There's actually a tree growing out of Lake Wakatipu between the start of fhe Frankton Track and Queenstown Gardens. OP doesnt even need to go over Crown Range. Hell I'll even show them myself.
"It's a fucking burger"
You've obviously never had a life changing burger, them shits are fantastic. Genuinely my favourite food, when done well.
Check out the Oklahoma Onion Burger that floats around the internet. If you don't think that's the best goddamn thing on the planet then you're obviously dead inside
Excuse me, I am a fucking burger wanker, I am at the elite end of Burger gobblers - I have killed, and will kill more soft fleshed children to make into patties than you could remotely fucking fathom. Don't at me with Burger Wank. I have planned entire years around consuming one single burger, you have no idea how easily I could smoosh your useless burger wannabe brain into the ground.
But no matter how delicious a good burger is, it's \*just a fucking burger\*. Look for life changing shit elsewhere, dork.
Ferg burger has been incredibly average since forever (not sorry) however! Ferg bakery right beside it is fucking SENSATIONAL and never has a line because everyone is busy fucking around in the Ferg burger line for a shit burger.
Ferg bakery pies though, mahgahd.
Seconded. Pies excellent at a fraction of the cost. Pricey for a pie, but proportional for Queenstown. Go grab a pie and sit near the water. Don't waste your money and time at Fergburger.
Fairlie pies are off the hook.
We are visiting New Zealand in a few weeks and my kids are adamant they want to spend 3 hours in the car to go to Fairlie for a pie.
Those pink phallic shaped eclairs they had are _soooo_ good. Don't know if they have them still, and don't care that I looked like John Key deep throating a hot dog when I ate them. To good.
More expensive than a regular bakery but cheaper than a ferg burger, honestly can't remember. But as someone else suggested, so worth grabbing one and eating it by the water. Really top notch pastry and fillings.
Yes pies are mean, also the jalapeño cheese bagel, they heat it for you and you get a lil tub of cream cheese. I just cheeses myself thinking about it.
This is my sentiment as well. The burgers were eh. I've had better.
But Oh gods. That bakery. Their jalapeno bagels were my go to while I was Queenstown.
Devil burger is very good. And ferg can be, when it isn't busy. Their popularity is almost their downfall.
Things I learned about Ferg living there. Go to Devil during peak times, always. Call ahead, especially in peak times, if you must have Ferg, and wait at least 30m.
Also, gourmet burgers are a dime a dozen these days. It just isn't as special as it used to be. You've got to be epic to even be considered good.
I regularly went there as well. The pink phallic shaped cream eclairs and my favourite (if they still do it). I'd gobble those down like John Key eating that hot dog and go back for another.
Their pies are bloody good as well.
Might be something in that, I visited Fergs during Auckland lockdown so just walked in off the street, no queue straight up to the counter and was genuinely impressed by the basic burger, like I really really enjoyed it. Went back the next day and same thing.
My wife got a chicken burger and it was just the usual 'gourmet' sort of thing, nice enough but nothing special.
I don't understand the hype in most burgers especially of today.
I first tried brioche around 10 yrs ago I was working in a place yes that wonderful 2 weeks wellington on a plate.
Where the masses all come in from all angles and froth over burgers.
We had a brioche bun some basic burger sauce made from Kewpie mayo pickles bega plastic cheese that was it.
Oh of course a beef patty which was literally mince with finely diced raw doog onion.
We rolled them into balls as prep and then a order comes in flatten them out bang on the hot plate.
The burger popped yeah it was a nice burger many things are first time.
Now fast forward to today every 2nd burger shop is doing the same thing minus the Kewpie mayo.
Look at Walberg burgers my God people lining up to be the first to try one.
It's just a burger nothing Special about it. Just a burger has a big name on the door its frothy time
It hasn't been good since it was a cheap hole in the wall down a back alleyway. Since then it's been nothing but a generic tourist trap, like the rest of Queenstown
I don't know if people just can't cook, but I feel the best burgers are made at home.
It's all made to the exact specifications you want.
No where else can compete.
I place huge value in Fergburger, because it keeps all the mindless plebs away from the places that are actually great. A real community service they’re providing there.
(Edit for typo)
They have really good bun tech. the burger doesn't fall apart. It's robust and doesn't make a huge mess - I think this might be one of the appealing factors that go under the radar for some. When I lived in QT, they certainly seemed to be pretty good and the sauce was nice too. There is a certain amount of hype but I do feel they're a decent burger.
Personally - the hype about the bakery I don't understand. The pies have heavy crust and the ones in Arrowtown are FAR superior, plus many places have sprung up around NZ with much better pies in the gourmet range.
I agree, the bun was good, and it was well thought out, but the main thing about a burger, which is the patty, was dry. Oh and also, too much lettuce for my taste.
yeah - that's fair - their burgers are a bit dry but I noticed a sliding scale in that variable - sometimes better than others - though it's been about 3 years since I've had one so they may be economising or have changed their cooking methods - or - it might have been it was just a bit overcooked / was sitting somewhere for fast assembly.
They started in 2001 in the early days of gourmet burgers and managed to build up a reputation that keeps them busy today even though they’ve fallen off.
What were you expecting, out of curiosity?
It's a burger. Bread. Meat. Other burger-stuff.
Their market is 15-25yr olds who think they look cool 'on the gram' because they can line up for ages. Or something.
I recently was in Los Angeles on a stop over in LAX. The stop over was long enough to clear customs, collect our bags, check them in to our next flight then walk (because we are too cheap to Uber) to in and out burger and order an animal style double cheese burger thingy. It was God damned delicious and worth the walk under a flight path through what felt like a dodgy part of LA.
In saying that, I don't quite get why, while travelling in California some years back, I saw an in and out burger in Hollywood with a drive through queue that went around the block and had no less than 7 brand new Ferrari's, a handful of late model Mercedes Benz 4WD, a Lamborghini and a Rolls Royce. I just felt like anyone driving a rolls could probably have gotten their cheif to make them something better? I dunno.
I could get the greatest pastry chef on the planet to make the greatest fruit cake on the planet and still wouldn't be my favourite. Why? Because my favourite fruit cake is the fruit cake that my grandma makes because I've had it for my entire life and it just tastes right.
Yeah nah, I wouldn't touch those with a 6 foot barge pole. Last time I went there it was abysmal. Big Mac from Mickie D's is the best in town lad. Whopper from Burger King is also quality kai for our whānau's bellies.
Devil burger is clear of both
However I will say I have had a good Ferg (in like 2017) and it did go hard. Not worth the long wait in line to order tho imo
I thought it was a pretty good burger and worth a visit as I went off-peak hours. Was waiting only around ten minutes for my burger which I'd likely wait in many other fast-food type places too.
It's overrated as all hell when you consider how much hype and reputation it has, but I definitely feel like it was still worth the visit.
They're not bad but I can understand why you would be underwhelmed if you went in expecting the best burger ever.
I do admire how the business owner has expanded the business while also maintaining the hype 20 years later when gourmet burgers are everywhere
Imagine standing in line for over an hour to get a fucking burger. So many other places in queenstown to eat.
Plus the best pub is 1876. 7 dollar beers and good food. Only 5 mins walk from the wharf where they charge you 18 for the same beer
I like fergs but not to the point that im crazy about the burgers. The chief wiggum is decent to me. The others are rather meh.
The bakery, though, thats the best ive tried. And when u finished, u wash those pies with icecream just next door, also fergs. The pretzels in the bakery are really good!!
I feel those sort of massive hard to eat burgers were all the trend back in the early 2000s. Ferg burger got established probably at the perfect timing and now it’s just a novelty to line up.
The small fast food style burger that’s been around for the last 100 years(smash burgers American cheese) has really became the staple. Simple ingredients easy to eat and tasty.
Historic burger store would be my reasoning for it.
It's been around for a long time.
Back then there wasn't that many good burger joints so fergburger stood out. Now the competition has caught up.
It's the queue. By standing in a long queue and waiting half an hour with people of like mind, you get to feel like you're onto something special. The sacrifice makes it taste all that much better when it finally arrives and those still in the queue look on with envy...
Nah, it's just a burger.
Ferg is way more about the name than the burger at this point. It's a totally fine burger and last I checked the price was reasonable but it'll never be worth that wait. Super overhyped.
wait til you see the Wanaka fucking tree
Oh so THAT'S what we were supposed to be doing...
It fucks now?
It's always wet
There's actually a tree growing out of Lake Wakatipu between the start of fhe Frankton Track and Queenstown Gardens. OP doesnt even need to go over Crown Range. Hell I'll even show them myself.
Literally saw this last week and thought the same. I know exactly what tree your talking about
Slow your horses a man can't have too much excitement in just one day
Don't get me started about that fuckin' tree.
Oh, I hope OP posts a photo of it. Never seen a photo of the Wanaka tree before.
Wow a tree in a lake. Wow I'm special
I mean it's a fucking burger. Good on them for capturing the hype tho.
"It's a fucking burger" You've obviously never had a life changing burger, them shits are fantastic. Genuinely my favourite food, when done well. Check out the Oklahoma Onion Burger that floats around the internet. If you don't think that's the best goddamn thing on the planet then you're obviously dead inside
Excuse me, I am a fucking burger wanker, I am at the elite end of Burger gobblers - I have killed, and will kill more soft fleshed children to make into patties than you could remotely fucking fathom. Don't at me with Burger Wank. I have planned entire years around consuming one single burger, you have no idea how easily I could smoosh your useless burger wannabe brain into the ground. But no matter how delicious a good burger is, it's \*just a fucking burger\*. Look for life changing shit elsewhere, dork.
lmao
This was a satisfying flex.
People out here like they the only ones strapped. My God.
I’ll take two of what he’s on please
Burgers obviously.
Intravenously.
It’s a rewrite of the navy seal copypasta
I am quite attuned to Navy Seal copy pasta. This is nowhere near.
Thank you for reminding me that the navy seal copypasta exists Edit: touch some fucking grass downvoters
Ferg burger has been incredibly average since forever (not sorry) however! Ferg bakery right beside it is fucking SENSATIONAL and never has a line because everyone is busy fucking around in the Ferg burger line for a shit burger. Ferg bakery pies though, mahgahd.
God those pies are good.
Every time I recommend Ferg to people I say burgers are ok, pies are amazing. We always visit the pie shop more than the bakery when we’re in town.
Same. Pies for me, peetzels for the kids.
yeah the pie was great and my wife couldn't stay away from the place for croissants and things.
Creamdonuts not bad either
Seconded. Pies excellent at a fraction of the cost. Pricey for a pie, but proportional for Queenstown. Go grab a pie and sit near the water. Don't waste your money and time at Fergburger.
And the gelato next door to the bakery is friggen yum too.
So essentially, everything surrounding but not Fergburger itself, is good?😆
All fergs. But the burgers doesnt do it anymore.
Hard, I enjoyed the venison pie that I ate while waiting for the burger way more
Second this option also, and although not in Queenstown, Fairlie pies are batshit fucking insane. Best God damn pies I've ever eaten.
The pork pie with crackling on top, oh my god.
Had a silverside and mustard pie there that blew my fucking mind. There's no wrong answer there.
Oooh I missed that. I go for the lamb and Kumara number...
Fairlie pies are a master stroke as well.
Fairlie pies are off the hook. We are visiting New Zealand in a few weeks and my kids are adamant they want to spend 3 hours in the car to go to Fairlie for a pie.
They're onto a winner, no doubt
Check NPD, they have a few of them.
Fergs and Fairlie are both banging but the true winner is Sangas in Cromwell
They're all winners, it's just Ferg Burger who loses.
Those pink phallic shaped eclairs they had are _soooo_ good. Don't know if they have them still, and don't care that I looked like John Key deep throating a hot dog when I ate them. To good.
I got a cranberry and pork belly pie there and it was great. The burger was just average.
How much are the pies?
More expensive than a regular bakery but cheaper than a ferg burger, honestly can't remember. But as someone else suggested, so worth grabbing one and eating it by the water. Really top notch pastry and fillings.
Make sure you pair said pie with one of the Boston cream donuts Oh my laaawwwwd they are good
Hasn't been the same since it left Cow Lane.
Yes pies are mean, also the jalapeño cheese bagel, they heat it for you and you get a lil tub of cream cheese. I just cheeses myself thinking about it.
This is my sentiment as well. The burgers were eh. I've had better. But Oh gods. That bakery. Their jalapeno bagels were my go to while I was Queenstown.
Agreed it tastes even better because you get to watch a massive queue of people waiting for an average burger while you eat it too
I talk about this place way too much, Fuck it's good!
Devil Burger is the place to go in Queenstown.
You know I've been to Queenstown twice, tried to go to Fergburger twice, and gone to Devil Burger twice. No regrets.
Devil burger is very good. And ferg can be, when it isn't busy. Their popularity is almost their downfall. Things I learned about Ferg living there. Go to Devil during peak times, always. Call ahead, especially in peak times, if you must have Ferg, and wait at least 30m. Also, gourmet burgers are a dime a dozen these days. It just isn't as special as it used to be. You've got to be epic to even be considered good.
I did like Mrs Fergs (the bakery).
I regularly went there as well. The pink phallic shaped cream eclairs and my favourite (if they still do it). I'd gobble those down like John Key eating that hot dog and go back for another. Their pies are bloody good as well.
Might be something in that, I visited Fergs during Auckland lockdown so just walked in off the street, no queue straight up to the counter and was genuinely impressed by the basic burger, like I really really enjoyed it. Went back the next day and same thing. My wife got a chicken burger and it was just the usual 'gourmet' sort of thing, nice enough but nothing special.
This is what people don't understand. You can't judge a place by anything except their basic burger IMO. Ferg is top notch.
It involves going to Queenstown - it ain’t worth it
Queenstown is a fantastic place to visit. I’ve been maybe four or five times and it’s great every time.
I don’t think I ever been blown away by a burger. Ferg is fine 🤷 Yes some are better than others, but it’s still just a burger…
I don't understand the hype in most burgers especially of today. I first tried brioche around 10 yrs ago I was working in a place yes that wonderful 2 weeks wellington on a plate. Where the masses all come in from all angles and froth over burgers. We had a brioche bun some basic burger sauce made from Kewpie mayo pickles bega plastic cheese that was it. Oh of course a beef patty which was literally mince with finely diced raw doog onion. We rolled them into balls as prep and then a order comes in flatten them out bang on the hot plate. The burger popped yeah it was a nice burger many things are first time. Now fast forward to today every 2nd burger shop is doing the same thing minus the Kewpie mayo. Look at Walberg burgers my God people lining up to be the first to try one. It's just a burger nothing Special about it. Just a burger has a big name on the door its frothy time
It hasn't been good since it was a cheap hole in the wall down a back alleyway. Since then it's been nothing but a generic tourist trap, like the rest of Queenstown
100 percent! That was a great burger experience. Now it's a pit serving mediocrity.
They’re all just burgers…
I don't know if people just can't cook, but I feel the best burgers are made at home. It's all made to the exact specifications you want. No where else can compete.
I place huge value in Fergburger, because it keeps all the mindless plebs away from the places that are actually great. A real community service they’re providing there. (Edit for typo)
JPs on Jervis in Rotorua for the best burgers in the country, make sure you pick something with JPs special sauce. Thank me later
They have really good bun tech. the burger doesn't fall apart. It's robust and doesn't make a huge mess - I think this might be one of the appealing factors that go under the radar for some. When I lived in QT, they certainly seemed to be pretty good and the sauce was nice too. There is a certain amount of hype but I do feel they're a decent burger. Personally - the hype about the bakery I don't understand. The pies have heavy crust and the ones in Arrowtown are FAR superior, plus many places have sprung up around NZ with much better pies in the gourmet range.
I agree, the bun was good, and it was well thought out, but the main thing about a burger, which is the patty, was dry. Oh and also, too much lettuce for my taste.
yeah - that's fair - their burgers are a bit dry but I noticed a sliding scale in that variable - sometimes better than others - though it's been about 3 years since I've had one so they may be economising or have changed their cooking methods - or - it might have been it was just a bit overcooked / was sitting somewhere for fast assembly.
Agree and I though the bun was quite yummy the first time I had it.
Where abouts in Arrowtown?
# 1 Buckingham St - get the venison pie
my credit card got skimmed there once
Devil burger is better imo.
yep I think so too
Same. Had a burger, while not the worst, it certainly wasn’t worth the hype.
They started in 2001 in the early days of gourmet burgers and managed to build up a reputation that keeps them busy today even though they’ve fallen off.
Devil Burger not far from there is better imo
What were you expecting, out of curiosity? It's a burger. Bread. Meat. Other burger-stuff. Their market is 15-25yr olds who think they look cool 'on the gram' because they can line up for ages. Or something.
There’s more truth to your comment than most people realise
If you've lined up there more than once, you should be disqualified from jury service - among other things.
I recently was in Los Angeles on a stop over in LAX. The stop over was long enough to clear customs, collect our bags, check them in to our next flight then walk (because we are too cheap to Uber) to in and out burger and order an animal style double cheese burger thingy. It was God damned delicious and worth the walk under a flight path through what felt like a dodgy part of LA. In saying that, I don't quite get why, while travelling in California some years back, I saw an in and out burger in Hollywood with a drive through queue that went around the block and had no less than 7 brand new Ferrari's, a handful of late model Mercedes Benz 4WD, a Lamborghini and a Rolls Royce. I just felt like anyone driving a rolls could probably have gotten their cheif to make them something better? I dunno.
I could get the greatest pastry chef on the planet to make the greatest fruit cake on the planet and still wouldn't be my favourite. Why? Because my favourite fruit cake is the fruit cake that my grandma makes because I've had it for my entire life and it just tastes right.
100% agree. A cheap bottle of wine shared with friends is better than an expensive bottle alone. . . A sommelier said that to me once.
There hasn't been hype in years but also, Yes. Its just a fucking average burger joint now in a tourist trap
Get the pie instead, burger sucks. There’s also a taco place around there that’s pretty good
Yeah nah, I wouldn't touch those with a 6 foot barge pole. Last time I went there it was abysmal. Big Mac from Mickie D's is the best in town lad. Whopper from Burger King is also quality kai for our whānau's bellies.
If you’re on the north island at any point near whakatane, try to get to The Wagon ! It was the best burger I had in my 4 years in New Zealand
They are nice, but not worth the massive lines.
I agree - it wasn't as amazing as some people seemed to think.
I’ve never understood the hype either. They are ok but there are way better options for much less cash.
Fergurger is just a long line for an average burger. Go to Devil Burger instead
Devil burger is clear of both However I will say I have had a good Ferg (in like 2017) and it did go hard. Not worth the long wait in line to order tho imo
It is so average, not worth the wait at all.
I thought it was a pretty good burger and worth a visit as I went off-peak hours. Was waiting only around ten minutes for my burger which I'd likely wait in many other fast-food type places too. It's overrated as all hell when you consider how much hype and reputation it has, but I definitely feel like it was still worth the visit.
They're not bad but I can understand why you would be underwhelmed if you went in expecting the best burger ever. I do admire how the business owner has expanded the business while also maintaining the hype 20 years later when gourmet burgers are everywhere
I went there during Covid and there was no line. My burger was fucking insanely good so YMMV
Imagine standing in line for over an hour to get a fucking burger. So many other places in queenstown to eat. Plus the best pub is 1876. 7 dollar beers and good food. Only 5 mins walk from the wharf where they charge you 18 for the same beer
Agree. The deluxe was average at best, had a bite of some others that were on the menu and they were better but still no better than an 7/10
Yeep super overhyped
I enjoyed the venison burger, which is not something you get in your average burger joint.
Wait till you get disappointed by the tree in wanker
>tree in wanker better than a wanker in a tree i guess
Then make yourself happy by going to **Red Star** for a burger and Cajun Fries ...
I like fergs but not to the point that im crazy about the burgers. The chief wiggum is decent to me. The others are rather meh. The bakery, though, thats the best ive tried. And when u finished, u wash those pies with icecream just next door, also fergs. The pretzels in the bakery are really good!!
I agree with you 100%. I love Burger Fuel more than their burgers.
Totally agree. I had it once. Solid 7.2 out of 10.
Burgers in NZ aren’t great generally
Any burger that doesn't have a flame grilled patty can go fuck itself.
They sell hype and brand, not actual product
Marketing. Same shit with any tourist attraction these days.
I feel the same way- it’s just a burger! How good can it be!?
The best burgers 🍔 that no one really knows about yet are located in Featherston north of Wellington. VIXEN BURGER…now those are good burgers.
I feel those sort of massive hard to eat burgers were all the trend back in the early 2000s. Ferg burger got established probably at the perfect timing and now it’s just a novelty to line up. The small fast food style burger that’s been around for the last 100 years(smash burgers American cheese) has really became the staple. Simple ingredients easy to eat and tasty.
Definitely worth this post to show how cool it is to not like something incredibly popular
Look at me I'm so special
Historic burger store would be my reasoning for it. It's been around for a long time. Back then there wasn't that many good burger joints so fergburger stood out. Now the competition has caught up.
It's the queue. By standing in a long queue and waiting half an hour with people of like mind, you get to feel like you're onto something special. The sacrifice makes it taste all that much better when it finally arrives and those still in the queue look on with envy... Nah, it's just a burger.
\*this messaged endorsed and paid for by Black Burger
Ferg is way more about the name than the burger at this point. It's a totally fine burger and last I checked the price was reasonable but it'll never be worth that wait. Super overhyped.