Eltham,Taranaki,New Zealand, Home of the big cheese and Lake Rotorangi,The Historical Town of Firsts

Power boat tours of scenic Lake Rotorangi

Eltham is the first town in New Zealand to have a water reservoir painted like a round of cheese.

Eltham is certainly a town of firsts, and also it is a small settlement that reeks of history, the buildings are a story of yesteryear, many are still in use like the well loved town hall pictured below

The classic pound of butter was first made at Eltham. Its maker was dairy industry founder Chew Chong, who used to sell butter in pats and blobs of no conventional size in his general stores.

Tarred and Weathered: In 1906 Eltham's Bridge Street (above) and High Street became the first tarred macadam (tar-sealed) roads in New Zealand. This picture was taken in 1916.

Municipal building


First Stop: The Mainland Cheese Bar is a great place to pick up bargain brie - and more.

Blue moves

In 1952, the first trial manufacture of blue vein cheese was carried out successfully and proved commercially viable, once again putting Eltham at the forefront of the dairying industry.

Eltham may be a 'young farmers area these days, however the backdrop of Mt Egmont/Taranaki is magnificent, the images [top] are the vista from Caniwi Lodge - Luxury accommodation right on Lake Rotorangi

Jazz Muller - Elthams home grown NZ Allblack.