If you stop at only one place between Christchurch and Dunedin, make it Riverstone Kitchen. Sitting just off State Highway 1 about 15 kilometres north of Oamaru, this is far more than a country restaurant — it's a destination in its own right. Chef Bevan Smith opened Riverstone Kitchen in 2006 and it quickly earned national recognition, winning Cuisine Magazine's Restaurant of the Year in 2010. Since then, Smith has published four cookbooks and built Riverstone into one of the most celebrated dining experiences in the South Island.
The Food
Bevan Smith's cooking philosophy is deceptively simple: source the best possible ingredients, many from the on-site kitchen garden, and let them do the talking. The menu changes with the seasons and draws heavily on local produce — North Otago lamb, fresh seafood from the coast, herbs and vegetables picked that morning from the garden you can see from the dining room.
Even if you're not planning a full sit-down meal, stop for a coffee and a slice of cake from the cabinet. The baking alone is worth pulling off the highway for. If you do sit down for lunch, expect beautifully presented plates with genuine depth of flavour — this is food that punches well above what you'd expect to find on a rural highway between two South Island cities.
More Than a Restaurant
What makes Riverstone Kitchen genuinely special is the complex that has grown around it. This isn't a quick eat-and-leave stop — you could easily spend an hour or two exploring the grounds.
Practical Information
Riverstone Kitchen sits right off State Highway 1 — you literally turn off the highway and you're there. If you're driving from Christchurch to Dunedin, it's roughly three hours south of Christchurch and about 90 minutes north of Dunedin, making it a perfect mid-route stop.
There's a generous car park on site. The complex includes the restaurant, castle, curio shops, gardens and playground, so even if one member of your group isn't interested in a long lunch, there's plenty to keep everyone occupied.
- Best for: Lunch stop on the Christchurch–Dunedin drive, foodies, families, anyone who appreciates seriously good food in an unexpected setting.
- Allow: At least 1–2 hours. Longer if you're doing a castle tour and exploring the shops and gardens.
- Booking: Highly recommended for the restaurant, especially weekends and summer. Castle tour bookings also advised.
- Combine with: Moeraki Boulders (30 min south) and Dunedin (1.5 hrs south). If heading north, you're about an hour from Timaru.
