dge
Ca
Ōtorohanga Te Awamutu Te Kuiti Ōtorohanga
a Waikato / Waitomo Kiwiana Murals Dubbed the most kiwiana town in New Zealand, it’s a treat to spy the vast array of kiwiana icons, including murals, sculptures and carved pou, as well as a large, corrugated iron kiwi.
meet native birds including kiwi and falcons, there are also ancient eels and tuatara.
Hamilton
Ōtorohanga Kiwi House A notfor-profit organisation since 1971 and easily one of the best places to
Ed Hillary Walkway Such a fun laneway in the heart of town, each display highlights something typically – and wonderfully – Kiwi, such as the All Blacks and worldfamous pavlova.
Raglan
KĀwhia
Ru UiRtUi PUTTeĀK New Zealand Shearing Championship Known as the ‘Sheep Shearing Capital of the World’, where else would you find the famous Great New Zealand Muster and Running of the Sheep Held in April every year. Sir Colin Meads’ Statue Visit the monument of the legendary rugby player. Nearby, The Gallagher Meads Brothers Exhibition plays homage to both Sir Colin and Stan Meads.
PUTĀRURU
Piopio and District Museum Housed in the original blacksmith’s shop and cottage, return to the days of early European settlers. Four further buildings include the Piopio Presbyterian church and 1920s Bank of New Zealand. Located 20 minutes south-west of Te Kuiti.
Te Kauwhata Waitomo Caves WAITOMO GLOWWORM CAVES Jump on a boat that silently glides through a glittering glowworm grotto. Explore two cave systems, 130 million years in the making. The upper caves are dry, whereas the lower reaches consist of stream passages and The Cathedral – the tallest chasm in the collection.
Kāwhia Harbour The result of a drowned river valley system, the harbour’s entrance is guarded by a large sand bar allowing for a tranquil inner harbour. The sunsets will blow your mind.
Kāwhia Kai Festival Every February, experience authentic indigenous foods, including traditional hangi meals plus kapa haka performances, flax weaving and carving demonstration.
Kāwhia Hot Water Beach Wonderfully remote, this is one hot water beach you’ll share with few others. Arrive at Ocean Beach two hours either side of low tide to dig a hole in the black sand.
Aotea Harbour Known as Kāwhia’s sister harbour, this peaceful inlet features unique orange sandstone reefs and black-sand dunes. Walkable in two hours from Kāwhia.
Matamata
Cambridge
mutu Te Awamost beautiful in the country. At
THE LOST WORLD Have an Indiana Jones moment as you dangle 100m into the void. Your 20-minute rappel into the gigantic vaults of the Mangapu Cave system is escorted by a guide and enveloped by dense foliage and stalactites. Once inside, your daring climb back to the surface is equally euphoric.
35m high, the wide brim of ledges and tiers is borderline hypnotic. MANGAPOHUE NATURAL BRIDGE WALK One to put your retinas on stalks. Enjoy a 20-minute walk between a domineering limestone gorge that passes underneath a 17m-high natural arch.
Ōtorohanga
MAROKOPA FALLS From Waitomo Caves, you’re just 40 minutes from waterfalls often described as the
BOTH: Waitomo Caves © Hamilton Waikato Tourism TOP LEFT: Kiwiana display in Ōtorohanga © Peter Burchell
Te Kuiti
between limestone and crystal, listening to subterranean waterfalls and admiring glowworms up close.
Huntly
BLACK-WATER RAFTING Join Black Abyss for a five-hour adventure into the unknown. Abseil into the earth’s deepest pockets, zipline past throngs of glowworms and discover underground waterfalls. Then river tube down fast, pitch black waters deep within the caves.
Te Aroha
RUAKURI CAVE Descend an enchanting spiral entrance into a wonderland of glowworms. Venture
PUTĀRURU
Hamilton
See Map Section - pages 111 to 123
41
