The Old Packhouse Cafe

About The Old Packhouse Cafe

The Old Packhouse Cafe sits at 505 Kerikeri Road in a building that began life as a timber milling and furniture manufacturing site. Purchased in 2012 by Warrick Hyland's father, it was gradually shaped by Warrick and Judy Hyland — newly arrived from Auckland — into what has become one of Kerikeri's best-loved gathering places. What started as a small weekend operation is now a busy cafe open Tuesday to Sunday, employing more than 35 locals.

The draw is honest, handmade food: coffee the owners proudly call the best in Kerikeri, house-made pastries, fresh breads, seasonal salads, hearty pies and cabinet food made on site. Everything leans on seasonal local ingredients, from the flaky croissants and moist cheese scones (served with homemade raspberry jam) to the mushroom and egg on sourdough that regulars come back for. On weekends, breads from the on-site bakery are available to take home.

The Old Packhouse is more than a cafe. A butchery and deli on the same site opens at 8am with quality local meats, house-made sausages, cheeses, eggs, seafood, crackers, chutneys and specialty deli goods. The venue also serves as a starting point for markets and events, with a warm fire going in winter. Locals call it the beating heart of Kerikeri — a place for coffee, conversation and connection.

The Old Packhouse Cafe: Artisan Bakery, Great Coffee and a True Kerikeri Meeting Place

On Kerikeri Road, in a building that once housed timber milling and furniture manufacturing, you'll find one of the Bay of Islands' most talked-about cafes. The Old Packhouse Cafe has grown from a small weekend operation into a bustling hub open six days a week — and locals will tell you it has become something like the beating heart of the town.

From packhouse to community heart

The story begins in 2012, when Warrick Hyland's father purchased the old industrial building at 505 Kerikeri Road. Soon after, Warrick and Judy Hyland — newly relocated from Auckland — began shaping it into something more. What started as a weekend venture steadily grew into a full cafe, bakery, butchery and deli that now employs more than 35 people.

For the Hylands, the project has always been about community and supporting local. Several of their team joined as 15-year-old school students with no work experience and left at 18 with barista skills, confidence and real hospitality experience — something the owners count among their greatest joys.

What's in the cabinet

The food is made on site and leans hard on seasonal local ingredients. Coffee is the headline act — the flat whites draw particular praise — followed closely by the bakery: croissants, moist cheese scones served with homemade raspberry jam, cakes, slices, donuts, tiramisu and seasonal hot cross buns. One visitor famously conceded she'd thought her own scones were the best, until she tried these.

Beyond the sweet cabinet there are hearty pies, seasonal salads, and savoury plates like mushroom and egg on sourdough. Fresh breads from the on-site bakery are available at weekends — worth planning a visit around. The cabinet changes with the seasons and what local producers are bringing in.

Butchery, deli and events

The Old Packhouse is more than a cafe. From 8am Tuesday to Sunday, the on-site butchery and deli sells quality local meats, house-made sausages, cheeses, eggs, seafood, crackers, chutneys and specialty deli goods — enough to stock a weekend's worth of meals.

The venue also acts as a starting point for markets and events, and in winter a warm fire makes it a natural place to settle in. It's this combination — good coffee, good food and a genuine welcome — that keeps reviewers returning multiple times in a single week.

Plan your visit

The cafe and bakery run Tuesday to Sunday, 7am–2pm; the butchery and deli follow from 8am. Mondays are closed. You'll find plenty of parking and plenty of seating, whether you're stopping for a quick flat white, a long catch-up or a load of weekend provisions.

Signature items

• Flat White
• Cheese Scones
• Mushroom & Egg on Sourdough
• Croissants
• Weekend Breads
• Tiramisu

Menu

Cafe & Bakery

• Flat White — The house coffee of choice — reviewers praise it as Kerikeri's best.
• Cheese Scones — Moist, perfectly sized scones served with homemade raspberry jam.
• Mushroom & Egg on Sourdough — Savoury brunch plate served on house sourdough.
• Croissants — Flaky pastries baked fresh in the on-site artisan bakery.
• Hearty Pies — House-made pies, a staple of the daily cabinet.
• Seasonal Salads — Fresh salads built on seasonal local ingredients.
• Cakes & Slices — Sweet baking made on site with local, seasonal produce.
• Tiramisu — House-made dessert star of the sweet cabinet.
• Donuts — Fresh from the bakery, a regular treat in the cabinet.
• Hot Cross Buns — A seasonal bakery favourite when in season.
• Sweet Treats — A rotating range of small-batch sweets from the bakery.
• Bakery Breads — Artisan loaves from the house bakery, available at weekends.

Butchery & Deli

• Quality Local Meats — Fresh cuts from trusted local suppliers.
• House-made Sausages — Sausages made on site at the packhouse butchery.
• Cheeses — A cheese selection from the deli counter.
• Eggs — Fresh eggs available alongside the deli goods.
• Seafood — Seafood stocked at the deli counter.
• Crackers — Crackers to pair with the deli's cheeses and chutneys.
• Chutneys — Chutneys from the deli's local specialty range.
• Specialty Deli Goods — A curated range of specialty pantry items.

Frequently asked questions

What are The Old Packhouse Cafe's opening hours?

The cafe and bakery are open Tuesday to Sunday, 7am–2pm. The butchery and deli open Tuesday to Sunday, 8am–2pm. The Old Packhouse is closed on Mondays.

Where is The Old Packhouse Cafe located?

At 505 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand — in a former timber milling and furniture manufacturing building.

How can I contact the cafe?

Call 027 233 9399 or email info@theoldpackhouse.co.nz. There is also a contact form on their website.

When can I buy bread from the bakery?

Breads from the on-site bakery are available at weekends.

Is there parking at The Old Packhouse?

Yes — visitors regularly note that there is plenty of parking, along with plenty of seating.

Does The Old Packhouse offer more than cafe food?

Yes. Alongside the cafe and bakery there is a butchery and deli selling local meats, house-made sausages, cheeses, eggs, seafood, crackers and chutneys, and the venue hosts markets and events.

Who owns The Old Packhouse Cafe?

It is run by Warrick and Judy Hyland, who began transforming the building shortly after it was purchased by Warrick's father in 2012. The business employs over 35 people.

Tips

• {"body":"The cafe opens at 7am, and popular items like cheese scones and croissants are baked fresh — early visitors get the best pick.","title":"Go early for the cabinet"}
• {"body":"Breads from the on-site bakery are only available at weekends, so plan a Saturday or Sunday stop if you want a loaf.","title":"Time your visit for weekend bread"}
• {"body":"The butchery and deli open an hour after the cafe at 8am — ideal for picking up house-made sausages, local meats and chutneys after your coffee.","title":"Butchery and deli from 8am"}
• {"body":"The Old Packhouse is a starting point for markets and events — it's worth browsing what's on before you visit.","title":"Check the events calendar"}
• {"body":"In the colder months a warm fire makes the cafe a cosy place to settle in over a flat white.","title":"Winter visits by the fire"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Family-run by Warrick and Judy Hyland; a welcoming, community-focused spot.","dietary":"Cabinet food is made on site with seasonal local ingredients; ask staff about options on the day.","parking":"Plenty of on-site parking, per visitor reviews."}