Tastings · Putāruru
Over the Moon Dairy, Putāruru
Over the Moon Dairy's factory and deli at 33 Tirau Street, Putāruru, gives free tastings of its cheeses whenever it is open: Monday 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm and weekends 10am to 4pm. You can watch cheese being made through the factory window if you time it right. A booked Talk and Taste costs $10 a person on Fridays at 10:30am.
- Tastings
- Free
- Hours
- Mon 10am to 5pm, Tue to Fri 9:30am to 5pm, Sat and Sun 10am to 4pm
- Talk and Taste
- Fridays 10:30am, $10
- Where
- 33 Tirau Street (SH1), Putāruru
What You Can Do
Over the Moon has made specialty cheese in Putāruru since 2007, from cow, goat, sheep and buffalo milk, and claims the widest range of any New Zealand maker. The tasting room offers a selection of the cheeses free of charge, and a window looks into the factory where they are made. The shop sells the full range along with crackers, chutneys and cheesemaking equipment. The cheesemaking schedule changes, so phone +64 7 883 8238 if seeing the vat matters to you.
Talk and Taste
A presentation on the business and how the cheese is made, followed by a tasting of four cheeses. It runs on Fridays at 10:30am and costs $10 a person, with a minimum charge of $80 (eight people), so it suits groups best. A halloumi-making demonstration can be added for $150 per group and takes another 45 minutes. Book online up to a week ahead. The session is held in an upstairs room reached by 20 steps; groups over 25 should get in touch first.
Cheesemaking Workshops
Hands-on workshops of three to four hours teach you to make halloumi, camembert or feta, which you take home. They run by special arrangement for groups of four to eight. Bring a container, an apron and a pen.
Getting There
The factory is on State Highway 1 as it runs through Putāruru, in the South Waikato, so it is an easy stop between Hamilton and Rotorua or Taupō. On Sunday mornings from 8am to noon Over the Moon also has a stall at the Hamilton Farmers Market, at The Barn, Claudelands Event Centre.
Further north, The Cheese Barn at Matatoki near Thames is the other North Island stop with a viewing window.
Where to Stay near Putāruru
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Questions People Ask
Are tastings free at Over the Moon Dairy?
Yes. When the shop is open, it offers free tastings of a selection of its cheeses in the cheese room.
Can you watch cheese being made at Over the Moon?
Yes, through the factory window, if you visit while the cheesemakers are working. The schedule varies, so call ahead.
Does Over the Moon run cheesemaking classes?
Yes, three to four hour halloumi, camembert or feta workshops by special arrangement for groups of four to eight.
Official site: overthemoondairy.co.nz/pages/experience. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese tastings.