Whitestone Cheese Deli & Diner

Whitestone Cheese opened its doors in 1987 in an old Ōamaru mechanic shop with one part-time cheesemaker. All these years on and the business produces 25 different kinds of cheese with a team of 75 strong.

In 2023, Whitestone converted the old Tui Tearooms on Thames Highway into a retro deli and diner, arguably making it the cutest cheese destination for miles. The project was led by Annabel, wife of managing director Simon Berry, who applied her interior design expertise to create a scrumptious Wes Anderson-esque setting. From the orange and white awning to the blushing pink walls and baby blue booths, everything is *chef’s kiss*.

Unsurprisingly, the menu is a celebration of Whitestone’s cheese range. Breakfast time sees appearances from feta and halloumi alongside eggs and bagels (best washed down with a tall milkshake topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream), while the all-day menu is packed with classic toasties, diner burgers and sharing plates to enjoy at lunchtime or dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. The new location also houses an extensive deli and store, so visitors can shop their favourite cheeses as well as complementary products for at-home platters and fun merchandise for hardcore fans.

Keen to geek out about the artisan cheesemaking process? The team also offers two-hour ‘homage to fromage’ tours of the factory on Torridge Street, covering the history of cheese dating back to the time nomadic shepherds made the first discovery, as well as an up-close look at the different stages, including curdling, moulding, de-hopping, brining, salting and cutting. And yes, there’s lots of opportunities to taste along the way.

Whitestone Cheese ranges from soft white to silky smooth blues and fresh feta. Nowadays, these cheeses are enjoyed all over New Zealand and win awards at international cheese shows across the globe (heck, they’ve even featured at the Oscars and on the set of Scrubs). Even after so much success, Whitestone cheese is still made with what the team considers to be the very best raw material in the world, North Otago milk. All the different types, like the ever-popular Windsor Blue, are named for the Waitaki region’s landmarks and icons as a salute to the terroir.