Chocolate and Coffee Festival

The Chocolate and Coffee Festival takes over the Viaduct Events Centre for two days, with more than 60 exhibitors pouring, dipping, and offering up samples of handcrafted chocolate, specialty coffee, and gourmet treats.

It's the kind of event where kids make a beeline for the chocolate stalls while grown-ups linger over a specialty brew, and everyone works their way around at their own pace. Show specials mean there's plenty of reason to go beyond the free tastes.

The focus is firmly on New Zealand's craft food scene, making it a good way to discover local makers in one place.