Heritage + café destinations
Feed your curiosity and your puku! Stop off at these destinations where you can learn about history where it happened, with the added bonus of some delicious kai.
You’re in luck. Aotearoa New Zealand is jam packed with incredible Tohu Whenua heritage sites and many of them have cafes attached or nearby - all great places to feed your curiosity, wairua and passion - and your puku. So start planning your next heritage adventure - check out our top 10 destinations for foodies:
Honey House Café - Kororipo Heritage Park
Kororipo Heritage Park is a dynamic Tohu Whenua site that includes Kororipo Pā, (once the seasonal home of famed and feared Chief Hongi Hika), Te Ahurea (a chance to experience pre-European life), Aotearoa’s oldest building Kemp House and the iconic Stone Store (the oldest stone building in the country). It’s also the home of the Honey House Café; the perfect spot to sit and sip while overlooking the Kerikeri River. Visitors can take their pick from a selection of freshly baked goods, lunch options such as quiche, sandwiches and salads, as well as pies and sausage rolls.
Pompallier Mission and Printery
Visit Pompallier Mission and Printery in Kororāreka/Russell and experience a captivating journey into the legacy of Bishop Pompallier and his French missionaries. Aotearoa New Zealand’s sole surviving pioneer printery and tannery, this unique site displays the missionaries’ influence in introducing Catholicism through the production of written works in te reo Māori. Immerse yourself in the award-winning heritage garden, grab a souvenir at the on-site gift shop, and savor a delightful pastry in the French coffee shop; a homage to Bishop Pompallier and the French missionary presence in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Historic Hayes
A favourite coffee stop for Otago Rail Trail explorers, Historic Hayes offers a chance to explore Ernest Hayes’ engineering workshop and the family homestead and taste some award winning pies! Plan your visit to coincide with a summer-time Operating Day to witness all of the historic workshop machinery come to life.
Hokitika: Hokitika Sandwich Company + Regent Theatre + Thatcher & Small
When you’re on the West Coast a stop in Hokitika, home of pounamu, is a must. Meet master carvers in their working studios and return home with your own taonga – you may even discover a pounamu pebble on the beach. You're spoilt for choice for food options. Hokitika Sandwich Company is famous for it's hearty sandwiches with delicious fillings - be in quick as they often sell out. The heritage-listed Regent Theatre hosts a café with delicious cabinet food and great service. Another gem in Hokitika is Thatcher & Small; a gorgeous café open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pop in for good coffee, craft beer and superb food.
Historic Reefton: Broadway Tearooms and Bakery + Reefton Distilling Co
Nicknamed Quartzopolis and the Town of Light, Reefton was the booming commercial centre of quartz reef gold mining and the first place in the southern hemisphere to supply electric street lighting.Reefton is the home of great coffee, food and service at the Broadway Tearooms and Bakery - established 1874. We also recommend you check out Reefton Distilling Co. The Distilling team repurposed existing historic buildings to house a stillroom, warehouse, bottling hall and office building, which is an important part of their commitment to sustainability. Their Cellar Door and retail store is open 7 days to welcome visitors.
High Tea at Larnach Castle
A visit to Larnach Castle, one of New Zealand’s premier visitor attractions, is a must for all visitors to Dunedin. Explore the castle and extensive gardens on a guided or self-guided tour, and treat yourself to a high tea experience. High Tea is available between 1.30pm and 3pm daily and includes a selection of home made sandwiches, slices, scones and cream cake and a pot of tea.
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a chance to explore original gold-rush buildings, walk or cycle through tree lined streets and taste all that the small town’s award-winning restaurants and cafes have to offer, many of which are in historic buildings. We recommend checking out Provisions of Arrowtown on Buckingham St. Restored to a cafe in 2010, the building was previously a miners cottage from teh 1870s, and now offers fresh seasonal food and delicious baking. Other great options include Bendix Stables, a gastropub in historic premises, as well as The Dishery, a cool bistro located in the historic Dudley's Cottage precinct, near the restored Chinese settlement.
Historic Ōamaru: brunch cafes and bakeries
Ōamaru’s remarkably intact and distinctive Victorian streetscapes reveal a once majestic colonial outpost that played a key part in Otago’s industrial and agricultural heritage. Harbour Street Bakery is a must do (see cronuts above!) and Badger & Mackerel is a top notch brunch destination. Other great cafes in historic premises include the Harbour Street Collective Cafe, and Tees St Cafe.
Scones at Totara Estate
It was from this once grand estate just south of Ōamaru that the first shipment of frozen mutton was sent to England in 1882. This marked the start of an export industry that has underpinned New Zealand’s economic prosperity and put our meat on English dinner tables. Join in with farm activities, feed the sheep, play old-fashioned games and enjoy freshly baked scones or a delicious slice of cake.
