My holiday: Nick Honeyman

Nick Honeyman learned the hard way - he needs his passport to travel.

What was your greatest holiday: That is a hard one, but my latest trip to Japan comes to mind. It was an epic 22-day adventure over 11 cities just eating our way around and learning all about the fascinating Japanese culture.

And the worst: Luckily I can't remember any bad holidays, any time off is always amazing.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing: Most likely you will find me eating and close to the beach. Every trip is planned around food and then the gaps are filled in with activities. I don't really ever like to do nothing and I love the feeling of exploring a new city.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be: Great Barrier Island. It has been on my list for so long and even though it is so close it feels so hard to get to. I would love to check it out.

How about for a dream holiday internationally: A multiple-destination holiday exploring new cities. It would involve plenty of food and sun. You can't beat the south of France and Spain in summer.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling: Turning up to Auckland Airport and handing my passport over to the check-in only to be met with a strange face. I had given them my fiance's passport. I somehow made the round trip home and back to get my passport and managed to get on the flight.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without my ... passport. Lesson learned.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given: Battle jetlag with your meals and sunlight. If it's breakfast time and you're not hungry because it feels like the middle of the night, just force it down as it helps to kick your body clock back in. It seems to work for me.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling: A 15-course meal at Mugaritz in San Sebastian. A beautiful summer's evening in the lush countryside of Spain.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip: My handmade knives from Japan, they're like extended family to me.

Favourite airport to land at: Cape Town, South Africa. I love flying home and when I see Table Mountain outside of the window I always get excited.

What's the next trip you've got planned: Koh Samui in Thailand next March to marry the girl of my dreams.

Nick Honeyman is executive chef at Everybody's Izakaya and the Commons and is one of four top Auckland chefs taking guests on a culinary journey at the launch of Auckland Restaurant Month tomorrow evening. Tickets $95, iTicket.co.nz.