Where is The Shearers Quarters Cafe?

At 924 Seadown Road, Temuka, 7973 — on a quiet backroad in the hamlet of Seadown, about 10 minutes north of Timaru in South Canterbury.

What are the opening hours?

Open 7 days a week, 8.30am–4.00pm. The kitchen closes at 2.00pm on weekdays and 2.30pm on weekends, with the cabinet available through the day.

Is there plenty for kids to do?

Yes — a playground, a maze, a mini golf course and friendly farmyard animals that can be hand-fed, plus a dedicated kids' menu and a bookable party room.

Yes, call 03 615 9043. Weekends fill up fast, especially with families in for the farmyard, maze and mini golf, so booking is the best way to secure a table.

Do you cater to dietary requirements?

The kitchen caters to a variety of dietary requirements, and gluten-free swaps are available on most menu items — just ask the team when you order.

Do you offer catering or party room hire?

Yes. Catering is available for workplace lunches and events, and the dedicated party room can be hired and set up for birthdays, baby showers and team catch-ups. Enquire on 03 615 9043 or at admin@theshearersquarters.co.nz.

Is it a good stop on a road trip?

Definitely — it's an easy detour just 10 minutes north of Timaru when driving between Christchurch and Dunedin, with coffee, meals and plenty of space to stretch your legs.

The Shearers Quarters

cafe — Temuka · Temuka

About The Shearers Quarters

The Shearers Quarters Cafe is a retro-rustic country cafe hidden away on a quiet backroad in the tiny hamlet of Seadown, Temuka — about 10 minutes north of Timaru in South Canterbury. Open seven days a week for breakfast, brunch and lunch, it serves fresh, locally sourced dishes alongside great coffee and a counter full of house-made sweet treats, in a complex that's cosy and warm through winter and fresh, light and sunny in summer.

What makes it a destination rather than just a cafe is everything beyond the plate. Outside there's a maze to get lost in, a mini golf course, a playground for the little ones, and a yard full of friendly farmyard animals waiting to be hand-fed. That mix has made it one of South Canterbury's leading family destinations, popular with locals, road-trippers travelling between Christchurch and Dunedin, and weekend visitors who come to make a real day of it.

The seasonal menus lean on comforting country classics with generous serves, and the kitchen prides itself on catering to a variety of dietary requirements — gluten-free swaps are available on most menu items, just ask. Quirky, farmyard-named kids' dishes keep younger visitors happy, a dedicated party room hosts hugely popular birthdays and celebrations, and catering is available for workplace lunches and events. Nooks and crannies inside and out offer quiet corners for a coffee or a glass of wine, and with the South Canterbury Mini Golf Champs now calling the course home, there's often something extra going on. Call 03 615 9043 to book a table — weekends fill fast.

The Shearers Quarters Cafe: Country Food, Farmyard Animals and Mini Golf in Temuka, South Canterbury

The Shearers Quarters Cafe sits hidden away on a quiet backroad in the tiny hamlet of Seadown, just north of Temuka and about ten minutes from Timaru. It's a slice of retro rustic heaven, as the team puts it — a country cafe where charm oozes from every corner, and where the welcome extends well beyond the dining room. Open all year round, it's cosy and warm through winter, then fresh, light and sunny when summer arrives.

The formula here is simple and effective: good food plus genuine things to do. South Canterbury locals treat it as a weekend ritual, road-trippers pull in for a flat white between Christchurch and Dunedin, and families arrive with nothing but time, letting the kids run off steam while a proper breakfast or lunch is on its way.

A Day Out, Not Just a Coffee

Step outside and the property opens up. There's a maze to get gloriously lost in, a mini golf course — now home of the South Canterbury Mini Golf Champs — a playground for the little ones, and a yard full of friendly farmyard animals waiting to be hand-fed. Nooks and crannies inside and out give grown-ups quiet hideaways for a coffee or a glass of wine while the kids explore. That combination of a real kitchen and real activities is what turns a cafe stop into a full day out, and why the Quarters has become one of South Canterbury's leading family destinations.

What Comes Out of the Kitchen

The seasonal menus lean into generous, comforting country classics made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The signature plate is the Shearers Big Breakfast — bacon, eggs, mushrooms, sausages, hash browns, grilled tomato and toast. Old-school favourites hold their own alongside it: lambs fry with bacon, mushrooms and mash is a proper Kiwi nod to the past, while the soup of the day arrives with a fresh toasted cheese roll on cold mornings.

Later risers and lighter appetites are well covered too. Eggs Benedict comes on a toasted English muffin with hollandaise, pancakes are build-your-own with any three toppings, and the all-day list runs through BLTs, loaded wedges, beef nachos, burgers, soft-shell tacos and a hot roast beef sandwich with the house-made Shearers Quarters Sauce. Soup, pasta and fish of the day rotate, so it always pays to ask what's on. If you're not after a full meal, the cabinet is stocked daily with house-made quiches, fresh salads, slices, cakes, scones and seasonal small plates — ideal with a coffee, and available for dine-in all day, seven days a week.

The kids' menu deserves special mention. Every dish is farmyard-named and made fresh: a Bowl of Crutchings is curly fries with sauce, Nemo and Curly Whirlies is fish and chips kid-size, and the Haystack pancakes come topped with everything from bacon and banana to whipped cream and 'bird droppings' — berries, thankfully. Adventurous little eaters love the curly fries, and gluten-free swaps are available on most items; just ask when you order.

Parties, Catering and the Practical Bits

The Quarters is hugely popular for children's birthdays, and there's a dedicated party room that can be set up however you like — birthdays, baby showers, school-holiday catch-ups and end-of-season team windups all happen here. Catering is available as well for workplace lunches and events, and the team posts daily specials and upcoming happenings on Facebook and Instagram.

A few practical notes: the cafe is open seven days from 8.30am to 4pm, but the kitchen closes at 2pm on weekdays and 2.30pm on weekends, so come early if a cooked meal is the plan. Weekends fill fast, especially when families are in for the farmyard and mini golf, so phoning 03 615 9043 to book is the surest way to a table. You'll find it all at 924 Seadown Road, Temuka — an easy, worthwhile detour for anyone travelling between Christchurch and Dunedin.

Signature items

Shearers Big Breakfast
Lambs Fry with Bacon, Mushrooms & Mash
Hot Roast Beef Sandwich
Build-Your-Own Hot Pancakes
Eggs Benedict
Bowl of Crutchings

Bowl of Crutchings — A generous bowl of hot curly fries served with sauce.
Dog Roll — A proper Kiwi classic — hot cheerios with sauce on the side.
Haystack and Tree Sap — A small stack of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.
Haystack with Sticks and Straws — Fluffy pancakes topped with crispy bacon, sliced banana and maple syrup.
Haystack with Bird Droppings — Don't worry, they're berries — pancakes piled with whipped cream and fresh berries.
Chook and Curly Whirlies — Golden chicken nuggets with a side of curly fries and sauce.
Dogs with Sticks and Curly Whirlies — Hot dogs and curly fries with sauce.
Nemo and Curly Whirlies — Fish and chips, kids-menu style — battered fish bites, curly fries and sauce.
Hog and Curly Whirlies — Fish and chips, kids-menu style — battered fish bites, curly fries and sauce.
Farmers Breakfast — Streaky bacon and eggs (poached, scrambled or fried) on toast.
Krabby Pattie Burger — Mini beef burger with cheese, lettuce and burger sauce, served with fries.
Kids Worst Nightmare — A colourful platter of fresh fruit and veggies — plenty of kids actually love it.

All-Day Menu

Eggs on Toast — Eggs poached, scrambled or fried on toast; add bacon, avocado or mushrooms.
Hot Pancakes — Build Your Own — A hot stack of fluffy pancakes with any three toppings, from bacon to nut praline.
Eggs Benedict — Two poached eggs and hollandaise on a toasted English muffin; with spinach & mushrooms or bacon.
Three Filling Omelette with Seasonal Salad — Fluffy omelette with any three fillings, served with fresh seasonal salad.
Lambs Fry with Bacon, Mushrooms & Mash — Tender lambs fry, crispy bacon and sautéed mushrooms over creamy mash.
Shearers Big Breakfast — The signature plate: bacon, eggs, mushrooms, sausages, hash browns, grilled tomato and toast.
Bowl of Fries with Sauce — A generous bowl of golden, crispy fries with classic tomato sauce.
Toasted Sandwich with Fries — Any three fillings grilled between thick slices of bread, served with a side of fries.
Soup of the Day — Warming seasonal soup made fresh each morning, with a toasted cheese roll on the side.
Pasta of the Day — A rotating chef's pasta — sauces and toppings change daily; ask what's on.
Fish of the Day — Fresh fish from the specials board, with crisp salad and a side of fries.
B.L.T Sandwich with Fries — Crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato, aioli and relish, with a side of fries.
Loaded Seasoned Wedges — Crispy seasoned wedges with cheese, sour cream, sweet chilli and bacon.
Beef Nachos — A heaped plate of corn chips with seasoned beef mince, melted cheese and sour cream.
Beef, Chicken or Vege Burger with Fries — Juicy patty stacked with lettuce, cheese, onion, aioli and relish on a soft bun, plus fries.
Tacos & Fries — Two soft-shell tacos with fish, hot beef or nacho mince, served with a side of fries.
Hot Roast Beef Sandwich with Fries — Tender roast beef on toasted bread with spinach and house-made Shearers Quarters Sauce.

Cabinet & Sweet Treats

House-Made Quiches — Fresh from the cabinet daily, perfect with a coffee.
Fresh Salads — Cabinet salads made daily for a lighter bite.
Slices & Cakes — House-made sweet treats stocked fresh every day.
Scones — Fresh-baked and ready to go with a cup of coffee.
Seasonal Small Plates — Rotating small plates, ideal for a quick bite on the go.

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Shearers Quarters Cafe?: At 924 Seadown Road, Temuka, 7973 — on a quiet backroad in the hamlet of Seadown, about 10 minutes north of Timaru in South Canterbury.
What are the opening hours?: Open 7 days a week, 8.30am–4.00pm. The kitchen closes at 2.00pm on weekdays and 2.30pm on weekends, with the cabinet available through the day.
Is there plenty for kids to do?: Yes — a playground, a maze, a mini golf course and friendly farmyard animals that can be hand-fed, plus a dedicated kids' menu and a bookable party room.
Can I book a table?: Yes, call 03 615 9043. Weekends fill up fast, especially with families in for the farmyard, maze and mini golf, so booking is the best way to secure a table.
Do you cater to dietary requirements?: The kitchen caters to a variety of dietary requirements, and gluten-free swaps are available on most menu items — just ask the team when you order.
Do you offer catering or party room hire?: Yes. Catering is available for workplace lunches and events, and the dedicated party room can be hired and set up for birthdays, baby showers and team catch-ups. Enquire on 03 615 9043 or at admin@theshearersquarters.co.nz.
Is it a good stop on a road trip?: Definitely — it's an easy detour just 10 minutes north of Timaru when driving between Christchurch and Dunedin, with coffee, meals and plenty of space to stretch your legs.

Tips

{"body":"Tables fill fast when families are in for the farmyard, maze and mini golf — phone 03 615 9043 to secure a spot.","title":"Book ahead for weekends"}
{"body":"The kitchen closes at 2pm on weekdays and 2.30pm on weekends; the cabinet with quiches, salads, slices and scones is stocked through the day until 4pm.","title":"Mind the kitchen hours"}
{"body":"Plan extra time for the maze, mini golf, playground and hand-feeding the farmyard animals — this is more outing than meal stop.","title":"Make a day of it"}
{"body":"Soup, pasta and fish of the day rotate, and daily specials are posted on their Facebook and Instagram pages.","title":"Ask about the daily specials"}
{"body":"Just 10 minutes north of Timaru, it's an easy stop between Christchurch and Dunedin for a flat white and a leg-stretch.","title":"A perfect road-trip detour"}

Good to know

{"family":"Playground, maze, mini golf and hand-feedable farmyard animals; kids' menu, party room hire and kids' party menu available.","dietary":"Gluten-free swaps available on most menu items — just ask; kitchen caters to a variety of dietary needs."}