Something special to eat

Sweet Southern Fudge

This sweet little shop on Main Street not only sells some of the most decadent fudge around (think all of the best ice cream flavours – jelly tip, cookies and cream, goody gumdrop) but owner Melissa Storer has also sought out some of the best little local businesses she can find and stocks their wares too. Try Robbie's Pickled Onions, The Sheep's Back Knitting Kits from Lumsden, her own mum's handknitted wares, and Simple Naked Soap from Balclutha.

59 Main Street, Gore. On Facebook.

The Lawrence Mint

Alisa Dacy has sore shoulders. It's a hazard of the trade for the cheesemakerturned-chocolatier; in 2018, Alisa worked 980kg of chocolate and crafted 450 cheesecakes. Then there was the rocky road. If Alisa makes it, Lawrence will come. It's a far cry from the Sunshine Coast, but Alisa's 2015 move from there has made life very sweet indeed. “We searched all of New Zealand but saw an opportunity in Lawrence – it's stunning both in town and in every direction.” Her perfect cheesecakes are the result of endless hours of hard work, and her latest creation, a chocolate ‘salami', has been in the works for three years.

Her little Lawrence shop almost needs no advertising – it's the smell that has noses pressed up against the glass for a glimpse. Plan accordingly though, The Lawrence Mint is open 4 days a week

(“the store would be empty otherwise! I can barely keep up with demand”) and is closed during winter. Check her Facebook page though, as she runs pop-up events from time to time. Alisa also creates picnic baskets for visitors and cyclists.

16 Ross Place, Lawrence. (03) 485 9686, on Facebook.

The Lawrence Mint