoughtful: whiskey dry-aged beef served on the bone with duck fat potatoes and chimichurri, pork belly with pork and prune bonbon and sweet-sour apple sauce, prawn and scallop ravioli in citrus butter, seasonal plant-based dishes, and a dessert list (crème brûlée, chocolate parfait, tiramisu) that draws genuine raves. The wine list runs to almost 65 pours, almost all available by the glass.

Nero opens for Mother's Day from 11.30am for lunch and 6pm for dinner — and with consistently glowing reviews describing it as "Palmerston North's shining light" and "perfect for celebrating a special occasion," it's well worth booking ahead.

✨ Best for: A genuinely stunning special-occasion lunch or dinner in a heritage garden setting

🍽️ Must-try: Whiskey dry-aged beef, prawn and scallop ravioli, and whatever the chef's special is that day

For the mum who appreciates sustainability, seasonal cooking, and serious flavour

Tucked away on lower Cuba Street, Highwater Eatery is Wellington's best-kept (and most deserved) secret. This award-winning restaurant and wine bar is the kind of place where everything feels intentional: the exposed brick, warm timber, and open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work their magic over an imported Spanish charcoal oven — the jewel of the operation.

The Highwater team are committed to making nearly everything in-house: bread baked fresh daily, in-house-cured bacon, house-smoked salmon, hand-made sausages, pickles, and ferments. The result is food that's deeply flavourful and deeply considered, drawing on the finest local, ethically raised produce and sustainably caught seafood.

On Sundays, Highwater opens for brunch and lunch — perfect for a relaxed Mother's Day celebration. The weekend brunch menu offers both full dishes and build-your-own options, while the shareable dinner menu (Tuesday to Saturday evenings) is ideal for a longer, more celebratory occasion if Mum prefers an evening out. Menu highlights include fresh oysters, long-line snapper crudo, Wagyu tartare, charcoal-grilled flounder, and Te Mana lamb shoulder.

✨ Best for: A thoughtful, flavour-forward dining experience in Wellington's best casual-fine setting

🍽️ Must-try: Fresh oysters, charcoal-grilled flounder, and the meringue dessert — reviewers rave about it

For the mum who loves all-day dining, beautiful wine, and a buzzy, welcoming atmosphere

Floriditas has been a Wellington institution for years — and with good reason. Situated in the heart of Cuba Street, this smart, comfortable café-restaurant has perfected the art of feeding people exceptionally well from breakfast through to late in the evening. There's a warmth to Floriditas that makes everyone feel at home, whether you're popping in for a leisurely brunch with the family or settling in for a long, unhurried lunch.

The menu draws inspiration from the Mediterranean, allowing New Zealand's wonderful seasonal produce to shine through clean, direct flavours. Think beautifully made coffee, seasonal vegetable dishes, excellent charcuterie, and a thoughtfully curated wine list spanning all of New Zealand's key regions alongside international selections. With 40 wines available by the glass, there's something for every palate — and every toast to Mum.

Floriditas is open seven days, all day, making it wonderfully flexible for Mother's Day gatherings of all shapes and sizes.

✨ Best for: A relaxed, convivial celebration with great food and even better wine

🍽️ Must-try: Seasonal produce dishes, beautiful counter food, and a glass (or two) from the impressive wine list

For the mum who loves a true garden-to-table experience

If ever there was a restaurant that feels like it was made for Mother's Day, it's Riverstone Kitchen. Located 15 minutes north of Ōamaru on the family farm of chef and author Bevan Smith, Riverstone is one of New Zealand's most treasured regional dining destinations — and one that makes the journey entirely worthwhile.

The setting alone is something special: vast, vibrant kitchen gardens surround the restaurant on all sides, with espaliered pear trees lining the car park, berry thickets, fresh herbs at every turn, and — just beyond — Dot's Castle and its glorious floral gardens. The dining room itself is anchored by a handsome fireplace built from local river stones, and the relaxed, café-style atmosphere makes it equally perfect for a family lunch or a quieter, more intimate occasion.

The menu changes with the seasons, always built around what's coming out of the garden that day. Expect dishes like hot-smoked local salmon with fresh greens and Jersey Benne potatoes, zucchini fritti, and beautifully simple preparations that let New Zealand's best ingredients speak for themselves. Riverstone is also wonderfully family-friendly, with a children's play area and a menu that caters for all ages and dietary needs.

Riverstone is open Thursday to Monday for breakfast and lunch, with dinner service Friday and Saturday. Mother's Day on Sunday, makes this the perfect place for a long, gorgeous lunch.

✨ Best for: A magical, unhurried garden dining experience — the kind that feeds the soul as much as the stomach

🍽️ Must-try: Hot-smoked local salmon, seasonal vegetable dishes, and anything with produce straight from the garden

For the mum who deserves a full island adventure with her meal

There are dining experiences, and then there's The Heke. Set on four acres of beautiful gardens on Waiheke Island, this relaxed restaurant and craft distillery and brewery is the kind of place that turns a Sunday lunch into a full-day celebration. Chefs here cook over glowing wood fires, filling the air with the kind of aromas that make you feel immediately at ease, and the sprawling outdoor setting — with gardens, a tasting room, and that distinctly Waiheke sense of time slowing down — is simply stunning.

Getting to Waiheke is part of the joy: the Fullers ferry from downtown Auckland takes just 35 minutes, and the whole excursion has a wonderful sense of occasion. Once you arrive, The Heke is a genuinely special space — great for families, groups, and anyone who wants to give Mum more than just a meal but a full experience to savour.

With live music, outdoor seating, and a craft beverage selection that's well worth exploring, The Heke is ideally suited for exactly this kind of occasion.

✨ Best for: Making Mother's Day into a real adventure — ferry, gardens, fire-cooked food, and craft drinks

🍽️ Must-try: Wood-fired dishes from the kitchen, seasonal shared plates, and something cold from the brewery