Relax in the country · Matatoki, 10 minutes from Thames
Visit the café, the shop and the animals
A working organic cheese factory, a BYO country café, a gift shop and a paddock full of friendly animals, all in one quiet spot on Wainui Road just off State Highway 26. Watch the cheese being made through the viewing window, then stay for lunch.
✓ Open Tuesday to Sunday
✓ Cooked breakfast Sat & Sun
✓ Dogs welcome outside, on a leash
✓ On the Hauraki Rail Trail
The café
Good coffee, great cheese boards
We use Coffee LaLa, the best organic coffee in the region, alongside cheese boards made with our award-winning cheese, pizzas, homemade pies, sausage rolls and plenty of gluten free options. The café is BYO.
Cooked breakfast is served on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to midday. Dogs are welcome outside on a leash, kept away from the animals.
Bookings and parties
Celebrate with us
Children’s birthday parties can be booked with us. We will arrange a menu, do the birthday cake if you would like, and the birthday kid gets a free ice cream. Please note we are closed on Mondays.
Bringing a big group? A booking is appreciated. We also host cheese tastings, talks, and tea and coffee by arrangement for groups and clubs of 20 or more.
For café bookings and group visits, email Cathy at info@thecheesebarn.co.nz or call 07 868 1284.
Sorry, we can’t run factory tours for hygiene reasons, but there is a viewing window. Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to see cheese being made.
A veritable zoo
Meet the locals at the animal farm
Kids and adults love saying hello to the animals. Come and meet our alpacas, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and birds, and Pippin the friendly goat.
Getting here
You can bike here too
The Hauraki Rail Trail runs 30 metres down Wainui Road at the back of the farm. Park your car and ride from here, you are very welcome. Drivers, we are on Wainui Road just off SH26, ten minutes south of Thames. We also allow up to two campervans to park overnight in the car park for $15 a night.
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday to Sunday | 9am to 3pm |
| Cooked breakfast | Saturday and Sunday, 9am to midday |
We stay open until 4pm from Labour weekend to the end of April, and close at 3pm over winter.
The Cheese Barn at Matatoki
4 Wainui Road, Matatoki 3578
Thames to Paeroa Highway (SH26), about 5km south of Kopu
07 868 1284
info@thecheesebarn.co.nz