Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese

General information

The picturesque setting of Barrys Bay on Canterbury’s Banks Peninsula is home to Barrys Bay Cheese. Originally established as the Barrys Bay Co-op Dairy Factory in 1895, Barrys Bay Cheese continues the tradition of natural, handcrafted cheese making today.

The clean, fertile pastures of the Peninsula produce some of the finest milk from which our cheese is made. Only fresh local milk, which we pasteurise ourselves is used to make our handcrafted cheese. Great care is taken to adhere to traditional cheese making methods. We are the only cheese company in New Zealand to produce vintage cheddar aged in cloth and wax.

Our cheese is left to mature in our large cool stores on white pine shelves. In the case of the European cheese, they are coated, waxed and turned regularly until the desired state of maturity is reached. Only cheese which has reached the required level of maturity are permitted to leave the factory. This can take up to three years for our mature rinded cheddar.

Lonely Planet review for Barrys Bay Cheese
At Barrys Bay, on the western side of Akaroa Harbour (12km from Akaroa), is the enticing Barrys Bay Cheese, where you can taste and purchase fine cheddar, havarti and gouda. Crackers and chutney are available for a spontaneous seaside snack.