Our Story

We are an urban mushroom farm based in the heart of beautiful Queenstown, in the Wakatipu Basin.

Remarkable Fungi was established in 2021 by local chef Darren Lynch. While working in the kitchen, Darren noticed that the mushrooms he was ordering were being shipped from other regions of New Zealand. After some research, he discovered there was no local mushroom grower in the Wakatipu Basin. With a green thumb and a passion for horticulture, he decided to give mushroom growing a go. He cleared out his spare bedroom, set up a small grow tent, and Remarkable Fungi was born.

Over the following years, the business grew in incredible ways. What began in a small spare bedroom has expanded into a dedicated warehouse, now producing up to a tonne of mushrooms each month. Remarkable Fungi works alongside local council and businesses to help reduce organic waste going to landfill. We collect coffee grounds from local cafés, hotels, and restaurants, bring them back to our farm, and transform them into fresh, nutritious mushrooms. All of our spawn and substrate production is done right here on site - we’re firm believers in keeping it local and knowing your farmers.

In February 2026, Remarkable Fungi began an exciting new chapter under the ownership of Tim and Fran. Kiwi winemakers from the North Island who fell in love with Queenstown and the Wakatipu Basin over several years of winemaking in the region. They are now bringing their knowledge of wine science, fermentation, and viticulture to growing exceptional mushrooms, continuing Darren’s vision of locally grown gourmet mushrooms and nurturing the strong community connections Remarkable Fungi has built.

Remarkable Fungi offer an array of fresh gourmet mushrooms, dried mushrooms, grow kits, and powders. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the amazing support of our local businesses and customers - thank you for being part of our journey. Follow along on Instagram to see what we’re growing, cooking, and creating @remarkablefungi.