CHEESELOVERS NZ ROAD TRIP
Exploring New Zealand's Finest Cheese Shops
Embark on a cheese lover's dream journey through New Zealand, from North Otago in the south to Northland at the top of the country. Each stop promises a delightful tasting experience and a chance to discover the passion behind the country's finest cheeses. Here's your guide to visiting Aotearoa’s cheese shops run by the country’s finest award-winning cheesemakers.
SOUTH ISLAND
Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli, Oamaru
Located in the charming historic town of Oamaru, North Otago. Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli is a restaurant featuring dishes made with Whitestone Cheese co-located with a deli offering a delightful selection of artisan cheese and accompaniments. Founded by Bob and Sue Berry, Whitestone Cheese Company has been crafting artisan cheeses since 1987 and has garnered a reputation for producing high-quality, award-winning cheeses.
Whitestone Cheese, Diner & Deli; 69 Thames Highway, Oamaru North, Oamaru
Geraldine Cheese Company; 76 Talbot Street, Geraldine
Geraldine Cheese Company, Geraldine
Geraldine Cheese Company was established by Paul Fitzsimons and Angela Veale, a duo passionate about crafting exceptional cheeses. Partners in life and cheese, they have dedicated themselves to producing artisan cheeses of the highest quality. The Geraldine Cheese Company shop boasts an impressive selection of cheeses, each handcrafted with care using locally sourced milk and traditional cheesemaking, to showcase the unique flavours of New Zealand terroir.
Barrys Bay Cheese Shop, Akaroa
Barrys Bay Cheese has been crafting cheese on Banks Peninsula since its first factory was built in 1895. Today Barrys Bay Cheese Factory offers a shop filled with their award-winning cheese. One of the more unique aspects of their factory is the viewing window where customers watch cheesemaking. Barrys Bay offer tastings every day so people can try their cheeses and take in the history attributed to their signature cheese flavours.
Barrys Bay Cheese; 5807 Christchurch Akaroa Road, Duvauchelle
The Junction Shop, 151 McShane Road, Appleby
The Junction Shop, Nelson
From the team behind Thorvald’s sheep milk products and Little River Estate, Nelson’s The Junction Shop has a simple philosophy - ‘support New Zealand cheesemakers by promoting local and featuring the unique flavours of NZ cheese’. Their skilled team showcases an exciting array of artisan NZ cheese. Most of the shop’s produce is locally sourced and they encourage customers to try before they buy and cut cheese fresh from the wheel. They pride themselves on selling cheese when it’s perfectly ripe, and are often asked to choose what is good today by customers who trust their knowledge
The Cranky Pantry, Blenhiem
Created by the Lamb family, the team behind Marlborough boutique cheeses brands Cranky Goat and Mooody Cow., the Cranky Pantry offers a selection of premium New Zealand artisan produce. In addition to the complete range of Cranky Goat and Mooody Cow the cheese counter contains the finest from around the country including; Mahoe, Meyer Cheese, Little River Estate, ViaVio and more.
The Cranky Pantry, 48 Market Street, Blenheim
NORTH ISLAND
C’est Cheese, 19 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston, South Wairarapa
C'est Cheese, Featherston
Tucked away in rural wine region of Wairarapa is C’est Cheese, a destination cheese store that celebrates the craft of Kiwi cheese in all its glory. Experienced cheesemongers Paul Broughton and Rachel Lamb proudly offer one of the largest and most carefully considered collections of New Zealand cheese in the country. The staff cut and wrap over 45,000 pieces of cheese per year, and ensure every piece falls into the hands of customers who will truly love the product they take home. They also make boutique cow milk dairy, Remutaka Pass Creamery.
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay
Rated one of New Zealand’s top cheese stores, the Hōhepa Cheesery in Clive, Hawkes Bay, focuses on whakamana (empowerment), community and sustainability for 180 residents and 150 staff. Every product is handmade, cut by hand and labeled by the people they support working alongside them, so there will be times when the cheese label is crooked or upside down! You can’t get much better than real kiwi produce made with and by true characters with a great story to match.
Hōhepa Farm Shop, 363 SH51, Main Road, Clive 4102
Eltham Cheese Bar, Bridge Street, Eltham
Fonterra's Eltham Cheese Bar is a little - but popular -shop for those in the know to pick up great Kiwi cheese. Cheese lovers often get the inside running with sales of the cheese factory’s new and limited production cheeses. Of course, there are all the Fonterra favourites along with bargains such as offcuts of aged cheddar, underweight camembert, brie and blue cheese and parmesan blocks for a fraction of the supermarket price. There’s also everything you need for a showstopping cheeseboard – from chutneys and fruit pastes, to crackers and other goodies.
Eltham Cheese Bar, 36 Bridge Street, Eltham
Over The Moon Factory Shop. 33 Tirau Street, Putaruru
Over the Moon Dairy, Putaruru
The most important stop on SH 1 on any North Island road trip is not for petrol, it’s for award-winning Kiwi cheese. Over the Moon Dairy's factory tasting room in Putaruru has a tasting room with large windows so you can watch the artisans work their magic as you sample whatever exciting special edition is on offer that day, which we highly recommend!
The Cheese Barn, Thames-Paeroa Highway
Owned and operated by Kelvin and Cathy Haigh The Cheese Barn has been a family business for more than twenty years. Kelvin is the principal cheesemaker, supported by Cathy and a small, dedicated team who assist them in making, packaging and labelling the cheese. When you stop by to pick up their award-winning cheese, stop and enjoy their cafe which is open 7 days
The Cheese Barn, 4 Wainui Road Matatoki 3578
Origin Northland, Waipu
David and Jennifer Rodrigue milk a small herd of goats in the rolling hills of Waipu with Jennifer making award-winning goat cheese under the Belle Chevre Creamery label. Now Belle Chevre Creamery products are sold through their store Origin Northland in the village of Waipu. Origin Northland sources as many products as possible from Northland. Belle Chevre has proven its quality at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards acquiring medals every year since its initial entry - including notable awards in 2022 and 2023.
Origin Northland, 1/51 The Centre, Waipu
Mahoe Cheese, State Highway 10, Pakaraka
Bay of Islands
Mahoe Northland
Mahoe Cheese has been operating as a family business since 1986, after Anna started experimenting with cheesemaking in her home kitchen.
Today, Anna and Bob Rosevear and their sons run Mahoe Cheese. All the milk for Mahoe cheese and yoghurt comes from their herd of about 60 colourful, mixed-breed cows. Mahoe cows graze on the farmland surrounding the cheesery, so their milk isn’t transported – after each milking it goes directly into the cheese vats.
As well as their NZ Champions of Cheese trophy-winning Gouda, Mahoe is known for their yoghurt and quark.
Tips for Your Cheese Lovers Road Trip:
Plan your itinerary to ensure you have enough time to thoroughly enjoy each cheese shop!
Check ahead to ensure they are open, as many don’t trade seven days or public holidays.
Bring a cooler bag to keep your NZ cheese purchases fresh during the journey.
Don't forget to explore the local surroundings and attractions in each destination to enhance your overall experience.