We’d risen early this particular morning in New Zealand, 6.15am to be exact in order to make a whale watching expedition in Kaikoura. It turns out we were extremely lucky. After downing an anti sea sickness tablet we set off and saw 3 Sperm whales and a large group of 500 dolphins. All very exciting but you know what I was thinking about right? Yes that’s right, lunch. Well, you know me right?
Once I was back on land I felt better and my appetite returned (I never lose my appetite for long). Kaikoura is literally the Maori words for Eat Crayfish or Lobster. Specifically Kai=Eat, Koura=Crayfish. So it’s no surprise that crayfish is offered everywhere. Nin’s Bin however holds a special place in the heart for many. Set 20 minutes North of Kaikoura on the most breathtaking drive you’ll ever make with calender picture after calender picture of stunning ocean vista, you round the corner and see the signs for Nin’s Bin.
Since the mid 1970’s Nin’s Bin has sat there, in front of the amazingly gorgeous teal green ocean. Iconic doesn’t even begin to describe it and interesting there are only 2 things on the menu. Crayfish and mussels. Nothing else and little more aside from sauces to accompany these. And it is possibly the best place to eat in the area due to the freshness of the cryafish, surprisingly reasonable price and the view. Oh yes the view.
Not a painting on the wall, but a window showcasing the view
The crayfish with prices on tails
The crayfish are priced according to weight with prices written on the tails and we select a small one for $35NZD. They can cook it with garlic butter or you can have it fresh with a sauce and I opt for the latter as the former involves cooking it again. The friendly girl behind the counter mentions that she’ll leave the roe on and I’m delighted to hear this. Usually, no matter where you go, they remove the roe and use it in cooking. Here, we get it all. My husband orders the dozen NZ green lip mussels cooked in white wine for $12NZD which takes about 10 minutes to cook.
With a large guillotine, she slices my crayfish in half and plates it for me and I sit down on one of the outside tables and dig in. The tables are rustic but this adds to the other wordly retro charm of the caravan and the home made garden surroundings.
Fresh crayfish $35NZD
The flesh is tender and sweet, the flesh fresh, not frozen. It’s unspeakably good and paired with the view, unbeatable.
NZ Green Lipped mussel $12NZD
My husband’s mussels arrive and he adores these and after eating them all goes in to order a second batch. I on the other hand, am contentedly eating the lobster and whilst I usually don’t eat the legs (I find them a bit too fiddly and not worth the effort) I painstakingly take each and every leg apart and remove the pink flesh. You see a view like this doesn’t warrant any hurrying at all.
Nin’s Bin
20 minutes North of Kaikoura
Open: Summer 8am-6pm
Winter: 8:30-5.30pm
Eftpos and Visa accepted
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
31 Comments | Add your own
very cute (and very practical!) re the prices written on the tails. i’m suffering major seafood envy reading all of your NZ posts!
Seafood seems to be top notch in NZ. Ive seen this place on a calendar of NZ so I am really glad you got a chance to photograph and visit it.
This place looks so cool! =) I so want to go there on my NZ trip!!!
I wouldn’t hurry eating with a view like that either!
What a beautiful place. Love the window framing the view.
With these gorgeous seafood posts I think you’ve given me the information I needed to finally convince hubby to take me to NZ.
Oh I remember eating here too! Although – I never had any roe. In fact I think I’ve only ever had crab roe – is lobster roe much the same?
I just like the pictures. It’s so great!
Is everything super-sized in New Zealand? First the huge oysters and now the huge crayfish tails! The roe is such a vivid coral… I am hungry now, and it is bedtime.
And I’ve never seen green-lipped mussels before. They’re really quite special. (You could make wonderful jewellery out of the shells…)
You find the best places!
ahhh Kaikoura, so many memories…I won’t eat crayfish or mussels, can’t stand the taste, but I remember having excellent blue grenadier “slabs” at one of the fish & chip shops, and our first ever kumara chips! And the view…we went in winter 2004, snow capped mountains creeping into the aqua blue ocean…breathtaking!
I love the view. It’s good the way they’ve specialised too. They must be serious about their lobster!
*sigh* that looks just divine. it’s the simple things sometimes, that are the best
Wow, I can’t think of a more perfect setting to enjoy fresh seafood. I’m planning a trip to NZ and Tassie and you’re giving me some great ideas here
Formidable! I visited here many years ago and was enchanted. So lovely to see your images which awaken my memories. Merci!
That made me hungry! I love the idea of putting the prices on the tails… adorable!
I know this is a food blog, but with your great photog skills, I would’ve loved to have seen some of your whale & dolphin shots!
I have never had crayfish before, and I haven’t had lobster since I was 16-17 maybe. Not for a while now.
All the food looks heavenly, and is getting me in the mood for seafood.
The place looks gorgeous.
Well oysters aren’t my thing – crayfish sure are. Those look so succulent and juicy – what a treat!
What gorgeous photos – I am so jealous – I wanna be there!
Hee hee I understand! Food is always on the brain
Ahhh the view is so serene *at peace*
what an awesome name, and hello! it’s a freakin’ trailer–you can’t get more down-home than that! and the view, of course, is amazing.
Seeing that first image, I just immediately want to go there. I love small quirky places like that. Great stuff!
Just beautiful. You always take the nicest pictures, so I can pretend I am there. Food didn’t look so bad either. ; )
Saw your comment on A Duck in Her Pond last week when the Blonde Duck was gracious enough to let me post for her. Thought it would be fun to stop by and check out your blog. So glad that I did too.
You’ve got some great stuff. Absolutely amazing photos. New Zealand has always been someplace that I wanted to visit. Now I have even more reasons to go.
-Francesca
I’m so jealous! I’m dying to see dolphins!
All I can say…I wish I were there!
Hi shez -I know! No awkward conversations about prices and weighing
I am having some major seafood craving 
Hi Mike-It is I think and very plentiful
Oh cool! My friend has a calender with a painting of Nin’s Bin.
Hi Brianna -Definitely do, it’s a beautiful drive there!
Hi Anita-Hehe I know, I lost track of time that day
Hi michelle l-It looks like a painting or a photo doesn’t it? Oh brilliant, it’s such a gorgeous destination
Hi Forager -Oh cool! Ddid they remove it? Perhaps we were just lucky? I think lobster roe is milder than crab roe:)
Hi Sikantis -hehe thanks!
Hi Angela-haha it seems so doesn’t it! Oh I always forget that you guys have such different seafood. They’re pretty common here
I made sure to research it fully 
Hi Tiffany -Oh yes the omnipresent fish and chips! Although I never did get to try Blue grenadier. The views are truly amazing yes!
Hi Arwen-Me too
Yes nothing but two items, got to love that! 
Hi Reemski-Yep agree, just sitting in front of the ocean eating crayfish was just heaven and a brilliant memory
Hi Karen-sounds like a gorgeous trip!
You’ll have so much fun!
Hi Yvette-you’re welcome! Glad that it brings back some memories
Hi SarahKate-hehe sorry!
Yes it’s so practical!
Hi Blanche -Yes I should put some up. My hubby got some great pics!
Hi ArtemisIII -Do you like crayfish/lobster? I don’t think I could go without both for long
it was heaven!
Hi Esz-These were the nicest I’ve ever had! So sweet and delicate
Hi Cakelaw-Thankyou! Perhaps a good place for a short holiday?
Hi FFichiban -Haha yes food is always top of the list. Along with shopping. The view really makes you forget everything
Hi grace-haha yes I know! People said “Are you sure, it’s just a caravan” and I was nodding enthusiastically
Hi Libby-It’s so iconic and quirky and lacking pretension, I loved it!
Hi Bethie-thankyou so much!
Hehe that’s great I’m so glad you feel that way! 
Hi Francesca-Thanks so much!
I really like the idea of your blog and the three voices 
Thankyou1 if you ever get the chance I’d definitely recommend it 
Hi Blond Duck-We were so amazed to see so many!
Hi cre8ivegirl-It was one of those magical places
I’m so glad you made it to Kaikoura – Nin’s bin really is iconic, but we’ve never eaten there as (maybe I ought not confess this in case I get mobbed) we have a holiday home (or ‘bach’, in New Zealand terminology) just a few minutes south of Nin’s Bin, and my Dad has a tiny boat and a few craypots he puts out whenever he’s there – so we were never allowed to buy crays! I’m loving reading about all your NZ adventures – so often I wish I could visit the places you’ve been and now I can (and in some cases already have!).
I’m used to Louisiana crayfish. They’re little. Yours looks scrumptious.
Hi Rosa-Haha yes you’ll probably be deluged with requests. Lucky you having a holiday home there! After Kaikoura is Nelson and then Christchurch where you were so helpful with the suggestions
Hi Johanna-Are they closer to prawns or shrimp?
Hey, I opened this month’s Marie Claire, and guess where one of their photo locations is?? How funny is that!
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] Crayfish” in the traditional Maori language. You can read more about Nin’s on this great Aussie food blog since Nin’s doesn’t have a website (and doesn’t really need one, [...]
Post a Comment