Forage & Gold

The only thing sweeter than a roadside stall is one selling jars of locally made honey.

Tucked away on Bannockburn Road, just outside of Cromwell, the Forage & Gold honey shed is a true hidden gem, a honey trap, if you will. Open seven days a week from 9am to 6pm, it runs on a simple trust system: pull over, choose your honey, and pay digitally by following the instructions.

Their charming roadside shop opened in 2011, after Zoe and Tim Wood’s honey became an instant hit at the Cromwell Farmers Market. Tim’s love of beekeeping began early, working alongside his dad in Cromwell and developing a deep appreciation for bees and the natural world. When Zoe began bottling small batches of their liquid gold, Forage & Gold was born.

In tune with nature and drawing on beekeeping wisdom passed down through the family, Forage & Gold takes special care to keep the honey pure and the bees happy. These busy, buzzy workers roam freely, gathering nectar from wild Otago plants to create five distinct honey flavours: Clover, Thyme, Manuka, Vipers Bugloss and Kamahi. The Thyme honey is a standout, a savoury local delicacy with medicinal qualities, made possible by thyme that’s been growing wild in the region since the gold mining days. Each flavour is available in 250g, 500g or 1kg jars, perfect for gifting, or stocking up if you're a superfan.

Proudly packed in glass, because honey is a premium product that deserves better than plastic, Forage & Gold supports a cleaner, more sustainable approach. Once you’ve licked the jar clean, give it a wash and reuse it however you like.

Whether you have it on your toast, swirled into a hot drink, or in baking, life sure is sweeter with a jar of Forage & Gold in your pantry. Not in Central Otago? No problem, their online store ships nationwide.