Factory or dairy visit · Oamaru
Whitestone Cheese Factory Tour
Whitestone Cheese in Oamaru runs a guided factory tour from Tuesday to Friday at 10am. It costs $35, takes about 90 minutes and must be booked. Under-16s go free (two per adult).
- Tour
- Tue to Fri, 10am
- Price
- $35, under-16s free
- Length
- About 90 minutes
- Booking
- Required, no walk-ins
- Diner and Deli
- Tue to Sun 8am to 5pm
The Tour
The tour meets at the Whitestone Diner and Deli at 469 Thames Highway at 10am. From there you are driven to the factory on Torridge Street to look through the viewing galleries, then brought back to the deli for a talk, a tasting with crackers and a goody bag sample. Gluten-free crackers are available on request. Allow 90 minutes.
Prices and Booking
Adults pay $35. Children under 16 go free, up to two per adult, but they do not get their own platter or goody bag; a children's tasting platter costs $15 if you ask before the tour. A 30 ml wine pairing can be added for over-18s. Bookings are compulsory and paid in advance, online or on 0800 892 433. A tour needs at least two adults to run, and groups of more than eight should arrange it in advance.
Before You Go
Photography is not allowed in the factory. The route involves walking and stairs, so it is not wheelchair accessible, and high heels are not permitted.
Diner and Deli
The Diner and Deli sells the full Whitestone range and serves a café menu and cabinet food, open Tuesday to Sunday 8am to 5pm, and Monday 9am to 3pm for cheese and coffee only. You can book a table on Whitestone's website.
Nearby
Evansdale Cheese, with a factory shop at Hawksbury Village, is on State Highway 1 between Oamaru and Dunedin. Heading north, Barrys Bay on Banks Peninsula is the next place to watch cheese being made.
Where to Stay near Oamaru
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Questions People Ask
How much is the Whitestone Cheese factory tour?
$35 per adult, with under-16s free (up to two per adult). It runs Tuesday to Friday at 10am and must be booked.
Can you just turn up for the Whitestone tour?
No. Walk-ins are not accepted, and the tour must be paid for in advance.
Is the Whitestone factory tour wheelchair accessible?
No. It involves walking and stairs.
Official site: whitestonecheese.com/products/factory-tour. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese factory tours.