Must-Do's Central & Lower North Island 2022-23

10%

AA CENTRES

TAURANGA

Cnr Devonport Rd & First Ave

Ph: +64 7 927 7760

HAMILTON

313 Barton St Ph: +64 7 958 3600

Shop 27, 44 Horsham Downs Rd Ph: +64 7 853 5091

ROTORUA

1121 Eruera St Ph: +64 7 348 3069

TAUPŌ

3 Tamamutu St Ph: +64 7 378 6000

HASTINGS

521 Heretaunga St West Ph: +64 6 878 4101

NAPIER

33 Carlyle St Ph: +64 6 834 2590

NEW PLYMOUTH

49-55 Powderham St Ph: +64 6 968 7840

WHANGANUI

202 Victoria Ave

Ph: +64 6 348 9160

LOWER HUTT

29 Waterloo Rd Ph: +64 4 917 1860

MASTERTON

221 Queen St Ph: +64 6 377 4920

PARAPARAUMU

8 Amohia St Ph: +64 4 296 1063

PORIRUA

13 Cobham Court Ph: +64 4 237 5709

WELLINGTON

342-352 Lambton Quay Ph: +64 4 931 9999

FEILDING

4 MacArthur St Ph: +64 6 323 8664

PALMERSTON NORTH

227 Broadway Ave Ph: +64 6 357 7039

TOHU WHENUA ARE PLACES AROUND NEW ZEALAND THAT MATTER TO KIWIS. RICH IN HISTORICAL OR CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, VISITORS ARE PRESENTED WITH MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES AND AUTHENTIC INSIGHT INTO AOTEAROA. VISIT TOHUWHENUA.NZ

FULL LIST OF TOHU WHENUA LOCATIONS.

VISITOR INFO

BANKING Banks open Monday-Friday (except public holidays), 9.30am-4.30pm and Saturday and Sunday in some shopping malls. ATMs or cash points operate on a card/PIN number system. Most commonly used are debit or credit cards and payWave is often available; occasionally a fee is incurred for using credit cards or payWave services.

BUSINESS HOURS Businesses operate Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5pm; some tourist agencies and airlines have longer hours. Petrol stations often open 24 hours, stocking food and newspapers. Shops are usually open 9am-5.30pm Monday-Friday. Supermarkets, some large retail chains and shopping malls also operate Saturday and Sunday.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Emergency services

Local operator

directory

operator

directory assistance

National direct dialling full area code (with the 0 prefix) and local number.

International direct dialling

followed by country code, area code & local number.

For incoming calls, New Zealand’s international code

Look for the mark of Quality

Qualmark is New Zealand Tourism’s official mark of quality. When a business displays a Qualmark rating, you can be sure that the business has been independently assessed and has met strict quality standards. The Sustainable Tourism Business Awards (Gold, Silver or Bronze) also gives a guide to travellers to recognise the business’s performance against the Sustainable Tourism Business criterion.

i-SITE VISITOR CENTRES

WAIHI

126 Seddon St • www.thecoromandel.com

WHITIANGA

66 Albert St • www.thecoromandel.com

TAURANGA

103 The Strand • www.bayofplentynz.com

WHAKATĀNE

Cnr Quay St & Kakaharoa Dr www.whakatane.com

GISBORNE

209 Grey St • www.tairawhitigisborne.co.nz

ŌPOTIKI

70 Bridge St • www.opotikinz.com

WAIROA

9 Paul St • www.visitwairoa.co.nz

CAMBRIDGE

Cnr Queen & Victoria Sts www.cambridge.co.nz

HAMILTON

ArtsPost Galleries & Shop, 120 Victoria St www.visithamilton.co.nz

MATAMATA

45 Broadway • www.matamatanz.co.nz

MORRINSVILLE 251 Thames St • www.morrinsvillenz.co.nz

ŌTOROHANGA

27 Turongo St • www.otorohanga.co.nz

TE AROHA 102 Whitaker St • www.tearohanz.co.nz

TE AWAMUTU

1 Gorst Ave • www.teawamutuinfo.co.nz

TE KUITI

160 Rora St • www.waitomo.govt.nz

TĪRAU

SH 1, Tīrau • www.tirauinfo.co.nz

WAITOMO

21 Waitomo Village Rd www.waitomocaves.com

REDWOODS Longmile Rd, Lynmore www.rotoruanz.com

ROTORUA 1167 Fenton St • www.rotoruanz.com

KAWERAU

1 Plunket St • www.kaweraunz.com

OHAKUNE 54 Clyde St • www.visitruapehu.com

TAUMARUNUI

Railway Station, 116 Hakiaha St www.visitruapehu.com

HASTINGS

Cnr Russell & Heretaunga St East www.visithastings.co.nz

HAVELOCK NORTH

Cnr Te Aute & Middle Rds www.visithastings.co.nz

NAPIER

100 Marine Pde • www.napiernz.com

NEW PLYMOUTH

65 St Aubyn St • www.visitnewplymouth.nz

SOUTH TARANAKI

55 High St, Hāwera www.southtaranaki.com

STRATFORD

55 Miranda St • www.stratford.govt.nz

WHANGANUI

31 Taupo Quay www.visitwhanganui.nz

FOXTON 92 Main St • www.teawahou.com

LEVIN 10 Bath St • www.tetakere.org.nz

MASTERTON

Cnr Dixon & Bruce Sts www.wairarapanz.com

MARTINBOROUGH

The Square, Cnr Texas & Cork Sts www.wairarapanz.com

WELLINGTON 111 Wakefield St • www.wellingtonnz.com

UPPER HUTT

836 Fergusson Dr www.visit.huttvalleynz.com

PALMERSTON NORTH The Square • www.manawatunz.co.nz

TARARUA 45 Vogel St, Woodville www.tararua.com

Temperatures

Average summer Average winter

The Coromandel 26.0oC 14.0oC

Bay of Plenty 26.0oC 14.8oC

Tairāwhiti Gisborne 25.0oC 14.8oC

Waikato/Waitomo 24.0oC 14.2oC

Rotorua 23.1oC 12.4oC

Taupō 23.0oC 11.5oC

Hawke’s Bay 23.9oC 14.7oC

Taranaki 21.2oC 12.0oC

Wellington 21.6oC 12.3oC

TOM wines, Church Road © Hawke’s Bay Tourism

Welcome

© The New Zealand Automobile Association Incorporated 2022. All rights reserved.

AA, the AA logo and the Tourism pictogram are registered trademarks and the colour combination YELLOW & BLACK are trademarks of The New Zealand Automobile Association Incorporated.

While every care has been taken in the compilation of this guide, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for inaccuracies or changes since going to press, or for consequential loss arising from such changes or other inaccuracies, or any other loss direct or consequential arising in connection with information provided in the publication. Due to the COVID pandemic, we also advise you to check before you visit any establishment mentioned, as they may be in hibernation or offering limited services.

There is no requirement for advertisers in this guide to provide discounts for AA Members; some individual advertisers offer concessions and details of these are indicated in their listings. All content in advertisements was provided by advertisers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced (except brief passages for the purpose of review), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publishers.

Published in October 2022 by AA Tourism Publishing Ltd Level 1, Building 2, 61 Constellation Dr, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland 0632

PO Box 101 001, North Shore, Auckland 0745

T. 09 966 8720 F. 09 966 8721

E. tourism.images@aa.co.nz W. www.aatraveller.co.nz

Advertising Enquiries: T. 09 966 8720

E. tourism.sales@aa.co.nz

THE COROMANDEL 6

Includes: Seabird Coast

• Hauraki Plains • Thames/ Thames Coast • Whitianga, Whangamatā, Waihi & surrounds

BAY OF PLENTY 16

TAIRĀWHITI GISBORNE 26

WAIKATO/WAITOMO 34

Includes: Northwest Waikato

• Waipa • Matamata-Piako

• South Waikato • Waitomo

ROTORUA 44

LAKE TAUPŌ, TŪRANGI & RUAPEHU 58

HAWKE’S BAY 66 TARANAKI 76

Includes: New Plymouth

• South Taranaki • Stratford

WHANGANUI-MANAWATŪ 90

Includes: Whanganui

• Tararua & Manawatū

• Rangitīkei

GREATER WELLINGTON 100

Includes: Horowhenua & Kāpiti Coast • Wellington

• Hutt Valley • Wairarapa MAPS

The Coromandel 7 Bay of Plenty 17 Tairāwhiti Gisborne 27 Waikato/Waitomo 35 Rotorua 45

Taupō, Tūrangi & Ruapehu 59 Hawke’s Bay 67

Taranaki 77 Whanganui-Manawatū

Greater Wellington 101 City & District Maps 109

DIRECTORY

Awakino

Bulls

Cambridge

Carterton

Cathedral Cove

Colville 15

Coromandel Town 15 Dannevirke

East Cape

Egmont National

Levin

Ruapehu

Hutt

Shorebird

Chum

Tongapōrutu

Tongariro

Upper

Waihi/Waihi

Waikanae

Waipukurau

Wairarapa

Waitara

Waitomo

Whakatāne

Whangamata

travel guides

Packed

things

and

North Island Road

South Island Road

Northland Region

Auckland Region

Central & Lower North Island Region

Upper South Island Region

Lower South Island Region

New Zealand Touring Map Cycling Walking

Travelling with

Pick

tourist

HAWKE’S BAY

MAP INDEX

The

the happy vibes of a holiday, 365 days of the year

try not to be too jealous of the locals. Every seaside

is amplified here, with scores of spectacular beaches, all as impressive as the next, and every means imaginable to relax and unwind. Don’t bother with shoes; bare toes and

will suffice.

whole corridor at the base of The Coromandel: the Karangahake Gorge, the Ohinemuri River, the rail trail and walkways that pass through are totally unique to the area. There is historic significance to this whole passageway that Māori discovered and used to reach the sea at Waihi Beach.

CoromandelHolidays in

From the Shorebird Coast on the Firth of Thames with its world-class birdwatching, across the historically fascinating Hauraki Plains and into the warm, welcoming Thames with its pioneering spirit, you’ve only touched on the Coromandel vibe. There is way more to come.

Wander Thames, visit its shops and museums. Consider a hike in Kauaeranga Valley, an abseil down the waterfalls in Sleeping God Canyon, a spot of fishing from the rocks; then drive up the Thames coast to Coromandel Town with it’s main street made for ambling. From there, the isolated and rugged tip of the peninsula stretches north, with sheltered coves and sunny beaches galore.

East of Coromandel Town, across the base of the peninsula, reveals the golden surf beaches: Whangapoua, New Chum, Kuaotunu, Ōpito Bay. Head down the east coast to Whitianga, a substantial town with cafés, shops and access to Cooks Beach, Hahei, Cathedral Cover and the famous Hot Water Beach. Still, there is more to come!

Cruise to the islands, picnic at Ōpoutere, explore Tairua, Pāuanui and Whangamata; spend time in historic Waihi. There are weeks’ worth of variety in Coromandel and all of it is quintessential Kiwi.

Hahei Beach

LEFT: Steps to Hot Water Beach

BOTH © Adobe Stock

is bursting with talented

FAMILY FUN

Whitianga Bike Park There are plenty of well-crafted tracks to ride, including a pump and skills tracks, as well as more advanced riding. Whitianga Playground Right beside the Whitianga Wharf you’ll find a perfect playground with swings, slides, monkey bars, and a big yellow ship known as The Jolly Roger.

Mill Creek Bird and Animal Encounters Home to over 400 birds, as well as mini horses, donkeys and reptiles. Play in the playground, enjoy the café and have your picture taken with a real macaw. This family-focused park is in Whitianga.

Cathedral Cove Macadamia Orchard Tour Go nuts in Hahei with a guided tour of the Cathedral Cove Macadamia Orchard, with a chance to sample the wares and buy some too.

BEST SWIMS

• Kauaeranga Valley There are several great swimming holes here.

• Waiau Falls Follow the signs from the 309 Rd and a short walk will get you to this glorious swimming spot.

• Port Jackson It’s remote which means you’ll likely have it to yourself.

TOP WALKS

• Coromandel Coastal Walkway 7km (one way). Walk from Stony Bay to Fletcher Bay, to enjoy untouched forest and bush, excellent birdlife and views out to Great Barrier Island, then either trot back the way you came, or hire a shuttle.

• Long Bay Walk Start at the Long Bay Motor Camp, and follow the track to Tucks Bay before following the coast back to the motorcamp. This walk takes about 50 minutes.

• Kauri Block Walk An excellent short walk that begins at 348 Wharf Road. A circular route, it leads to a kauri grove, along a beach and beneath towering cliffs. Allow about 45 minutes.

• Success Mine Track Start this route behind the hospital on the old Colville Road and wind up into the hills behind Coromandel Town. Plan for about 2.5 hours.

BEST BEACHES

• New Chum Walkway Set off from Whangapoua Beach and walk the 30 minutes to Wainuiototo, aka New Chum Beach. A pretty track to an even prettier beach.

• Shakespeare Cliff Take the ferry from Whitianga to Ferry Landing and walk the historic cemetery, past Front Beach and Flaxmill Bay before reaching Shakespeare Cliff where the views are phenomenal. About an hour each way.

Take walking boots,

and water bottle to this region because it’s heaven for hikers and strollers.

SHOREBIRD COAST

The Hauraki Rail Trail

This easy yet rewarding four to five-day cycling adventure starts in the charming seaside town of Kaiaua and heads south across the Hauraki Plains all the way to Waihi and Matamata.

Kaiaua A rustic seaside settlement on the doorstep to Miranda. The Miranda Farm Shop, café and art gallery is nearby, as is Rangipō Museum and pā site. When it comes to fresh fish, Kaiaua chippy takes some beating as do the popular ice creams at The Pink Shop.

Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre Learn about the shore’s birdlife including the annual migration. Open seven days a week. There is also a self-contained unit and bunk dormitory for overnight stays.

Robert Findlay Wildlife Reserve On the southwestern coast of the Firth of Thames, this reserve is a bird watching mecca. Use the bird-hide, a 30-minute walk from the Shorebird Centre, to view wildlife up close.

Earth Energies Retreat

Set on 81ha of rolling hills in Mangatarata, luxuriate in style for some real r&r. Treatments include floatation therapy, infrared saunas, zero balance, aromatouch and hypnotherapy.

Hauraki Rail Trail Hire a bike and enjoy the entire 197km of track or tackle one of five sections. Considered one of New Zealand’s easiest cycle trails, everyone can give it a go! Hikers are welcome too.

Ngātea Water Gardens

A laugh-out-loud collection of humour-infused gardens, complete with amusing signs, fairy tale castle, an army of ducks and a feisty black swan. Relive your lunch box years

HAURAKI PLAINS NEW CHUM BEACH

Rapaura Watergardens

Developed over more than 45 years, discover 25 hectares of bridges and streams, gardens, artwork and water sculptures, a waterfall and very happy wildlife.

THAMES COLVILLE WAIHI

KŪAOTUNU WHITIANGA WHANGAMATĀ

at the 11,000-strong global can collection.

Paeroa Historic Maritime Park Absorb an interesting collection of maritime objects and jump on the restored kauri paddleboat for a leisurely cruise up the river.

COROMANDEL TOWN HAHEI & CATHEDRAL COVE

Giant L&P Bottle Getting a selfie with the iconic seven-metre L&P Bottle is compulsory in Paeroa.

Surrounding Thames

Hut, DOC’s largest – just don’t forget to book a bed!

The Hotoritori MTB Trails

Located in Kauaeranga Valley, a network of trails weaves through the forest, for beginners and expert riders alike.

Peruse the town’s famous parade of vintage shops.

Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway This historic railway walk is just an eight-minute drive from Paeroa. The Rail Tunnel Loop is 45 minutes return whereas the Historic Walkway to Waikino is four hours. Both tracks absorb the stunning gorge, gold-mining relics, steel bridges and 1km rail tunnel.

Pinnacles Walk Walk to the summit and back (includes ladders and chains to the top) in approximately seven hours – or stay overnight at the Pinnacles

Abseiling in Sleeping God Canyon Twenty minutes inland from Thames, daring types can canyon in Kauaeranga Valley. The guided tour involves a 300m

descent via waterfall abseils, water slides and high jumps.

Hoffmans Pool Come

summertime, pack a picnic and head to this swimming hole in Kauaeranga Valley, 20 minutes from Thames.

Billygoat Falls is the tallest waterfall in the North Island. At 180m, not all parts are visible, but it’s dramatic presence will enthral nevertheless.

Ngātea Water Gardens © Roger Blake ABOVE LEFT: The Hauraki Rail Trail © Destination Coromandel

The Thames Market Popping up every Saturday in the historic pocket of Grahamstown, for local produce and thrifty finds between 8am and midday.

The Depot The beautifully restored 90-year-old brick building is now a creative retail and food precinct. Pop in for a bite to eat

THAMES WAIHI

Waiau Falls Swimming Hole

Divert up the 309 Road for 7km. A short, five-minute walk leads to this lovely waterfall and swimming lagoon.

KŪAOTUNU WHANGAMATĀ

at Café Melbourne and to see the gleaming copper gin still of the Coromandel Distillery.

HAURAKI PLAINS COROMANDEL TOWN

The Treasury Housed in a fetching heritage building, feed your inquisitive side for $5. The region’s entire past is preserved in here, from historical maps to old school records.

Thames Historical Museum

Learn all about Thames’ early settlers via unique displays, model heritage buildings and the town’s first newspapers. Open Friday to Wednesday 10am-3pm.

Thames Goldmine Experience

Fun and educational, step into the realm of 19th century gold mining

with a guided tour. Walk through the underground mine, watch the working machines and pan for gold.

Thames Coast Sunset Bike Rides Sunset along Thames Coast Road is spectacular. Hire a bike from Jolly Bikes and set off just before the sun dips.

Coromandel Town is linked to downtown Auckland by a two-hour seasonal ferry. Arriving at Hannaford’s Wharf, a bus transfers passengers into town.

inside this whacky theme park. Prepare for quirky contraptions, water cannons and a good soaking.

Coromandel Coastal Walkway Walk, or hike or e-bike this sevenhour return trail soaking in epic views, traversing pristine coastline.

MORE IN COROMANDEL TOWN

tracks in the hill above the township, adding to the popular Velosulation pump tracks and skills area.

& CATHEDRAL COVE

Coromandel Bike Park With fresh upgrades, this park now includes additional flow and single

Driving Creek Railway Packed full of activities, from the new eight-zipline canopy forest tour to the narrow-gauge mountain railway winding its way up to the ‘Eyefull

Tower’ lookout. With sculpture being integral to Driving Creek there are also pottery classes available, a walk in the sculpture garden and a native sanctuary.

The Waterworks Do your kids love a water gun? They’ll go giddy for the water-powered inventions

> Long Bay

> Coromandel Mussel Kitchen

> Coromandel Oyster Company

> Mussel Barge Snapper Safaris

> Tandem e-bike Hire

ABOVE: Coromandel

TOWN

COLVILLE

Swimming Beaches

HAHEI & CATHEDRAL COVE

All within an eight to 13-minute drive from Colville, discover beautiful swimming beaches at Waitētē Bay, Amodeo Bay and Ōtautu Bay. The latter two have campgrounds. Hereford ‘n’ a Pickle Farm Shop & Café Pick up meat and produce sourced directly from the farm. Home-made items line the shelves and the café serves thick hot chocolate and fresh fruit ice cream.

NEW CHUM BEACH

WAIHI

WHITIANGA WHANGAMATĀ

The Killer Cone Kūaotunu Store serves an immense five flavour, 10-scoop ice cream for a remarkable $9. Seeing is believing.

Luke’s Kitchen Located in Kūaotunu, next to the Kūaotunu Store, inventive flavours are a feature of Luke’s wood-fired pizzas. They are so good, diners descend here in droves.

Stargazers Astronomy Tour & B&B Look beyond Orion’s Belt with a 90-minute stargazing tour. For both casual visitors and guests staying at this B&B, the research grade telescope captures every constellation.

Whitianga Ferry Connecting Ferry Landing to Whitianga via a seven-minute passenger ferry.

Bike Up The Coast Hire a bike from The Bike Man in Whitianga, take it on the ferry and zip along the coast to Hahei and surrounds.

Cooks Beach Boasting a 3km stretch of white sand, Cooks Beach is walkable from Shakespeare Cliff Lookout, with Lonely Bay sandwiched in between. The latter is seldom busy.

THAMES COLVILLE

COLVILLE

COROMANDEL TOWN HAHEI

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

NEW CHUM BEACH

WAIHI

Explore above and below the surface on this two-hour cruise visiting Cathedral Cove with Whitianga’s Marine Reserve unfolding beneath your feet.

WHITIANGA WHANGAMATĀ

operate out of Whitianga and Tairua.

HAURAKI PLAINS

Mercury Islands Just over an hour from Whitianga wharf. Day trips with Windborne Charters sail to secret swimming and snorkelling spots.

Whiti Farm Park Depending on your petting bravery, you might like to stroke a big fluffy alpaca or pat the ears of a hee-hawing donkey. Hand feed a range of animals from rare sheep to wallabies and don’t forget to say hello to the ostrich.

Dive Ruamaahu/Aldermen Islands One of the best open-water dive sites in New Zealand, charters

Whitianga Oceans Festival

Formerly the Whitianga Scallop Festival, this annual event occurs each September.

COROMANDEL TOWN HAHEI & CATHEDRAL COVE

The Lost Spring Sink into thermal waters at adult-orientated Lost Spring Spa. With fluffy white towels, a full cocktail list, a la carte menu and luxury spa treatments, it’s just the ticket.

NEW CHUM BEACH

WAIHI

KŪAOTUNU WHITIANGA WHANGAMATĀ

Mill Creek Bird Park and Animal Encounters Come and see all sorts of big, bright and wonderful birds and hand feed the pigs, ducks, horses, llamas and donkey. Marvel at the sashaying peacock and jump aboard the miniature train ride. There’s a small picnic and play area for day trippers as well as camp sites and cabins for overnight stays.

Secret Beach With no road access, reaching this remote beach requires a scramble over the rocks and a 30-minute bush walk. The trees will open to reveal an icy-white paradise.

New Chum Lookout About 20 minutes into the walk, look out for signage warning of a hazardous right-hand path. Take the route less travelled – it ascends

NEW CHUM BEACH

NEW CHUM BEACH WAIHI WHANGAMATĀ

WAIHI

WHANGAMATĀ

WHANGAMATĀ RIDGES

MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK The Grade 2-5 trails set in a mix of native bush, pine forest and cleared park terrain provide massive amounts of fun for families up to experienced riders.

SUNKEN ROCK At high tide, the northern estuary transforms into a serene, lake-like environment. Ideal for those after placid swims.

WHENUAKURA ISLAND/DONUT

ISLAND A little cove of tropical splendour hides inside a collapsed blowhole. Hire a kayak and follow your guide to access the lagoon.

SUP TOUR Whangamata’s SurfSup now offer an all-weather Estuary Tour

as an alternative when the wind is offshore.

WHANGAMATĀ POTTERY

STUDIO With such a gorgeous collection of home-made ceramics, it’s near impossible to walk away from here empty handed.

SURFSUP WHANGAMATĀ SURF

SCHOOL Right on the beachfront, lean on the expertise of Surfing NZ qualified instructors to get you up on the board.

REPCO BEACH HOP A rock and roll festival celebrating the fabulous 50s and 60s. Held annually over five days in March. Come and see the hot rods, music, fashion and motorbikes.

MARTHA MINE PIT RIM

WALKWAY Peek into the stomach-churning open pit that is the Martha Mine on this easy yet unique 4km walk. Allow one hour to loop the mine’s dramatic rim.

THE SURF SHACK Fresh, modern and friendly. Set to a breakfast burrito first thing.

WAIHI GOLD MINE TOURS

Ordinarily off-limits to the public, your guides will infiltrate the security fence for a close encounter with Martha, the town’s colossal 2ha mining pit.

WAIHI GOLD DISCOVERY

CENTRE Fully interactive, this award-winning centre invites guests to rattle the drills and crank up the machines.

WAIHI ARTS CENTRE AND MUSEUM They’ve been digging up gold in Waihi since 1878. Step inside for the full intel on their mining history.

SPIKES BRICKS AND MODELS

MUSEUM Uncover a trove of LEGO creations where each room has a theme.

GOLDFIELDS RAILWAY Travel back in time on a vintage train journey between Waihi and Waikino. Rent bikes from the local bike shop or the Gold Discovery Centre and incorporate a ride along the Hauraki Rail Trail.

PLAINS

TOWN

& CATHEDRAL COVE

Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours

Explore a coastline rarely seen by travellers on The Remote Coast Tour.

Get ready to discover old volcanic islands, sea caves and blowholes.

90-minute amble to Cathedral Cove and its famed archway, accessible only by foot or by boat.

CHUM BEACH

The Gemstone Bay Snorkel Trail

This bay is brimming with sea life, making it a great place to snorkel. Underwater signs identify the sealife you see.

Whanganui O Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve Walk the coast to irresistible coves and bays. The most popular track is an easy

Hot Water Beach Ten minutes by car from Hahei. Dig yourself a jacuzzi two hours either side of low tide. Hahei Explorer Launch from Hahei Beach for a one-hour exploration of the cove, blowholes, the islands and Orua Sea Cave. With luck, a pod of playful dolphins will join you.

Banana Boats Zip over the azure water from Hahei to Cathedral

Cove on a banana boat. Bring your snorkels for swims en route or book the Sunset Tour for an evening ride.

Boat Tours Scenic cruises come in all shapes and sizes, but Cave Cruzer boasts a small 10-person motorboat which can access smaller areas, and a permit which allows closer proximity to marine life.

Glass Bottom Boat Explore reef systems, crayfish, stingrays and even octopus from a window in the boat’s floor. Snorkelling gear is available.

VICTORIA BATTERY SITE

Located off SH 2, between Paeroa and Waihi, this was one of the country’s foremost industrial sites during the first half of the 19th century, and an integral part of the Waihi GMC’s Martha mining operation.

CHEZ MOI CHOCOLATE SHOP A hidden little gem to be found in an alleyway off the main street. They have a dairy free range, and on a chilly day their hot chocolates are divine.

THE SECRET GARDEN ‘The Pod’ serves hot drinks and smoothies among the shaded Balineseinspired garden oasis beside Waihi Beach.

ATHENREE HOT SPRINGS Open to the public from 10am until 7:30pm daily, but free to holiday park guests from 8.30am.

HOMUNGA BAY This is a fabulous, secluded beach with a small waterfall/cave.

Walks

MT PAKU SUMMIT A volcanic peak is located between Tairua Beach and the Tairua Harbour mouth. Steep, but it’s short with handrails and steps etched into rocks to assist. 25min

OROKAWA BAY WALK Only accessible during low tide, you’ll find the entrance to this walk at the far end of Waihi Beach (past surf

lifesaving club). Pass through dense bush then descend into Orokawa Bay. Homunga Bay, notable for its dense pōhutukawa forest, can be reached via a track at the northern end of Orokawa Bay. 45min each way

ATHENREE WETLAND LOOP

WALK Starting at Steele Rd, stroll around an ecologically rich reserve.

Follow the wooden trail markers. 20min

WAIOMU KAURI GROVE WALK

Located in the Coromandel Forest Park, this walk will take you to one of the Coromandel Peninsula’s finest remaining kauri stands. 1hr 20min

WHITIANGA ROCK WALK Start from Ferry Landing Wharf and head

into Whitianga Rock Scenic and Historic Reserve where you can visit the remains of a pā site. 20min return

LONG BAY KAURI WALK Start at the Long Bay Motor Camp, and follow the track to Tucks Bay before following the coast back to the motor camp. 50min

Karangahake Gorge

Destination Coromandel

Welcome to coastal

range’:

from the pristine golden-sand beach and resort town of Mt Maunganui there are some

40-minute

rivers and spring creeks, plus

lakes offering arguably the best fly fishing for huge wild trout in the world. The saltwater fishing is off the hook, with world records held of kingfish, snapper, marlin and tuna

all on the

Fruit & HoneyLand of

Four hundred years after Māori first arrived, Captain Cook named this huge stretch of shoreline the Bay of Plenty, namely for its abundance of natural resources, including food. You certainly won’t have to look far for delicious kiwifruit, avocados and mānuka honey.

It is also a region that offers plenty of excuses to get outdoors, from twilight kayaking to see glowworms in Lake McLaren’s canyons or exploring Moutohorā/Whale Island to swimming with dolphins or braving the mountain bike trails.

If you’re not exploring then you should be indulging. Succumb to Mt Maunganui’s sophisticated café scene; in Papamoa, note the Dinner in the Domain with food trucks option.

Families can’t get enough of Waimarino Adventure Park, home to water trampolines, giant inflatables and New Zealand’s only kayak slide. For smaller children, the much-loved Hairy Maclary sculptures on Tauranga’s waterfront and McLaren Falls is a gorgeous spot for bush walks, picnics and kayaking, with Marshalls Animal Park situated adjacent and full of fun.

Exploring Ngā Tapuwae o Toi © Whakatāne District Council

Cruise ships, Mt Maunganui © Bay of Plenty Tourism LEFT: Gibbo’s on the Wharf in Whakatāne © Whakatāne District Council

Pukehinahina/Gate Pā memorial

ART & CULTURE

Owen Dippie Larger than Life Murals, Tauranga Livening up the Tauranga CBD with giant murals gracing the inner city streets.

The Elms, Tauranga This rich heritage site sits overlooking the city on the northern tip of Te Papa peninsula. It includes The Mission House, built in 1847, featuring much of the original furnishings and available to view on guided tours. Beautiful classic gardens and contemporary Māori carvings complete a special cultural experience here.

TOP TREKS

Ngā Tapuwae o Toi / Kohi Point Walkway, Whakatāne

KIWI GEMS

• Whirinaki Forest Park, Whakatāne –soak up pure tranquillity on the Whirinaki Forest Walk, an easy 11km amble through dense podocarp trees.

• Classic Flyers Aviation Museum, Tauranga Airport –dedicated to all-things aviation, including the opportunity to fly over Tauranga in an open cockpit plane.

• Katikati Bird Gardens – a small, family-run garden on Katikati Harbour. Nonchalant herons stalk the lawns, there are ponds, wetlands and aviaries, and the bantams roam free.

This walk is a must-do if you’re a fan of sweeping coastal views and lush native bush, stretching for 8km between Whakatāne and Ōhope Beach. Either do a loop or walk one way then catch the bus back. Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, Tauranga You can access the tracks within this 300ha park from several points throughout the Bay of Plenty, including via an access road 30 minutes southwest of Tauranga.

McLaren Falls Park, Tauranga Take your pick of activities found within the 190ha of parkland surrounding Lake McLaren, including many bush walks including a little beauty to a waterfall flanked by glowworms. Waterfall Track takes just 20 minutes and is largely wheelchair accessible.

Wairere Falls Track, Whakatāne This track weaves its way along a pretty path with moss-covered rocks, large round boulders forming natural pools and cascading waterfalls. Allow three to five hours for a return hike to the truly awesome waterfall – and be prepared for steps!

The Land Wars of the midnineteenth century led to massive Māori land confiscations by the British. Two significant battles took place in Tauranga – The Battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pā) and the Battle of Te Ranga. Visit the site of the Gate Pā battle, now a reserve, to learn about what happened and see carvings dedicated to those who lost their lives here.

Irakewa Rock (Te Toka o Irakewa), Whakatāne This landmark on the foreshore of the Whakatāne River is one of the landmarks Toroa, captain of the Mataatua waka, was told to look out for when he came to settle the area from Hawaiki 600 years ago.

NATURE LOVERS

• Kiwi Night Walk, Whakatāne At certain times of the year you can join the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust volunteers and visit kiwi in their natural habitat, while learning about the conservation work that’s done to ensure their survival.

• Kayaking Take your pick of places to take to the waters of the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Highlights include the Waioeka River just out of Ōpōtiki, the serenely pretty Ōhiwa Harbour and the hydroelectric dam created by Lake Matahina 30 minutes out of Whakatāne.

• Whale Island (Moutohora), Whakatāne A little known treasure, this tiny island off the coast of Whakatāne is an island sanctuary, providing a home to kiwi, kākāriki, saddlebacks, tuatara and rare native geckos.

BELOW: Anzac Bay holidaymakers © Bay of Plenty Tourism

A carved representation of the ancestor Toihau © Bay of Plenty Tourism

Carving © Whakatāne District Council

TAURANGA

Open-air Art Murals are a real feature of Katikati. Pull up a map from katikatiopenairart.co.nz and take a self-guided art walk.

KATIKATI WHAKATĀNE PĀPĀMOA

MT MAUNGANUI

while enjoying live music and the Smashed Avo competition.

Expect plenty of food and wine on Saturday 14 January 2023, at the Uretara Domain.

Barry the Statue On first glance, it’s just a man reading the paper on a bench. On second glance, it’s an impressive life-size sculpture by Donald Paterson made from resin, copper and fibreglass.

The Haiku Pathway By the end of this 2km riverside walkway, you’ll be a whizz at crafting haiku. This series of boulders inscribed with poems is refreshingly different.

TE PUKE ŌHOPE

Sapphire Springs Holiday Park & Mineral Pools Foremost a campsite set beside a beautiful river; day visitors are also welcome to use the park’s pools, hot tubs and private spas.

Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival Rip off the socks and shoes, this one’s all about dancing barefoot in the grass

Western Bay Museum

Appreciate the life of early settlers, practise morse code and marvel at working typewriters and gramophones.

Summer Twilight Visit in summer for a series of Saturday night concerts at Haiku Reserve.

Katikati Produce Market

Kicking off every Friday from 3.30pm, load up on locally made produce, it wraps up at 6pm in summer and in winter, when darkness falls.

Leveret & Mills Reef Winery

Enjoy a large variety of wine tastings inside a striking Cape Dutch building. Your hosts will eagerly spill the stories behind every varietal.

TOP TIPS: Download the Arataki Trails app for free and hear stories from the places you are exploring. The app registers your location and provides cultural content related to where you are.

The Strand A top spot for foodies, relax by the waterfront while dining on an array of global dishes. Feast on fresh fish and chips or sip on happy hour cocktails, it’s downtown Tauranga’s dining mecca.

Hairy Maclary Sculptures On the Tauranga waterfront, these life-sized sculptures commemorate Dame Lynley Dodd’s much-loved Hairy Maclary characters with kids often found crawling all over them.

Tauranga Farmers’ Market Walnuts from Ōpotiki, Italian cheese and moreish Pirongia Bacon... Saturday mornings at Tauranga Primary School.

Tauranga Rocks A popular citywide game whereby hundreds of small painted pebbles have been hidden. If you find one, re-hide it for the next person.

Tauranga Art Gallery Get to know Tauranga’s creative side with over

500 contemporary artworks by predominately local artists. Entry is free. You can also ask staff for a map detailing the town’s street art.

The Historic Village A charming row of character buildings, fans of great coffee and bespoke artwork will love this street. The Zee Markets are also held here every first and third Sunday of the month from 10am to 2pm and every Friday from 4pm to 8pm.

Street Art Discover the stories behind the city’s artworks as you wander the streets with a self-guided tour on the ‘The City Art Walk’ app.

The Incubator Located in the Historic Village, this eclectic art space is a hub of Tauranga creatives. Check out the talent and leave inspired.

The Big Blue Backyard There are dolphins and orca playing in Tauranga’s waters. Tick a memorable animal encounter off your bucket list

with a boat trip led by Bay Explorers, Dolphin Seafaris or Orca Wild Adventures.

Urban Cycle Trails Enjoy a myriad of recreational routes that make the most of Tauranga’s waterside setting. For maps visit https://bit.ly/3vPHQEz.

Ōmokoroa to Tauranga Cycleway This new cycleway is a 40km return bike ride linking the township of Ōmokoroa to Tauranga’s existing urban cycleway. Made up of 25 sections, all but two have been completed.

Riverbugging A river bug is a small, inflatable craft for solo white-water adventures. Check out riverbug.nz for excursions on the Bay of Plenty’s boisterous waters.

Adrenalin Forest Test your agility – and your limit! An obstacle course high in the treetops, cross logs, barrels and wobbly ropes. Waimarino Water and Adventure Park The ultimate hangout for water lovers, catapult off giant inflatables,

launch off monster swings and jump off floating trampolines on Wairoa River, 10 minutes from central Tauranga. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are for hire, too.

Dinner and Sunset Cruise In partnership with Trinity Wharf hotel, enjoy a two-course meal at the restaurant, then board the Bay Explorer cruise for a sunset sailing with dessert. Summertime only.

Forest Bathing Escape to Ōtanewainuku Forest for various walks amongst giant trees.

Pori Pori Water Holes Perfect for a freshwater swim but check before you go to make sure it isn’t dam release day upstream, as there will be a significant and rapid rise in water levels.

MORE TAURANGA MUST DO’S:

> Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market

> Skydive Tauranga

> Te Puna Quarry Park

> Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

> Marshalls Animal Park

> The Cider Factorie

SUMMIT ‘THE MOUNT’ Climbing the Mauao takes about 40 minutes of sweat-inducing puff, but the views are phenomenal. No less breathtaking is the largely flat walk around its sea-fronting base.

MAIN BEACH Channelling a lively resort vibe, access to shops and cafés is all but a two-minute walk away. Lifeguards patrol the surf beach in summer.

WATERSPORTS Fill your days in the Mount’s big blue backyard. Kids will love the Mount Water Bikes on

Pilot Bay, and sea-biscuiting from the back of a jet ski with Aqua 360 Tours. Bigger kids can have get their adrenalin rush from parasailing, wake-boarding and water-skiing, or for a more serene experience there is always kayaking and paddleboarding.

PILOT BAY On the other side of the township, this soft curve of golden bay is calm and serene.

MATAKANA ISLAND Make your own way there or hop aboard Kewpie Cruises to visit this

remarkable 20km long stretch of land, displaying beaches, thick pine forest, sheltered orchards and native wildlife.

CLASSIC FLYERS AVIATION

MUSEUM Admire a fascinating collection of aviation and military artefacts. An aviation playground is on site for younger guests.

DINE ON A LIME Grab a Lime scooter, cut traffic and support local, scooting your way around 18 recommended eateries.

MOTURIKI ISLAND/LEISURE ISLAND can be accessed via a small path from Main Beach.

MOUNT HOT POOLS Sink into hot salt pools of varying degrees.

V8 TRIKE TOURS Sit back in a V8 Chevrolet trike and explore with the wind in your hair.

THE LITTLE BIG MARKETS Bringing together street food, artisan stallholders and live music, this

bustling market is held on the first Saturday of the month.

ROLLED ICE CREAM Feeling hot? Then hit the Polar Bar. Watch your ice cream be rolled, chopped and topped. It gets busy but is really worth the wait.

BAYFAIR SHOPPING CENTRE

Money burning a hole in your pocket? Then look no further than this shopping oasis. Keep an eye out for the art installations within and stock up at the eco-friendly store, The Source.

BAY KARTS Race your mates with state-of-the-art Formula 1 racestyle system on go karts.

BITES OF THE BAY Jump on a three to four-hour mini-van tour and meet the people producing the area’s best flavours, while of course, chomping on local cheese, fruit, honey, gelato, prime meats and more.

Tauranga © Bay of Plenty Tourism INSET ABOVE: The Historic Village, Tauranga © Quinn OConnell

BELOW RIGHT: Pilot Bay, Mt Maunganui © Bay of Plenty Tourism

PĀPĀMOA

WHAKATĀNE PĀPĀMOA

TAURANGA

PĀPĀMOA BEACH The

Get down to BayStation for a quick tuition and then enjoy 30 minutes of tarmac sailing.

PĀPĀMOA HILLS REGIONAL PARK/TE RAE O PĀPĀMOA

From the top of the Pāpāmoa Hills, learn about this highly regarded archaeological site with the best maintained concentration of traditional Māori fortress sites in New Zealand.

SANDBANK CAFÉ Operating out of a 1986 Bedford van. Grab coffees, smoothies and scones by the beach at Pāpāmoa Domain.

LEARN TO SURF The guys at Hakanini Surf School can help you with the basics. Ideal for beginners because the swell is usually smaller in Pāpāmoa than Mt Maunganui and it’s less crowded.

KAIATE/TE REREKAWAU FALLS

PUKE ŌHOPE

MATA BEER TASTING ROOM

Check out their unique testing tasting trays to sample some of their award-winning craft beers alongside tasty pizzas.

TE PUKE DINER This dinky little diner is hard to miss. Try their spicy dirty chai for a new coffee experience.

THE DAILY CAFÉ No ordinary café, The Daily is a community. The menu has three, simple meals options and the fair-trade coffee supports Cambodian villages. All profits go back into Te Puke community.

RAPARAPAHOE FALLS The waterfall has a large pool with crystal clear water, ideal for swimming. The walk to it takes approximately 30 minutes return and is steep in places. Dogs are also welcome.

MATATĀ WILDLIFE REFUGE

RESERVE Located 30 minutes along the coast from Te Puke, there are walkways and picnic tables here. Walk 5km further along the shoreline and you’ll find an excellent birdwatching shelter.

KATIKATI

Pāpāmoa suburb, south of The Mount, has 16km of pristine beaches. When the sun’s out, there’s no better place to flop and drop.

THE CAVE Use your noodle in the VR escape rooms, embark on a zombie shooting mission or escape to a simulated oasis under the sea.

BLOKARTING Have a go at this seriously fun wind-powered toy.

MAUNGANUI

Take the forest trail down a series of steep steps to Kaiate Falls where, in thick foliage, there’s a large, deep swimming hole and shaded areas for a picnic.

ABOVE: Camping in Pāpāmoa Beach © Bay of Plenty Tourism

BELOW: Ōhope Harbourside Trail © Bay of Plenty Tourism

RIGHT: Whakatāne river mouth © Andy Belcher

Ōhope Beach Just 8km from Whakatāne, make the most of 11km of golden beach. Stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and surfing are all popular, notably because it’s one of safest surf beaches in the country.

Ōhiwa Harbour Separated from Ōhope by a giant sandspit, look out for godwits migrating from Alaska, then get on the water for fishing, kayaking and more.

Picnic at Otarawairere Beach

One of those achingly beautiful places that instantly impresses. Accessible only by foot or kayak. Pack a picnic and discover white sands and rocky islets via a 15-minute walk from West End in Ōhope, or a 10-minute paddle by boat.

Retail Therapy This little town has more than its fair share of quality fashion, home ware and gift stores.

In fact it’s a little fashion hub so be sure to leave room in your suitcase

Ōhope Beach Golf Course You’ll feel as though you are playing on a (very green) desert island out on this stretch of land between the ocean and Ōhiwa Harbour.

Ōhiwa Oyster Farm Boasting a peaceful spot on the water’s edge, rock up to this oyster and seafood shack for the freshest catch, then sit beside the harbour and enjoy the no hurry, no worries vibe.

Kayak Ōhiwa Harbour Explore the pristine harbour and its many islands and sandbars with KG Kayaks. View rays, fish and abundant birdlife – and orca if you’re lucky. Pitstops for homemade coffee and cakes are a welcome touch.

TOP TIP: Between July and November, a three-hour evening tour of Moutohora Island weekly witnesses the return of approximately 168,000 grey-faced petrels.

Moutohora Island/Whale Island

Visit one of the country’s most protected wildlife sanctuaries, thriving with plants, birds and reptiles. Only three companies have permission to tour here, allowing a select few to bathe at a secluded hot water beach, swim in empty bays and visit a fur seal colony.

Whirinaki Te-Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park You don’t want to miss a guided eco-cultural tour of Whirinaki Forest, one of the world’s last prehistoric rainforests. The ancient trees are massive. You will feel like an ant amongst giants.

Dive SeaFire In 2008, a 44m fishing vessel was sunk just off the shores of Whale Island to create an artificial reef. Thirteen years later and divers adore the flourishing ecosystem.

Warren Cole Walkway/Cycleway

Embark on a gentle cycle (or walk) beside Whakatāne River. Jump off the saddle for Whakatāne Rose Gardens, River Edge Miniature Railway (open Sundays), plentiful cafés, Whakatāne Wharf and Wairaka Centennial Park for its playground and aquatic play area.

Night Walks with Whakatāne Kiwi Trust This town is the nation’s kiwi capital and home to over 300 wild kiwi. Between April and June, take a Friday night walk to spot

them in their natural habitat. Kids’ discovery walks run once a fortnight on Thursday nights.

Te Ana o Muriwai/Muriwai’s Cave As one of the region’s most sacred sites, the cave was once 122m deep. Today’s visitors can explore all but a few metres. The carvings are exceptional.

Awakeri Hot Springs Foremost a holiday park, general public can also sink into the site’s outdoor hot pool and private spas.

Wairere Falls Whakatāne is the only New Zealand town with a waterfall in the middle of it. From the grassy picnic area, take the short path to the waterfall’s base.

Whakatāne Museum and Arts

A welcoming library, museum and arts hub all-in-one. The exhibition center displays Māori and European settler artefacts as well as local arts and crafts.

River Edge Park Miniature Railway For a mere $2, jump on the miniature carts for a ride on the rails, complete with steam and whistles. Running Sundays from 10am-3pm, weather permitting.

Julian’s Berry Farm & Café The berry farm is open from October to early February but with a playground, basketball half court,

animal petting farm, soccer area and mini-golf you can be sure to enjoy it year-round.

Mataatua Wharenui Marae

This fully carved Māori ancestral house traversed the globe for 130 years before returning to Aotearoa. One of the tour highlights is the award-winning show, Hiko: Legends Carved in Light, whereby carvings are brought to life via digital illumination.

Boat Charters In Whakatāne, there are more fishing charters than you can wave your rod at. For all those not casting a line, there’s Centaurus, a slick 38ft catamaran with room for 12 guests.

Kiwi Wandering Trail There are 10 bronze kiwi statues to find on this self-guided scavenger hunt. Pick up a brochure with clues at the i-SITE or library and allow at least one hour to complete.

Awakeri Rail Adventures

Experience a fun and informative guided tour along disused railway. Buggies have been cleverly converted to be self-driven along the tracks and the scenery is as good as the shenanigans.

As the first place on Earth to see a brand new day, getting up for sunrise has never felt so special. There are ample places to sample Eastland’s coastline, culture by the bucketload and, with a landscape draped in grape vines, a nice big drop of world-class chardonnay, too.

TŪRANGI & RUAPEHU

What makes Gisborne unique?

Friendly people with a strong culture. Beautiful skies over green hills, vineyards and sandy beaches. It’s the first city in the world to see the sunrise on New Year’s Day.

JOHN DRUMMOND FOUNDER OF GISBORNE

TOURS

Tairāwhiti Gisborne Adventures in

The first Polynesian canoes landed here, having evidently observed a bounty of treasure on the horizon. They weren’t wrong. From its long stretches of golden sand, rocky headland and plentiful seafood, Gisborne was, and still is, a jackpot region.

Gisborne soils grow the country’s best chardonnay, as well as a decent drop of Gewürztraminer and pinot gris. Arguably the nation’s best surf

spots freckle the shoreline, too. Diehard surfers will already know the thrills found along the coast, and there are plenty of calm waves for beginners to give it a whirl.

Most people know that this eastern stretch of coastline is the first place on earth to sea sunrise, but Gisborne is also full of the unexpected. From tandem rail biking to stingray feeding and natural rockslides, read on for the full lowdown on every surprise.

STOPS

• East Cape Lighthouse, Te Araroa

• St Mary’s Church, Tikitiki

• Waihau Bay Lodge

• The wharf at Hicks Bay

• Sunrise at Mt Hikurangi

• Christ Church, Raukokore

ABOVE: Sunset, Gisborne

Rere Falls

RIGHT: Bridge in the forest, Lake Waikaremoana

to the top by 4WD vehicle and add a stirring level of cultural significance to the experience. Plus they provide kai.

ANCIENT TREES Te Araroa lays claim to New Zealand’s oldest and largest pōhutukawa tree, Te Wahao-Rerekohu. Find it in the grounds of the local school.

LAKE WAIKAREITI This exceptionally clear little lake, neighbouring Lake Waikaremoana, is accessible via an hour-long trek through beech forest. The track begins about 200m from

Te Urewera Visitor Centre.

RERE FALLS TRAIL Winding through remote countryside inland from Gisborne, this 103km trail takes between one to three days to complete. Relatively challenging, it passes the famous Rere waterfall and rockslide, as well as the Eastwoodhill Arboretum.

LEARN TO SURF Where better to chuck on a wetsuit and try your hand at surfing than at one of New Zealand’s surf hotspots?

NATURE

MOTU TRAILS, ŌPOTIKI Suitable for both cyclists and walkers, this part of Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail, has three sections of differing levels, which are linked. No bike? No problem; hire one near Memorial Park.

FISHING CHARTERS, ŌPOTIKI

Take your pick of the fishing trips out of Ōpotiki because both salt and fresh water are within easy reach.

MT HIKURANGI, RUATŌRIA

Excellent guided tours are run by Ngāti Porou which will transport you

HISTORY & CULTURE

TAIRĀWHITI MUSEUM Māori

arts and culture are a special focus of the excellent Tairāwhiti Museum which features a changing programme of art, history, and decorative arts exhibitions. It’s also home to part of a wrecked cargo steamer and the oldest European-style house in the region, Wyllie Cottage, which dates from 1872.

TAIRĀWHITI WAKA VOYAGES, GISBORNE Experience a waka hourua or double-hulled canoe.

Your journey begins with a traditional Māori welcome with options of story-telling in the marina or an actual voyage trip with guests helping to sail.

The historic wharf at Tolaga Bay: Built in the late 1920s so ships could access the shallow bay. These days its main uses are as a fishing platform and a photo stop for tourists.

Lighthouse © Wairoa District Council INSET LEFT: Hukutaia Domain, Ōpotiki © Adobe Stock

Motu Trail © Adobe Stock

LEFT INSET: Learn to surf, Gisborne © Strike Photography

BELOW: Tolaga Bay Wharf © Adobe Stock

East Cape Lighthouse on Otiki Hill above East Cape, catching sunrise here is pure magic, even if there are 700 steps to reach it. From Te Araroa, the coastal drive to get to the lighthouse is also awesome.

WAIOTAHE BEACH The beach here is an absolutely beautiful gateway to the East Cape. The fishing is excellent, particularly over the summer months, good for surf casting or long liners. For shade, settle under the pōhutukawa trees, halfway along the beach.

ŌPOTIKI MUSEUM One to rival any big city museum, visitors are left in

awe. Housed in a former bus station and superbly curated, there are three floors of artefacts, including everyday implements from days gone by and a comprehensive selection of Māori taonga.

THE BURIAL TREE Estimated to be more than 2000 years old and found in Hukutaia Domain, the pūriri tree is hollow and was once

used by the Upokorehe iwi to store the bones of the dead. Yes, the tapu has been lifted.

MOTU RIVER JET Motu River weaves through one of the last significant areas of untracked native bush in the North Island. Access this remote landscape on a jet-boat tour, combining thrills and fun with historic accounts and insight.

BEACHES AND BAYS Te Kaha has glorious beaches and bays, perfect for swimming, while Whanarau Bay, with its tranquil beaches and rocky outcrops, is considered to be the prettiest bay.

LEFT: Cycling near Ōpotiki on the Pākihi Track © Jim Robinson

EAST CAPE

GISBORNE AREA

GISBORNE

TOLAGA BAY WHARF Home to a 660m pier and the longest in New Zealand. A 50-minute drive north of Gisborne.

COOK’S COVE See for yourself where Captain Cook stopped when he circumnavigated New Zealand. A 5.8km return walk traverses the landscape (closed for lambing between July and October) and at several scenic lookouts as you go.

GISBORNE TO WAINUI BEACH

CYCLEWAY Ride from the city to the white sands of Wainui Beach. This easy, 6km one-way trail traces the beachfront, passing heritage sites and sculptures.

TAIRĀWHITI MUSEUM Get a taste of the region’s rich history by absorbing a huge range of local and cultural exhibits.

TUPAPA HERITAGE TRAIL

Integrated with a world-class app, take yourself on a 4km self-led walking tour, peppered with beautiful artworks and 10 tour markers that conclude at the top of Titirangi.

EASTWOODHILL NATIONAL ARBORETUM OF NEW ZEALAND Boasting the most comprehensive collection of woody plants in New Zealand, including a large number of northern hemisphere trees. Enjoy 25km of walks.

CAPE GISBORNE AREA

QUALITY BEACHES Togs

GISBORNE

on! There are plenty of swimming spots along the East Cape, including Oruaiti Beach and Lottin Point for snorkelling. Sleep right on the beach at Maraehako Camping Ground, where you can also light a fire under the night sky.

THE FIRST SUNRISE Mt Hikurangi is the first place on the planet to welcome a new day. The full summit hike is a sevenhour one-way walk for seasoned trampers. There’s a DOC hut on the track. Hosted tours are another option.

HICKS BAY This remote bay is etched with the remains of several pā and steeped in Māori

history. Visit the old wharf at nearby Onepoto Bay for a stunning lick of sand and inviting water.

TOUR THE CARVINGS with

Maunga Hikurangi. Conquer the highest peak in the Raukumara Range. Two thirds of the way up, nine elevated whakairo (Māori carvings) stand before the landscape. Depicting Māui and his whānau. Book your tour at maungahikurangi.com

CHRIST CHURCH RAUKOKORE

This quaint whitewashed church glistens in the sun upon the shoreline, encouraging you to take a detour from SH 35. A true gem, it is paired with a cemetery, and uniquely, penguins nesting beneath it.

MĀHIA PENINSULA Detour from Gisborne off SH 2 at Nūhaka and find New Zealand’s only rocketlaunching company, Rocket Lab. Māhia also boasts gorgeous seaside markets, sandy beaches and swimmable rockpools at Coronation Reserve.

CLIMB MOKOTAHI HEADLAND

On the Māhia Peninsula, this short 20-minute walk starts from the edge of Māhia Beach. Reach the top and lap up the sweeping Pacific Ocean views.

MĀHIA COASTAL RAIL BIKE RIDE

The latest adventure from Rail Bikes Adventures. Mount a custom-made tandem bicycle and ride the rails to the coastal communities along Māhia Peninsula. A 22km/threehour return journey, complete with BYO beachside picnic.

MĀHIA This is a family friendly holiday destination if you’re after a summer beach experience without the crowds. If you like to surf, swim, dive and fish, you’ve come to the right place.

GISBORNE BOTANICAL GARDENS

A bright and beautifully uplifting garden with huge ponds, a large cactus collection and expansive lawns for a picnic. There’s also an excellent, well-maintained playground.

TOP TIP: Keep your eye on Rocket Lab’s website and Facebook page for upcoming launch dates, then head to Blucks Pit Rd to witness blast off.

Road to East Cape • ABOVE: East Cape Lighthouse. ALL: © Tairāwhiti Gisborne

EAST CAPE GISBORNE AREA GISBORNE

FEED, SNORKEL AND SWIM WITH STINGRAYS For close encounters with reef dwellers, including stingrays, book a memory-making experience with Dive Tatapouri. Don your waders and get acquainted.

RERE ROCKSLIDE Arguably everyone’s favourite Tairāwhiti must-do, speedsters can whizz down this naturally formed rockslide on a boogie board or inflatable. Should you find yourself without, there’s usually a skip full of discarded ones.

RERE FALLS Just 2km further from Rere Rockslide are the spellbinding Rere Falls. Showcasing a wide curtain of water, there’s an idyllic picnic area to sit, eat and admire.

ASTRO TOURS Experience a galaxy far, far away from the comfort of this quiet rural location. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke, stargazers can revel in the glorious star-spattered sky under the guidance of an acclaimed astronomer.

WINE TASTING Waipaoa River Valley, north west of Gisborne, is acclaimed for its grape growing. Multiple wine tours, including by bike, are available. Download a wine map from gisbornewine.co.nz

TE POUREWA BEACON OF LIGHT

This 12m tall striking sculpture lights up the night on Hoturangi Maunga in Tolaga Bay. Commemorating Tahitian ancestor, navigator and

priest Tupaia and his arrival at Ōpoutama (Cook’s Cove) on the Endeavour in 1769.

MOTU CYCLE TRAIL 103km of glorious terrain connecting Matawai to Gisborne. Allow one to three days to cycle this Grade 3 route which is also a Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails’ Great Ride.

TITIRANGI Also known as Kaitī Hill, this 35ha reserve and former pā site stands high above Gisborne. Walk, bike or drive to its summit, stopping at several scenic lookouts as you go.

MŌRERE HOT SPRINGS For some therapeutic TLC, relax into hot sea water. There are upper and lower pools, bush walks and a track to Nīkau Falls. Open Wednesdays and weekends only.

FIRST LIGHT WINE AND FOOD

Another Labour Weekend goodie, this is Gisborne’s premier wine and food event spread across three venues: Matawhero, TW Wines and Bridge Estate.

TIPUNA TOURS Explore historical sites of significance with your guide, traversing landmarks, traditional marae and Gisborne landscape. By foot or 4WD, tours can be tailored to your interests.

BEACH GLAMPING Stay in a spacious and luxurious belle tent fronting Tatapouri Bay – your ticket to a world-class sunrise. There’s also a traditional Finnish sauna and private hot tubs on site.

PUHI KAI ITI/COOK LANDING NATIONAL HISTORIC RESERVE

One of four national reserves in New Zealand commemorating the arrival of both Māori and Europeans to the land of the long white cloud.

HARVEST CIDERY The cellar door is open 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Drop in and taste New Zealand’s most-loved ciders, including Bulmers, Scrumpy and Strongbow.

SURF Seasoned surfers know the best waves are at The Pipe, south of Gisborne town, as well as Sponge

Island.

LAKE WAIKAREMOANA GREAT WALK 46km over three to

through

native

THE LONGLINE CLASSIC Held over Labour Weekend at Gisborne Racecourse, enjoy some of

best live music

NEIGHBOURHOOD PIZZERIA The dessert pizzas laced with chocolate and

are a must-try.

Whether you’re dangling by a rope into a great earthy gash, exploring caves glistening with glowworms, embracing Raglan’s surfy good vibes or the Hobbiton underworld, it’s all go in these parts. And that’s all before you’ve set foot in the mighty ‘tron – Hamilton.

Located on Te Kuiti’s main street in the renovated old railway building, with the Colin Mead’s statue outside, is Stoked Eatery. It’s a lovely setting for a casual, modern eatery. It’s light and bright with lots of touches to reflect the history and makes for a very pleasant spot for a night out.

Waikato & Waitomo

Ngāruawāhia, one of the region’s oldest towns, is overlooked by the sacred (tapu) Mt Taupiri, burial ground for the Waikato tribe and where past Māori kings and the late Māori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, are buried.

The Tree Church A full size chapel, made entirely out of living trees, can be found on the outskirts of Ōhaupō in the centre of a beautiful threehectare garden with a labyrinth, European-inspired plantings, flower gardens and Monet-esque lily pond.

The Tree Church itself is grown from cultivated Australian tea tree and

alder. It is open to visitors from 10am until 4pm on summer Sundays.

Waitakaruru Arboretum

Sculpture Park An ‘art-in-nature’ experience at Tauwhare on the outskirts of Hamilton, is a sprawling garden studded with specimen trees and sculptures in what was once a disused quarry. Today, the 17.5-hectare arboretum is one of New Zealand’s largest outdoor galleries with more than 100 individual artworks as well as regularly changing exhibitions.

Take a stroll on the 2km art trail

and enjoy the harmonious blend of creativity and cultivated garden spaces.

Te Kuiti is the shearing capital of New Zealand and hosts the annual New Zealand Shearing Championships and The Great New Zealand Muster. See the magnificent statue of All Blacks legend Sir Colin Meads.

If you are looking for relaxation with a dash of heritage, the TE

AROHA DOMAIN has it all. Famous for its natural hot springs, the Domain is also home to the Mokena Geyser.

Near MATAMATA, visit the Opal Hot Springs for a relaxing soak.

DIY: KĀWHIA’S OCEAN

BEACH has natural hot springs bubbling to the surface for a few hours either side of low tide; here you can dig your own hot spa pool.

Tirau • INSET: Sanctuary Mountain, Maungatautari BOTH © Waikato Hamilton Tourism

BEST BEACHES

Ngarunui Beach, Raglan It’s known among locals as the ‘Main Beach’ complete with vast stretches of iron-rich black sand. Grab a boogie board, learn to surf, cool off (between the flags) or simply watch from the shoreline.

Marine Parade Set beside Raglan Holiday Park, a playground and a fish and chip shop is a gently sloped shoreline running underneath the iconic footbridge. Join other families for a dip in the inlet.

Manu Bay World-famous surf spot, Manu Bay offers enviable left-hand breaks across a rocky point. While this beach is definitely reserved for the confident types, it’s entertaining to pull up and watch the surfers clamber over the rocks before plunging into the water.

Kāwhia Hot Water Beach On the other side of the sand dunes at Kāwhia’s Ocean Beach is a hidden gem. Best experienced at low tide, find your spot and start digging to uncover a natural hot water spa bubbling up from the sand.

FAMILY FUN

• Hamilton Zoo Get up close and personal to creatures such as lemurs and rhinos on a Face2Face Animal Encounter and learn about their lives and in the wild. Learn from a zoo keeper, watch giraffes graze, chimp families swing and play, and tigers prowl.

• Hamilton Lake Domain Take a stroll around the lake and relish sights of swans and ducks paddling on the calm waters and enjoy a bite to eat at Verandah Café. The playground is a big hit with children.

• The Hamilton Gardens

Set by the Waikato River are several themed gardens including The Japanese Garden of Contemplation, the Indian Char Bagh Garden and Italian Renaissance Garden. An on-site café sells fresh baking, sandwiches and salads; purchase a selection and enjoy a lakefront picnic.

• Waitomo Glowworm Caves

A walk and a boat ride through underground passageways reveal cave systems complete with stalactites, stalagmites and millions of glowworms. Blackwater rafting, abseiling and ziplining excursions are available.

• Matamata If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, Matamata should be top of your itinerary. Farmland around the small rural town was transformed into the Hobbiton movie location for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Kāwhia Coast

Waikato Hamilton Tourism

RIGHT: Ngarunui Beach, Raglan

Camilla Rutherford

Ancient Egyptian Garden © Hamilton Gardens

RIGHT: Hamilton Zoo © Waikato Hamilton Tourism

Cycling © Waikato River Trails

KUITI

Lovegrove Lane Easily missed, which only adds to its appeal, Lovegrove Lane hosts a charming row of gentrified sheds, repurposed into a yoga studio, frame shop, florist and GG’s retro café. Located just off Grey Street – keep your eyes peeled. If you see murals, you’re close.

AROHA MATAMATA ŌTOROHANGA KĀWHIA WAITOMO CAVES

The Riverbank Lane A gorgeous pocket of shops and hangouts, combining the fabulous Browsers bookshop (literally packed to the rafters with second-hand literature), a café, burger joint, Duck Island ice cream and a bar boasting elevated river views from its deck.

PUTĀRURU

Hamilton Gardens Exceptionally beautiful maze of fascinating gardens that cover everything from Indian temples to an Italian villa. Now with a new Egyptian Garden to inspire your green fingers.

Sunday Farmers’ Market Every Sunday, fresh farm produce direct from the growers. Held at Claudelands Arena.

Zealong Tea Estate New Zealand’s only commercial tea estate is open for plantation tours, tastings, summer picnics and decadent high teas.

Hamilton Mountain Bike Track Great for beginners and seasoned

pros alike, tackle 10km of single track and Grade 2-3 terrain.

Classics Car Museum & 1950s Diner Grab yourself a burger and ‘shake then head next door to an enormous collection of classic cars and vintage petrol pumps.

Hamilton Lake Domain Walk the lake’s 3.8km perimeter, passing lovely little spots for a sit down, as well as the lake fronting Verandah Café, covered picnic area and playground.

Waikato River Cruises The river is large and fast-flowing, carving a wide and striking route through the heart of Hamilton. A two-hour cruise shows off the best of both the river and city.

Tieke Golf Estate This new course sits on the banks of the Waikato River and is an amalgamation of the Narrows and Lochiel courses.

Sculpture Park and Arboretum Meander along the 2km art-innature trail at in Waitakaruru. With over 100 sculptures and installations, it is one of New Zealand’s largest outdoor galleries.

Cornerstone Alpacas Make friends with dozens of playful alpacas, 20 minutes from Hamilton. Following an alpaca presentation, head into

TOP TIP: The Classic Car Museum has a huge car park, albeit distinctly no-frills where self-contained campervans can stay overnight for a bargain $15pp, or $50 for the week! Maximum stay three weeks.

CAMBRIDGE

Maungatautari/Sanctuary Mountain The sanctuary’s 47kmlong predator-proof fence allows endangered species to flourish. Independent or guided tours available, a 25-minute drive from Cambridge.

Monavale Blueberries With PYO blueberries, a playground and Café Irresistiblue with a very berry menu.

Cycle Trails There are plenty of routes to give your wheels a good spin here. Bike rental from the i-SITE.

HAMILTON RAGLAN TE KAUWHATA

New Section of the Te Awa River Ride There are seven new kilometres of the 65km Te Awa Great New Zealand River Ride to explore. Running from Cambridge towards Hamilton featuring boardwalks, bridges, picnic spots and stunning views of the Waikato River.

TE AWAMUTU

The Red Barn Farm Experience a 60-minute guided tour of a Waikato working dairy farm and butter-making demos.

TE KUITI

MORE in Cambridge: Grassroots Trust Velodrome; The Walk of Fame; Saturday morning Farmers’ Markets; Lake Karāpiro.

TE AROHA

the paddocks. Alpacas are generous receivers of hugs (and food) and boy do they love a selfie!

MATAMATA

Indoor Rock-climbing Extreme Edge is the perfect rainy-day hangout, with 100 climbing routes ranging from absolute beginner level to experienced pro.

Waikato Museum Visit the new Exscite interactive gallery, jampacked with science-based activities for kids, perfect for inspiring and satisfying inquisitive little minds.

ŌTOROHANGA

KĀWHIA

Duck Island A nationwide success story; Kiwis go crazy for ice cream flavours like Fairy Bread and icecream ‘sammies’. The flagship store sits on Grey Street and there’s a second scoop shop on Riverbank Lane.

ArtsPost Galleries & Shop A mere hop from Waikato Museum (so combine both), this striking building, a former post office, celebrates artists from across the region over three galleries. Entry is free.

WAITOMO CAVES

PUTĀRURU

Hakarimata Scenic Reserve Near Ngāruawāhia, with three walks to choose from, you’ll be immersed in nature.

Hamilton Zoo Say hello to 600plus native and exotic animals. The brand-new tuatara house, daily keeper talks and the immaculate grounds are not to be missed.

Fieldays Play farmer for the day and browse over 1000 farming exhibitors. This is the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural event, occurring annually over four days in June.

Balloons Over Waikato A weeklong hot-air balloon bonanza in the skies above Hamilton, culminating in a nightglow event with stationed balloons choreographed to music. With food stalls, fair rides and fireworks. Held every March and every event is free.

Ancient

RANGIRIRI PĀ was a Māori stronghold attacked by British troops in 1863. The area is preserved with wood carvings and info panels, just off SH 1 in Te Kauwhata.

PŌKENO ICE CREAM & COFFEE

SHOP This curbside stop-off serves a colossal 12-scoop cone for $14. A 20-minute drive from Te Kauwhata.

POUNAMU TAONGA

GREENSTONE SHOP IN TE KAUWHATA Buy beautiful items of greenstone, bone and mother of pearl at wholesale prices.

HAMPTON DOWNS

MOTORSPORT PARK Calling all petrol heads: here is a racetrack, café and go karts. Watch some seriously fast cars lap the track –or take one yourself.

SHOPS AND BOUTIQUES A medley of independent shops showcases the artsy, flower child vibe of Raglan.

TONY SLY POTTERY SHOP Practical and beautiful, this is a brilliant option for gift shopping.

SOLSCAPE From its lofty position offering dramatic sea views to the on-site yoga classes and earth domes, Solscape eco-resort will restore your every chakra.

SURFING The best spots are Ngarunui Beach, Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Ruapuke Beach.

KAYAK TO PANCAKE ROCKS Book with Raglan Kayak & Paddleboard for an excursion to the Limestone

Coast. Paddle between rocks, little beaches and chasms before stopping for cappuccinos and baked goods.

RAGLAN BOAT CHARTERS In addition to an already very dreamy sunset cruise, these guys now run a scenic morning cruise across the harbour, complete with tea and coffee.

HORSE RIDING AT RUAPUKE

TE AWAMUTU ROSE GARDENS

Inhale the heavenly scent of more than 2500 rose bushes, admire the fountain depicting birds in flight and discover a handful of fantastic playgrounds.

TE AWAMUTU MUSEUM Learn about the Waipā region’s past via interpretive stories, historical accounts and the impressive Uenuku, a carving to represent a tribal god of the Tainui people.

TE AWAMUTU SPACE CENTRE

This museum and activity centre combined delves into our solar system using interactive displays, virtual reality and telescopes. With no set opening hours, jump online to see what’s what.

PIRONGIA FOREST PARK An ancient volcano, Pirongia sits 25km south west of Hamilton and is a short drive from Te Awamutu. Surrounded by bush-covered slopes that form part of Pirongia Forest Park, a wealth of tramping tracks await, from 15-minute lookouts to a hefty six-hour assault to the summit.

PIRONGIA MOUNTAIN BIKING Nudging the foothills of Mt Pirongia, the Sainsbury Road Mountain Bike park trails offer off-road cycling

BEACH

The best way to see this magnificent black-sand beach has got to be on horseback; Wildcoast Ruapuke Horse Adventures will guide you along this beautifully remote coastline.

HIKE MT KARIOI Energetic types will relish the five to six-hour hike up and over the summit of Karioi on either Wairake Track or Mt Karioi Track. The latter is steeper but more scenic.

WAIRĒINGA/BRIDAL VEIL FALLS Walk to vantage points at both the top and bottom of these spectacular 55m falls. Allow 10-20 minutes respectively. The top track is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

TE TOTO GORGE LOOKOUT

Finish off your day trip to Ngarunui and Manu Bay beaches by pressing on to this spectacular lookout. It is a twisty drive on a gravel road but you’ll be rewarded with incredible views from the lofty platform – just a 100m walk from the car park.

routes ranging from Grade 2-5 (easy to advanced).

TREE CHURCH, ŌHAUPŌ This garden’s centrepiece is a full-sized chapel made entirely of trees. Open Sundays from 10am-4pm from midOctober to the end of April. New onsite accommodation and workshops have recently opened.

RANGIAOWHIA TO O RĀKAU, WAIPĀ JOURNEYS Rangiaowhia, a once thriving Māori village before British invasion, sits 10 minutes from Te Awamutu. Take one of six self-guided tours using Te Ara Wai Journeys: digital stories told by historians, kaumātua (tribal elders) and other experts. A 10-minute drive from Te Awamutu.

Surfing

RAGLAN

TE KAUWHATA

KAUWHATA TE AWAMUTU TE KUITI

HOBBITONTM MOVIE SET A magical place even if you haven’t seen the films. The set tour visits Hobbit houses of The Shire.

TE AROHA MATAMATA ŌTOROHANGA KĀWHIA

AWAMUTU TE KUITI TE AROHA MATAMATA ŌTOROHANGA KĀWHIA WAITOMO CAVES

Tuck into their new Second Breakfast Tour.

THE HAURAKI RAIL TRAIL A 197km cycling trail which makes

PUTĀRURU

Blue Spring – Te Waihou Walkway Variation in weather and light only enhances the beauty of this natural attraction. Accessible via a short, scenic walk that follows a picturesque stream.

Tirau Unique for its collection of corrugated iron buildings and sculptures, plus antique and outlet fashion shops, Tirau is a 10-minute drive from Putāruru.

Lake Arapuni Pack your water toys and hit Lake Arapuni, a mecca for water sports and fishing. It’s also perfect for swimming and picnics, with a DOC campsite on the lake’s western fringes. A 35-minute drive from Putāruru.

Arapuni Suspension Bridge This mammoth suspension bridge is 152m long and hangs 54m above the water. Worth walking across, as long as you have a head for heights. A 10-minute drive from Putāruru.

Tokoroa Talking Poles

Across Tokoroa, 20 minutes from Putāruru, there are 46 intricately carved poles, depicting the diversity of cultures in the community.

Cheese Tasting in Putāruru

Over The Moon showcases artisan flavours and samples. They also run home cheesemaker courses for the true cheese-aholic.

a great four to five-day ride. Stretching from Kaiaua on the Coromandel Peninsula to the towns of Te Aroha and Matamata. Historic

sights are plentiful and the scenery is second-to-none.

FIRTH TOWER MUSEUM

Absorb the region’s history in displays spread across 13 buildings, summit the tower and picnic under a cloak of garden oak trees.

RUN HOBBIT, RUN! Beat your personal best time by imagining you are being chased by Orcs and Wraiths on this half marathon run through Hobbiton.

WAIRERE FALLS The top of this whopping 15m waterfall is reached via a 5km uphill hike, with numerous demanding steps. The views at the top are sensational, with a shallow rock pool too – just watch out for that ledge! Three to four hours return.

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.

Ōtorohanga Kiwi House A not-for-profit organisation since 1971 and easily one of the best places to meet native birds including kiwi and falcons, there are also ancient eels and tuatara. Try their new Rongoā Rākau tour.

CAMBRIDGE HAMILTON RAGLAN TE KAUWHATA TE AWAMUTU TE KUITI TE AROHA MATAMATA ŌTOROHANGA KĀWHIA WAITOMO CAVES PUTĀRURU

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 world-famous pavlova.

ABOVE: HobbitonTM Movie Set, Matamata

Adobe Stock

BELOW RIGHT: Kiwiana jandals, Ōtorohanga

Waikato Hamilton Tourism

BELOW LEFT: The Blue Spring

Waikato Hamilton Tourism

KUITI

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.

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 southwest of Te Kuiti.

CAVES

SWIM ZONE TE AROHA Make

the most of a 20m outdoor pool (heated to 31 degrees in summer and even warmer in winter), there’s also a spa, toddler’s pool and No. 2 Bath House which embraces its Edwardian heritage and is available for private bookings.

CAMBRIDGE HAMILTON RAGLAN TE KAUWHATA TE AWAMUTU TE KUITI TE AROHA MATAMATA

KUITI TE AROHA MATAMATA ŌTOROHANGA KĀWHIA

MOUNT TE AROHA SUMMIT

TRACK Beginning at the Mokena Geyser, it’s 20 minutes to the first lookout and approximately three hours to the top where views as far

RAGLAN TE KAUWHATA TE AWAMUTU TE KUITI TE AROHA MATAMATA ŌTOROHANGA KĀWHIA WAITOMO CAVES PUTĀRURU

as Mt Taranaki will knock you for six. Fortunately, soothing mineral spas await at the bottom.

EDWARDIAN DOMAIN Take a picnic to this beautiful leafy park freckled with Edwardian buildings.

TE AROHA DOMAIN FOOT POOL Set amidst the trees is a free foot pool, heated to 36 degrees.

TE AROHA MINERAL SPAS Set in a beautiful vintage building, the spa with private tubs draws hot soda

KĀWHIA WAITOMO CAVES

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 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.

Kāwhia Kai Festival Every February, experience authentic indigenous foods, including traditional hangi meals plus kapa haka performances, flax weaving and carving demonstration.

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 via Ocean Beach.

CAVES

MOKENA GEYSER Take a short walk near the spa to the only natural soda water geyser in the world, spurting every 40 minutes or so.

PIAKO COUNTY TRAMWAY

New Zealand’s oldest bush tramway with segments of original rail and the remnants of gold mines and miners’ lodgings. Located in Waiorongomai Valley.

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.

RUAKURI CAVE Descend an enchanting spiral entrance into a wonderland of glowworms. Venture between limestone and crystal, listening to subterranean waterfalls and admiring glowworms up close.

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.

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.

MAROKOPA FALLS From Waitomo Caves, you’re just 40 minutes from waterfalls often described as the most beautiful in the country. At 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.

water from beneath Mt Te Aroha.

Top walks in

& Waitomo

MAROKOPA FALLS A little outside of Waitomo is Marokopa Falls. A track lined with native tawa and nīkau forests leads to the viewing platform from where you’ll be rewarded with views of the 30m waterfall. 20min.

RUAKURI WALK This track near Waitomo reveals beautiful sights by day and by night. After dark, you’ll be treated to a swathe of glowworms along a pathway showcasing forested gorges, a stream and low-slung limestone arches leading to the Ruakuri Bridge platform. Entering a tunnel near the platform, you’ll see stalactites and stalagmites and gushing waterways. 45min.

KARIOI SUMMIT TRACK For the serious walker, this trail traces the peaks of Raglan’s iconic mountain and ancient volcano, Karioi, which translates to ‘sleeping lady.’ Terrain is challenging, with abseiling ropes assisting over rocky embankments in some parts. But the views revealed are well worth the effort. Be sure to arrange transport at the other end

if you’re completing the track in full. Alternatively you can walk up and down the same side, parking at the Te Toto Gorge car park. Six hours.

OPAPAKA PĀ WALK Walking this Waitomo track is an evocative experience as it alludes to part of New Zealand history with remnants of trenches and defensive structures used in battle by the Ngāti Hia tribe in the 1700s. And, through clearings in the beautiful native forest, a former Māori pā is visible on the skyline. 40min return.

ŌMARU FALLS Located near Piopio, it’s a quick and easy trail, accessible just off the State Highway down an unsealed road. Taking you through the bush, over a swing bridge, alongside the river with great rock formations and rock pools. 1 hour return.

NGARUNUI TRACK The original public track leading down to Raglan’s main beach, the track passes through groves of nīkau palms, kawakawa and kōwhai trees. 35min return.

Dog-friendly Spots

WAINUI RESERVE BUSH PARK, RAGLAN Home to a network of trails weaving through native bush, across farmland and down onto Ngarunui Beach. Developed by the Friends of Wainui Reserve community group, it has a dedicated car park at the entrance. Dogs welcome on-leash.

TAITUA ARBORETUM, HAMILTON

A popular trail for birding, hiking and

walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Dogs welcome on-leash.

LAKE TE KOO UTU, CAMBRIDGE

An easy walk with some off-leash areas, taking you around this pretty spot popular with local families. A car park and main entrance can be accessed from Albert Street.

LAKE NGĀROTO

WALKWAY, TE AWAMUTU The walkway passing through bush areas and wetlands navigating around the lake. Dogs welcome on-leash. Start from Bank Rd off Paterangi Road.

Welcome to

Whereas most regions boasting 18 lakes and a wealth of fascinating Māori culture might leave

at that, Rotorua ramps up its hot spots with even more hot

As a geothermal

entire landscape

and gurgles to

BAY TARANAKI WHANGANUI & MANAWATŪ

GREATER WELLINGTONLocal Buzz

For over 25 years the Pig & Whistle Historic Pub has been a go-to on Friday and Saturday nights. More recently the venue Level 13 has been showcasing all sorts of performers in their unique environment, and Okere Falls Store & Beer Garden is a great spot for an afternoon of entertainment.

PAUL HICKEY HOST OF THE HITS ROTORUA

Valley

Hamurana Okere Falls

Lake Rotorua

Ngongotahā

Te Ngae

Rotorua Airport

Rotorua

Te Puia Maori

Te Puia

The Redwoods

& Crafts Centre

Lake Rotoiti Lake Okāreka

Lake Rotokākahi

The Buried Village

Lake Tarawera

Lake Rotoehu

Lake Ohakuri

Waikite Valley

Tamaki

Village

TeAraAhiCycleTrail

Lake Rotomahana

Lake Rerewhakaaitu

Centre

Airport Must-Do’s

Visitor Centre

Waikite

Waiotapu

Waiotapu

Lookout

RotoruaDiscover geothermal

This incredible place is bursting with beautiful lakes, forest, bush and adrenalin-generating activities – all guaranteed to wow visitors. They can also experience Māori culture in its heartland. Walk through the Buried Village and hear the story of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption, and explore Te Whakarewarewa, a living thermal Māori village.

Visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Hell’s Gate, the Waimangu Volcanic Valley and experience the eruption of the Pohutu Geyser (Te Puia) in all its glory before spending time relaxing at one of the many thermal spas.

In Rotorua, you can zipline across the tree canopy, blaze down mountain biking trails or go Zorbing, play in the white water on a raft or kayak, parasail or take a scenic flight. You can fly downhill on a luge or into the air on the Skyswing, fish for trout, enjoy a round of golf or walk around one of its 18 lakes.

Rotorua has one of New Zealand’s richest concentrations of Māori culture. Manaakitanga means the spirit of hospitality and generosity, something you will experience when you visit this wonderful region.

DINING OUT

Whether it’s fine dining or artisan markets, fabulous coffee or craft beer, steambox or hangi, Rotorua’s expanding foodie scene is sure to impress.

The bustling hub of Eat Streat has a variety of bars and restaurants offering everything from casual eateries to fine dining options to appeal to all tastes. Artisan Café serves great quality, fresh food. The chorizo and potato hash comes highly recommended. Atticus Finch and Ali Baba’s Tunisian Takeaways are also hearty recommendations.

For a modern version of traditional Māori cooking, Steambox at Te Puia offers an authentic steam-cooked lunch as part of their guided tour of Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley Sabroso Restaurant serves authentic, fresh Latin American food.

For vegetarians, STEAM Indian Restaurant has a huge menu with excellent quality dishes.

Geyser by night, Te Puia © Destination Rotorua

Walking in Government Gardens LEFT: Volcanic Hills Winery BOTH: © Destination Rotorua

ARTS & CRAFTS

• See artists working in traditional forms at the Māori village Te Puia then buy a souvenir to take home. Rotorua is an awesome place to see traditional Māori art and craft. The city has a thriving cultural community whose art and crafts reflect the spirit of the people. See carvers working with wood, greenstone and bone and watch weavers and tattoo artists creating traditional designs.

• These art forms have been practised here for around 800 years. You can see many wonderful examples of the artworks in the city’s gardens and public buildings.

• Follow the Rotorua Public Arts Trail guide, available from the Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Centre.

• Mokoia Island, Rotorua

– did you know there’s an island on Lake Rotorua called Mokoia? Book a jet-boat ride to its isolated shores, where plumes of steam rise from hidden hot spots.

• Kuirau Park, Rotorua –

This public garden filled with steaming water, bubbling mud and geothermal energy is available for anyone to enjoy, for free. Kuirau Park is just off Pukuatua and Ranolf streets. Soak your toes in one of three free thermal foot baths.

• See archaeological relics at The Buried Village.

Geothermal Wonders

TE PUIA Discover over 500 geothermal wonders, Māori culture and performances. Pohutu Geyser is the southern hemisphere’s largest, erupting up to 20 times per day, to heights of 30m.

WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL PARK

Arguably the most famous thermal park in Rotorua, Champagne Pools are widely recognised for their bright orange crust, while Lady Knox Geyser blows every day at 10.15am. Under renovation at

time of print – please check online before you visit.

HELL’S GATE Visit one of New Zealand’s most active geothermal fields. Discover the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere and soak in skinsmoothing mud at the spa.

GEYSER BY NIGHT AT TE PUIA Come dusk, Te Puia guides will sneak you into the geothermal valley through a secret passage. Your guided night trail concludes at the world-famous Pohutu

Geyser, glowing under the night’s sky.

WAIMANGU VALLEY With steam escaping out of nearly every crevice and bubbling crater lakes as far as the eye can see, the world’s youngest geothermal valley offers self-guided walks, a boat cruise and a newly reopened full-day guided tour.

STEAMING CLIFFS KAYAK

TOURS While exploring Waimangu Valley, kayak across Lake Rotomahana surrounded by steaming cliffs. Tours explore geothermal features unique to Rotorua.

WAIKITE VALLEY THERMAL

POOLS Another day, another hot pool! This one at wallet-friendly prices. Sink into several outdoor lagoons with a shallow zone for kids and secluded nooks for adults. Stay overnight and entry is included in your camping price; 30 minutes south of Rotorua.

CATCH THE ACTION! You can now see the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera for yourself thanks to the new VR experience at the Buried Village.

Māori Culture

THE BURIED VILLAGE OF TE WAIROA New Zealand’s mostvisited archaeological site is where stories of devastation and resilience following the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera come to life. Relics are housed in the museum; there’s also a 4.8ha excavation site to explore and waterfall trails, too.

PINK AND WHITE TERRACES

Part of the Buried Village, the terraces once formed a staggering staircase of tiered hot-water pools, considered the eighth Wonder of the World. The eruption of

© Buried Village, Rotorua

Mt Tarawera destroyed them but downloading the Waimangu Volcanic Valley app will reveal their original beauty.

WHAKAREWAREWA – THE LIVING MĀORI VILLAGE Home of the Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao. Take a guided tour of their fully functioning village. New for 2020, the Whaka Geothermal Trails traverse a Jurassic-like landscape, encountering hot spring lakes, mud pools and geysers.

TE PĀ TŪ Māori hosts share their culture at this recreated traditional village, 15km from Rotorua. You will feel very much part of this community, participating in traditional Māori practices.

TE PĀ TŪ HUI E! KAI E! TWILIGHT

EXPERIENCE Guests on this tour are invited to help prepare a hāngi (complete with fried bread ‘puku burgers’ invented in the village), enjoy live performances and share stories by firelight.

TE PUIA This geothermal park is packed full of experiences to fill your day. From cultural performances and authentic hāngī lunches, to visits to the New Zealand Māori Art and Crafts Institute, where you’ll see flax weaving, greenstone and wood carving. It’s also home to the Kiwi Conservation Centre and the Pōhutu Geyser.

Māori carving, Te Puia

Graeme Murray

Adventure

River Sledging Effectively whitewater rafting without a raft. Instead, riders cling to a small board and come face-to-face with grade three rapids, wild eddies and two-metrehigh waves, courtesy of Kaitiaki Adventures.

O

ff Road NZ For an action-packed, full-on adventure that’s extra fun, grab your mates and take a 20-minute drive from Rotorua to Off Road NZ. Buckle up and hold on tight for a pulse-racing ride through native bush in a monster 4x4 or race a 390cc 4-stroke kart on New Zealand’s longest outdoor circuit.

Redwoods Altitude To access 25 jungle-themed bridges, you ascend a three-storey spiralling staircase wrapped around a giant redwood tree. Journey high into the treetops and learn stories of the forest with a guided tour.

Mt Tarawera At the top of this mountain famous for erupting in 1886, you can take a scree run in the very heart of the crater or lap up the views from the summit. Access is via helicopter with Volcanic Air or 4WD with Kaitiaki Adventures.

Glowworms by Kayak or Stand-up Paddleboarding Local companies know exactly where to find an abundance of these bright-butted critters. Simply choose your vessel. Go with Paddle Board Rotorua, River Rats kayaks or jump in a Canadian canoe with Waimarino Kayak Tours.

Whaka E-Bike Trail Power through this geothermal trail in the Whakarewarewa Forest on your e-bike for an easy, accelerated experience, passing hot spring lakes, bubbling mud pools and geysers. Access through Living Māori Village is strictly for e-bike rentals from Electric Bike Rotorua and dogs are prohibited in the village.

Crankworx The world’s largest mountain biking festival sees the planet’s best mountain bikers come together to compete.

Secluded Picnics with Volcanic Air With a hamper full of delicious fare, take off for a scenic floatplane tour over Lake Rotorua and surrounds before landing beside a secluded beach. While away an afternoon with swims and a picnic.

Rotorua Ziplines This is ziplining elevated to the next level! Soaring over Ōkere Falls, whizzing through the treetops and across swingbridges, all the stuff that family memories are made of.

Duck Tours Using amphibious World War II landing crafts, this tour may start on the road, but once you reach the lake, the vessel transforms into a boat and charges right into the water.

Velocity Valley The adventure park of all adventure parks. Try everything from superman-style flying, 3Gs of jet-boat adrenalin, faux skydiving, a reverse bungy jump,

ZORB Rotorua Little known fact: zorbing was conceived in Rotorua. Roll down four hillside tracks inside a giant inflatable ball, and when you're not doing that, jump in the complimentary hot tubs.

Skyline Rotorua Make your way up Mt Ngongotaha on the gondola, opening up to the land of mountain biking, dining, ziplining and luging. Three new tracks have recently opened and are awaiting their next challengers.

Monstrous White-water Rafting Negotiate the highest commercially raft-able waterfall in the world: the seven-metre Tutea Falls on the Kaituna River.

Lake Ōkareka Off the beaten track, enjoy picnicking, trout fishing, boating and walking. Take a tour on the lake with Duck Tours or go horse trekking on the surrounding farmland with great views of the lake and out to Mt Tarawera.

RIGHT: Kiwi, Te Puia, Rotorua

LEFT: Skyline Luge, Rotorua

bouncy BMX airbags and shweeb racing – the world’s only high-speed pedal-powered monorail.

Family fun

Motion Entertainment Big, bright and family friendly, limber up for state-of-the-art arcade games, laser tag, bowling, trampolines and mini-golf, all under one roof.

3D Trick Art Gallery Sit inside a

icy cliff edge or get inside a snow globe – with so much optical illusion at play, spend hours setting up the perfect deception.

Mini-golf Rotorua - With Rabbits! A game for all ages and abilities, navigate fairy lights, a

bubble machine and bouncing bunnies hopping across an 18-hole course. And yes, you can cuddle them!

3D Maze Rotorua A small and super-friendly family run set-up, it’s part maze and part petting farm. There are also plenty of games, a picnic area – and pigs!

Paradise Valley Springs Say hello to some awesome, notably very content creatures. Featuring trout pools, a 20ft-high treetop boardwalk, animal feeding, birdlife and a fantastic pride of African lions, including a lion cub petting area.

Manupirua Springs Hot Pools Day trip on Lake Rotoiti; hop on a water taxi, departing from the VR Rotorua Lake Resort in Ōkawa Bay, and soak in lakeside hot pools.

Agrodome Entertaining farm shows, sheep shearing and herding demonstrations, tours and cute farm-yard animals round off this very Kiwi experience.

Rotorua Canopy Tours Soar like a bird above the native tree top canopy.

NATURE

Lakes Galore Home to an impressive 18 lakes; favourites include Lake Tarawera, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Ōkareka and the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Tikitapu.

Rotorua Lakefront Stroll along the new boardwalk, part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment. It’s a fresh, modern space perfect for picnics and a new playground is under way.

Sulphur Bay Wildlife Refuge

This is a public geothermal area where the flora and fauna has adapted to thrive beside steam vents, boiling mud pools and naturally hot water. Home to threatened bird species including New Zealand dabchick, banded dotterel and black-billed gull. Government Gardens In the late 1800s, Māori gifted 20ha of

Rotorua land with natural bush and geothermal activity to the crown. It was transformed into a Tudor-style spa bath house and elegant garden. Today it houses a museum and an award-winning exhibition detailing the area's popularity as a 20th century spa attraction.

Blue Lake Track Pack a picnic and make a day of it. This 5.5km loop walk fringes the Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and Green Lake (Rotokakahi). Flop onto beaches and swim – but in the Blue Lake, not the protected Green Lake.

Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre The new Wingspan site is currently undergoing development. In the meantime, 'Flight of the Falcon' shows are running – guaranteed to impress with lightning-speed steep climbs and swoops. Jump on the website for updates and availability.

The Redwoods Treewalk and Nightlights Climb 12m into the trees via 23 suspension bridges and platforms. From dusk onwards,

illuminations light up the forest, causing magical silhouettes. See if you can spot the latest Horoeka Lantern in place.

Hamurana Springs Explore at your own pace or request a guided tour with the Ngāti Rangiwewehi people. They have centuries of tribal association with the springs. As one of the deepest and crystal-clear freshwater springs in the North Island, the water is frequented by a bevy of birdlife

The National Kiwi Hatchery Head off on a tour to observe conservation in action at the world’s leading kiwi hatchery and get a behind the scenes glimpse at efforts being made to help keep this iconic bird from extinction.

Tarawera Trail A lakeside walk that weaves through the bush to popular Te Rātā Bay and its hot water beach. Allow approximately four-and-a-half-hours and catch the water taxi back (book in advance) or camp overnight at the DOC site.

Volcanic Hills Winery Crafted at the base of Skyline Rotorua. Take the gondola to the top to taste it; sample all five Volcanic Hills wines over 45 minutes, or three wines if you’re in a rush.

Eat Streat This collection of top-notch eateries is located in Tūtānekai Street and is jampacked with diverse dining options, complete with underfloor

heating and retractable roof for all-weather feasting.

Secret Lake-side Glamping

Te Rātā Bay boasts two of the country’s most secluded glamping spots. Kānuka and Te Rātā Family Glamping are both overseen by Totally Tarawera, offering native bush glamping only accessible via the Tarawera Walking Trail or water taxi.

R&R

Polynesian Spa Sink into one of four hot spring bathing areas looking across serene lake views. You can seek solace here from Wednesday to Sunday between 9am and 10pm.

Kuirau Park Free Foot Bath

Spas Centrally located, a handful of walkways lead to the crater lake, gurgling mud pools and a

free thermal foot bath. There are free barbecues and a weekly Saturday market between 7am and 1pm.

Secret Spot Hot Tubs Hidden in the Whakarewarewa Forest Park. Book a private wooden hot tub, order chilled drinks. There are also mini foot baths for ‘shinny dipping’ and an on-site café.

TOP: Secret Spot Hot Tubs, Rotorua © Graeme Murray • RIGHT: Polynesian Spa, Rotorua © Destination Rotorua

Welcome to

Only in New Zealand would you find a trio of neighbouring regions comprising a lake the size of Singapore, multiple ski fields, rivers flush with trout and Tongariro National Park, home to the acclaimed one-day Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike. Adventure at your fingertips and then some.

TAUPŌ, TŪRANGI & RUAPEHU HAWKE’S BAY TARANAKI WHANGANUI & MANAWATŪ

Local Buzz

Carved by local artist Matahi Brightwell, the Ngātoroirangi Māori Rock Carvings are a must-see for any visitor to town. They are only accessible by boat – you can book cruises to see these from the Taupō Harbour.

ZANE KITCHEN MANAGER OF THE LAKE TAUPŌ HOLE IN ONE CHALLENGE

Wonderland in

Lake Taupō, Tūrangi& Ruapehu

FORGOTTEN WORLD

TAUPŌ MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY Small but rather special, contemporary exhibits feature Māori treasures and a classic Kiwiana caravan. The Ora – Garden of Wellbeing is on permanent display, take a virtual tour of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and deposit the kids in the children’s activity area.

LAVA GLASS GLASSBLOWING STUDIO Gain an insight into the art of glassblowing at the world’s first carbon zero studio. Explore the gallery, glassblowing studio and sculpture garden, complete with 15-piece glass waterfall.

NGATOROIRANGI MINE BAY MĀORI ROCK CARVINGS These giant contemporary Māori artworks towering 14m over Lake Taupō can only be viewed from the water. Join on a day trip on one of the touring boats in the harbour, or hire a kayak and navigate your own way there.

L’ARTÉ Created by a mother and daughter duo, the space features a mosaic outdoor living room and other quirky delights, all hand-built on site

HIGHWAY This remote journey covers 150km of largely empty road between Taumarunui and Stratford.

LAUREN’S LAVENDER FARM

A converted farmhouse hosts a café and outdoor deck, as well as a shop brimming with lavender products.

BRADLEYS GARDEN

An enchanting space with mini-putt golf, hightea and pretty pockets of explorable garden.

THREE OF THE BEST FAMILY FUN

Taxicat Adventures Accessing the Western Bays of Lake Taupō is best achieved by boat. Onboard a Western Bay Taster cruise with Taxicat Adventures you’ll experience secret spots including Otupoto Falls, the largest waterfall discharging into the lake, and Kotukutuku Bay where you can take a short bush walk to another waterfall. The trip also includes a picnic stop on a deserted beach with fresh coffee for you and hot chocolate for the kids.

Fabulous Falls From Whakapapa Village, take a two-hour walk through beech forest to Taranaki Falls, one of the country’s most impressive. Nearby Tawhai Falls was the filming location of Gollum’s pool – an easy 20-minute return walk. From Ohakune, discover Tongariro National Park’s highest waterfalls: Waitonga Falls takes a good 90 minutes to reach and spills over a 39m ledge.

Waiouru National Army Museum Stoic tanks guard the exterior.

Indoors, 175 years of army history plays out. There are mini-uniforms for children’s dress-up and unique exhibits, including a tribute to the role of military animals. Based in Waiouru, 40 minutes south of Ruapehu

Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono Cycle Trail Beginning at Mt Ruapehu and finishing in Whanganui 231km later, this trail can be divided into eight sections or ridden in full over four to six days.

Taupō Karts The motorheads in your motley crew will appreciate the 390cc go-karts which boast the biggest engine of any recreational kart in the world. Hoon around the outdoor track. Less monstrous children's karts are available for smaller speed demons.

Rock ‘n’ Ropes, Taupō Have a go at an assortment of sky-high assault courses that require a head for heights and a lot of determination.

Timberline Racing Siberian Huskies Kennel and Tours Learn all about huskies with owners Steve and Taniya. Watch a live sledding demonstration and then grab a cuddle. Twenty-minute drive from Taupō.

Horipito Motors One for the budding petrol-head of the family, this iconic mechanic shop and car wrecker’s yard was made famous by the 1982 film Smash Palace and more recently was the setting for the climactic chase scene in Hunt For the Wilderpeople. It is an absolute treasure trove of vintage parts and car carcasses. You can wander amongst teetering rows of bumpers and bonnets, headlights and hubcaps and marvel at the sheer number of rusting wrecks.

Nevalea Alpacas. No one ever had a bad day with an alpaca. With over 950 of them, this is the New Zealand’s largest alpaca farm.

ABOVE: Family walking in Ohakune

RIGHT: Father and son riding bikes

RIGHT: Carrot Park, Ohakune

© Visit Ruapehu

TAUPŌ TŪRANGI

EVENTS

> Taupō Summer Concert, January

TAUMARUNUI

> Taupō Winter Festival, July

> Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival, Labour Weekend

> Le Currents, December

RUAPEHU OHAKUNE

R&R

New Zealand’s Only Swim-up Bar At Lake Taupō Holiday Resort, kids love the giant pool facilities; adults love the cocktails served from a swim-up bar. Spa Thermal Park Where

Family fun

MIND JUNCTION From mirror and optical illusions to space, magnets and sound experiments, the Discovery Centre is ideal for inquisitive minds. Figure out the giant maze, get in a round or two of mini-golf, or hang out at the awe-inspiring Lego display.

HUKA PRAWN PARK Pack a towel to get the most out of this prawn-themed park’s water-based activities. Water cannons, paddleboards, pedalos, swan boats, water weights, bikes and more.

MCDONALD’S AEROPLANE

Alongside their playground you’ll find a

geothermal waters from Otumuheke Stream meet Waikato River, it forms a natural hot pool. Slink on in.

Trout fishing From backcountry fishing on tributary rivers to hooking one straight off the beach, trout

grounded 1943s DC3 Macca’s plane complete with cockpit.

CONFINEMENT ESCAPE ROOMS

Put your heads together and try to break free from the Candy Factory, Hunting Lodge, Wild Tea Party or a Cabin in the Woods.

TAUPŌ PEDAL BOATS Take a three wheeled/three-person aqua trike or get the gang together for a four-person pedal boat. Summer only.

THE LANDING Near the airport is a new entertainment precinct.

Packed full of all-weather family fun, including tenpin bowling, a multilevel playground, ninja course and a state of the art virtual reality studio.

fishing is varied and year-round rewarding. Numerous companies provide Lake Taupō fishing charters.

Wairākei Terraces With a natural outdoor setting, this adults-only (14 years and over) venue sits below the striking Wairākei silica terraces.

Sail Barbary Park yourself on a beanbag and sail to Mine Bay on a relaxing ‘Sundowner Cruise’ or treat yourself to a daytime excursion.

Taupō DeBretts Hot Springs With hot outdoor pools, spa treatments and private areas, plus a hydroslide and two heated racing slides.

Doughboats Motorised doughnutshaped boats. Pack a chilly bin, rev her up and enjoy a two-hour sojourn on Lake Taupō. Evening slots are magical.

Two Mile Bay Sailing Club With a relaxed vibe and live music year round, you can kick back and share a pizza with mates.

Golf With seven golf courses in the region, Taupō is a golfer’s paradise. The Jack Nicklaus designed Kinloch Club and the Wairākei Golf + Sanctuary both rate amongst the best in the world.

CULTURE

> Taupō Museum and Art Gallery

> Lava Glass Glassblowing Studio

> Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings

> L’Arté

NATURE

Huka Falls Witness 220,000 litres of water spill over an 11m-high ledge every second. A bridge crosses the chasm, or book a jet boat or river cruise to get even closer.

Rotopounamu Track This 5km track circles the beautiful lake surrounded by native forest. Perfect for nature lovers and families as it takes around 2 hours.

Craters of the Moon Paths and elevated platforms rise over great plumes of steam and fizzing earth.

Ōrakei Kōrako Between

Taupō and Rotorua, this geothermal park is so remote, visitors must catch a short ferry to reach it. A self-guided walk takes roughly one hour.

Western Bays Departing from Kinloch, hop aboard the Taxicat to discover some of Lake Taupō’s hidden gems: towering cliffs, hidden ravines, waterfalls and sandy bays with crystal clear waters.

Pureora Forest Park Just over an hour’s drive west of Taupō town, recognised as one of the finest rainforests in the world.

The Timber Trail Peddle your way along this 84km cycleway through Pureora forest.

Waipāhīhī Botanical Gardens Perched above Lake Taupō, these tranquil gardens are worth a visit.

Great Lake Pathway (Lion’s Walk) Gentle enough for families, this 10km walking and biking track enjoys Lake Taupō views and passes picnic and swimming spots.

Kaimanawa Forest Park There are scores of walking tracks ranging from 20 minutes to four days here and you may encounter horses and deer.

Otumuheke Stream, Taupō © Joel McDowell BELOW: © Doughboats, Taupō

GET ON THE WATER Make the most of the lake by kayaking, standup paddleboarding, water skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing and swimming, and seeing the iconic Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings.

HUKA FALLS RIVER CRUISE Providing the best seats in the house with an open-air rear deck and front platform to soak up the views while sailing exceptionally close to the falls.

FISHING CHARTERS Numerous companies provide Lake Taupō fishing charters, with space to accommodate everything from small intimate days or evenings on the lake, to larger group outings. Poloma Charters provide overnight Lake Taupō fishing charters for up to six passengers, securing plenty of time for barbecues, sightseeing and water sports.

CRATERS MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK

Enjoy 50km of bike trails combining entry level trails, technical crosscountry tracks and downhill assaults. All riders must be Bike Taupō members, join online at bikeTaupō.org.nz.

TAUPŌ TANDEM SKYDIVE Want to see Taupō from a new angle? Hurl yourself out of an aeroplane.

AJ HACKETT TAUPŌ BUNGY Or why not toss yourself off the edge of a 47m-high platform over Waikato River? It’s the country’s highest watertouching bungy.

AJ HACKETT SWING So you’ve done a Taupō skydive and a bungy – what next? How about swinging over the Waikato River at 70kmph?

ERNEST KEMP CRUISES This replica traditional steamboat is often seen chugging across Lake Taupō. With both covered and outdoor areas, this is a fantastic all-weather option to visit the Mine Bay carvings.

CLIMB MT TAUHARA The 2.5km trail is fairly challenging and steep in places. Set your camera to panoramic to capture the spectacular view from the summit.

THE GREAT LAKE TRAIL A series of intermediate level trails follow the lake’s edge through native forest. Discover a secret waterfall in Waihaha Valley and several secluded swimming spots. Base yourself in Kinloch for convenience.

TOP TIP: Parts of the Great Lake Trail require a shuttle drop-off and a boat pick-up. Leave a chilly bin at the Tipsy Trout café in Kinloch and it’ll be waiting on the boat for you later.

HOLE IN ONE CHALLENGE To win $10,000, all you have to do is hit a golf ball 102m on to a floating pontoon on Lake Taupō. And get it in the hole of course.

ARATIATIA DAM RELEASE

A spectacular attraction with several viewing points, at 10am, noon, 2pm –and in the summer at 4pm, too.

TONGARIRO NATIONAL TROUT CENTRE

DOC runs this centre, 4km south of Tūrangi. Walk through the museum and aquarium, feed the trout, see whio ducks and during school holidays, kids can learn to fish.

WILD TROUT FISHING The region is one of the last true wild trout fisheries in the world. Find a fishing guide or ask for advice at the Tūrangi i-SITE or local tackle shop. Make sure you get a fishing licence before you cast off.

KAIMANAWA FOREST PARK Popular for hunting and hiking, walks range from 20 minutes to a full two days.

HUKA TRAILS Bike a network of trails that wind along the Waikato River, connecting Taupō town with Huka Falls, Aratiatia Dam, Wairākei Tourist Park and Craters Mountain Bike Park.

© Huka Falls River Cruise, Taupō

RUAPEHU

Tongariro National Park New Zealand’s first National Park has three iconic peaks – Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngāuruhoe and Mt Tongariro with many walks to tackle. One of New Zealand’s Great Walks is the 3-4 day tramp across the Tongariro Northern Circuit, also the famous 19.4km day trip along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Numbers of walkers may soon be managed.

Skiing and Snowboarding Come winter, ski, snowboard or snow play at Mt Ruapehu’s ski field, Whakapapa. The neighbouring ski field at Ohakune is Turoa and people often try to fit both in on their trip. Catch the ski shuttle between National Park Village and Whakapapa.

Sky Waka The country’s longest and most unique gondola ride travels 1.8km over volcanic landscape. Featuring floor to ceiling windows, and operating both winter and summer, the views are year-round sensational.

Fabulous Falls From Whakapapa Village, take a two-hour walk through beech forest to Taranaki Falls. Nearby Tawhai Falls is an easy 20-minute return walk. From Ohakune, discover Tongariro National Park’s highest waterfalls: Waitonga Falls takes a good 90 minutes to reach.

MORE RUAPEHU & NATIONAL PARK VILLAGE MUST DO’S:

High Tea at Chateau Tongariro

Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono Cycle Trail

Tongariro National Trout Centre

Mini-golf in Schnapps Bar

Guided Quad Bike Tours

Mountain Biking on Fishers, Marton and Door Tramway Trails

Horopito ‘Smash Palace’

Tama Lakes

Silica Rapids

Blue Duck Station

Waiouru National Army Museum

RUAPEHU

OHAKUNE GATEWAY TOWNS

RAETIHI is an access point to the Whanganui River. Visit Raetihi Arts Trust Gallery, Dinosaur House and stroll the Matotuku River Walk.

Tongariro Holiday Park

& RUAPEHU

BAY

Local Buzz

& MANAWATŪ

The Small Hall Sessions take beautiful music to little-used community venues around Hawke’s Bay with local artists as well as touring musicians performing. The revamped Toitoi (Hawke’s Bay Opera House) is also a glamorous location to watch a band, and the Common Room in Heretaunga Street East has great live music every week.

GALLOWAY

Hawke’s BayTime to play in

As one of New Zealand’s leading food and wine regions, fertile soils lend themselves to chardonnays and syrahs, as well as freshly squeezed fruit juice. With long summers and winters that rarely drop below 10 degrees, trying to resist this miniMediterranean is futile.

In Napier, art deco buildings are bathed in pastel hues and the

promenade oozes with seaside joviality. Alfresco tables spill onto the streets, silently inviting passersby to join them and the shops are always dressed to impress.

Hastings is a town that leaves taste buds in a tizz with its restaurants, breweries and vineyards. The local markets boast a bounty of goods and orchards burst with seasonal plums and berries.

Come summer, thousands of gannets flock to the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers to dine on a menu of seafood. The world-acclaimed Cape Kidnappers Golf Course teeters on a lofty ridge and enjoys the world’s most dramatic spot to tee off, and Te Mata Peak beckons in the distance, with huge Redwood trees nestled beneath. It’s impossible to ignore the magnetism of this region, and nor will you want to.

FUN

TOP TREKS

• MOKOTAHI HILL, MAHIA: Put aside 20 minutes to walk this track with spectacular views of Mahia Peninsula’s white cliffs headland and Mahia Beach.

• SUGAR LOAF, NAPIER: Panoramic views of Hawke’s Bay await at the summit of Sugar Loaf, also known as Pukekura Hill. Towering 127m over Napier it was an important pā site for Māori and remains a popular place for a walk or run.

• WHAKAMAHARATANGA

WALKWAY, NAPIER: This adventure will lead you through farmland that interestingly was mostly underwater before the 1931 earthquake, You’ll also pass two historic pā sites with middens, pits and terraces.

• WAIROA TOWNSHIP

WALKWAY: An easy 90 minutes one-way, or 7.7km, this pretty riverside walk sets off from the historic Portland Island Lighthouse, and follows the river on the south bank heading to Whakamahia Beach.

• ŌTATARA PĀ WALKWAY:

This short, easy 1.6km walk through Ōtatara Pā has archaeological features from one of the largest and most ancient Māori pā sites, as well as commanding views of the coastline – it’s a good option for kids.

Wairoa Township Gateway to Lake Waikaremoana, Mahia Peninsula and Te Urewera. While in town, stroll along the banks of Wairoa River, visit the Kauri lighthouse and grab a bite to eat.

WAIROA NAPIER HASTINGS

Wairoa Museum Found in the old Union Bank of Australia Building, this small yet mighty museum illustrates the Māori and European history of the area from 1890s through to present day via photographs, Māori taonga, an interactive Discovery Space and more.

Wairoa Mountain Bike Park

ART DECO, GIN AND WINE TASTING TOUR Ride in style in a 1930s chauffeur driven vintage car, on this four-hour tour. Visiting Napier’s art deco sights, combined with a wine tasting session at the Urban Winery, and a sip or two at the National Gin Distillery.

MUNICIPAL BUILDING Having been closed since 2014, this beauty is back with a bang. You’ll be spoilt for choice as this iconic building houses Craft & Social a new eatery and bar, and Cellar 495, a boutique wine cellar and bar. Add in a delicatessen, gallery, the Toitoi ticketing box office and the revamped i-Site and Visitors Centre, and it’s once again a hive of activity.

HAVELOCK NORTH WAIPUKURAU ROTORUA

Hawke’s Bay’s newest mountain bike park traverses a 26ha site on the southern edge of Wairoa township. With 7km of tracks, riders can enjoy a mix of Grade 2-4 trails.

HOOTERS VINTAGE & CLASSIC VEHICLE HIRE Hire the only opentop vintage cars in the country. Master the art of ‘double declutching’ during a one-hour lesson and then take your classic car for a spin around town. Fully chauffeured guided tours are also an option.

NAPIER PRISON Provided with an audio device, absorb chilling prison tales while traipsing the cells and prison ground. Built in 1862,

for something extra unsettling, try the ghost tour. Fingerprinting and mugshot photographers keep things light for children.

MTG HAWKE’S BAY A museum, theatre and gallery. As well as art collections, there’s an exhibition on the 1931 earthquake, short films and approximately 90,000 objects of interest. Free entry.

WAIROA NAPIER HASTINGS HAVELOCK NORTH WAIPUKURAU ROTORUA

WALK MARINE PARADE The perfect space for sauntering. Along the prom, you’ll find the National Aquarium of New Zealand, mini-golf, a BMX and skateboard park, the sunken garden, open-air hot pools and Napier Viewing Platform: a contemporary pier that juts over the sea.

OCEAN SPA HOT POOLS With a swish new ‘The Bach’ café, relax in heated saltwater pools and sauna,

open until 10pm in summer. The outdoor spas are magical at sunset and twinkle when night falls.

ĀTEA A RANGI STAR COMPASS

Located in Waitangi Regional Park, a series of large Māori carvings form a striking celestial circle to represent traditional Māori navigation methods.

TOP TIP: The Penguin Park at The National Aquarium of New Zealand houses little blue penguins unable to return to the wild.

Book a 45-minute feeding tour to handfeed these curious creatures.

THREE-DAY BACK COUNTRY

RAFTING Join Mohaka Rafting in Kaweka Forest Park for three days of wild river rapids, thermal hot springs and wilderness camping. Helicopter in and raft out.

NAPIER MĀORI TOURS

Understand Māori culture in the

Hawke’s Bay region by visiting a 650-year-old Māori village site.

Tours incorporate traditional māori gathering practices, music and cuisine.

NAPIER URBAN FARMERS’

MARKET Make like the locals and get yourself to central Emerson Street every Saturday between 8.30am and 12.30pm for a shop, mingle, decent coffee and long peruse.

NAPIER’S BOTANICAL GARDENS

You couldn’t ask for a better picnic site. These immaculate gardens are brimming with fragrant flowers, ponds full of bird life, a small aviary and several easy walks.

SPACE NAPIER Sitting behind a striking art deco doorway on market street, this small yet striking art gallery features a clever collection of modern art from both local and national artists.

THE FARADAY CENTRE This is Hawke’s Bay’s Museum of Technology, a place where visitors are encouraged to touch, hold and pull everything they can get their hands on. A big hit with families.

ŌTATARA PĀ HISTORIC RESERVE WALK This 1.6km easy walk through Ōtatara Pā has archaeological features from one of the largest and most ancient Māori pā sites. Forty-five minutes each way, it’s a good option for kids.

WINE COUNTRY

Art deco

F

ollowing a devastating earthquake in the early 1930s, Napier was rebuilt in the styles of the time: Spanish mission/stripped classical and art deco architecture. Notable sites include the Daily Telegraph Building, Masonic Hotel, the Public Trust Building and many more.

Napier Art Deco Festival Clear your calendar, this is a bucket-list event if ever we saw one. Held every February, over five fabulous days, Napier’s streets erupt with scores of art deco events.

TOP TIP: Join a guided walking tour with the Art Deco Trust. Various walks depart throughout the day from the Art Deco Centre, starting from $28pp.

Wine Tasting Tour With more than 200 vineyards, 70-plus wineries and over 30 cellar doors, Hawke’s Bay will keep your glass full. Tours range from guided or selfled; by push bike or motor-trike. Download a wine trail map at hawkesbaywine.co.nz/ wine-trails/ Wine-Trails/

Coastal Wine Cycle Tour Discover the Hawke’s Bay Trails and some of the region’s most awarded wineries by beach cruiser bike, with the guidance of a wine master.

F.A.W.C! A series of unique food and wine experiences set in stunning Hawke’s Bay locations and led by chefs, food producers and wine makers.

Summer F.A.W.C! is held for 10 days in early November while Winter F.A.W.C! rolls over four weekends in June.

HASTINGS

ART DECO WALKS Street façades

pay homage to handsome art deco, Spanish mission/stripped classical architecture. Uncover the best of it by grabbing a self-guided brochure from Hastings Information Centre.

HASTINGS CITY ART GALLERY

HAVELOCK NORTH WAIPUKURAU ROTORUA

A small art gallery that leaves a big impression, with captivating exhibitions and year-round workshops for all ages.

HAWKE’S BAY FARMERS’ MARKET

Can’t get fresher than straight from the producer. Held at Tōmoana Showgrounds every Sunday.

SPLASH PLANET This park is so much more than water slides and bumper boats; there’s a lazy river, kayaks, go-karts, miniature Jeeps, mini-golf, flying fox and indoor heated pools. Open in summer.

HASTINGS DISTILLERS A slick and sophisticated Tasting Room that celebrates the distiller’s status as a certified organic artisan of spirits and liqueurs.

HASTINGS PUBLIC ART WALKING TOUR Run sporadically, convene at the Hastings City Art Gallery for a free, 90-minute guided tour. Check the gallery’s website for dates.

HASTINGS COMMUNITY ART GALLERY The gallery showcases work by local artists, with exhibitions changing fortnightly.

THE IWAY URBAN RIDES PROJECT

With over 100km of cycle paths added to the area, it’s never been easier to explore Napier and Hastings by bike. Whether you’re off to the Farmers’ Market or Splash Planet, cycle lanes get you there.

RUSH MUNRO’S ICE CREAM

A Hastings icon, Frederick Rush Munro dished out his first ice cream in 1926 and opened the Heretaunga Gardens in 1931. His prized gardens are still enjoyed today, over ice cream sundaes.

HERETAUNGA STREET EAST

A supremely cool pocket of venues including Ya Bon French Baker, Fun Buns, La Petite Chocolate store and The Common Room bar.

BRAVE BREWING This familyowned brewery has an on-site taproom, eatery and cellar door.

CAPE KIDNAPPERS Here, a jagged white bluff slides into the Pacific Ocean. Drive to it in 35 minutes from Hastings or walk from Clifton Motor Camp via a 10km coastal walkway.

CAPE KIDNAPPERS GOLF COURSE

If golf’s your thing, this course is listed in the world’s top 50.

GANNETS Come September to April, the cliffs at Cape Kidnappers are seized by the world’s largest mainland colony of gannets.

TE AWANGA Around 20 minutes from Napier, this beachside town is home to several wineries, small shops, coastal cafés and Hawke’s Bay Farmyard Zoo.

GANNET BEACH ADVENTURES

Jump in the back of a trailer and bump along the beach by tractor to the Cape Kidnappers gannet bird colony. Operating October to April.

BOUNDARY STREAM Here you’ll find impressive Shine Falls, a huge 800-year-old mataī tree and fascinating geology such as Bell Rock. Bell Rock Loop Track, with valley views, is a steep and challenging 5.3km.

MANGATUTU HOT SPRINGS Not easy to get to but well worth it!

Along with soaking in the thermal springs, campers also enjoy swimming, rafting, walking and fishing for rainbow and brown trout.

WAIROA NAPIER HASTINGS HAVELOCK NORTH WAIPUKURAU ROTORUA

SCALE TE MATA Te Mata Peak Park boasts seven top walking tracks, all of which are looped and include the summit track which leads to 360° views. Or save your legs and hop on the back of a Supertrike and cruise up to altitude.

THE REDWOODS A large grove of these giants has grown at the base of Te Mata. For the most direct route into the woods, follow the ‘Big Redwoods’ loop track.

ARATAKI HONEY BEE CENTRE Enjoy a free quick-fire meet and greet with the bees. You’ll learn about honey making and taste their honey. Kids can dress up as a beekeeper while adults grab factory-priced honey.

WEEKLY GROWERS’ MARKET On Saturday mornings over summer at the stunning Black Barn Vineyard.

BIRDWOODS Combining an art gallery, sculpture garden, café and old-fashioned sweet shop.

KEIRUNGA PARK RAILWAY Set in beautiful Keirunga Gardens and rated in the world’s top five best miniature railways. Open on the first and third Sunday of the month.

ASKERNE DESSERT WINE

TASTING Those more inclined toward to sweeter side of life will savour this experience at the Askerne Estate Winery. To be tried alongside their mouth-watering array of desserts.

Hastings town centre

© Hawke’s Bay Tourism

Redwoods Track near Te Mata Peak © Brian Culy

GIANT BREWERY The modern interpretation of a classic institution. Brewing their own beer and sharing the spotlight with a rotating guest list of brews from around Aotearoa.

KAIRĀKAU BEACH Fifty minutes south of Havelock North, it’s tucked under staggering coastal cliffs. At low tide, stroll to ‘Waterfall Bay’ to find a secret swimming lagoon.

BLACK BARN OPEN-AIR

CINEMA Over summer, the vineyard’s amphitheatre screens starlit films under the night’s sky, with patrons sitting across grassed terraces.

MARAETOTARA FALLS Idyllic in the summer and just a short drive from Havelock North, enjoy the waterfall and its large swimming hole. If time permits, add on the Maraetotara Historic Walk.

SMITH & SHETH Join the sommelier for a two-and-ahalf-hour immersive tasting experience, including samples straight from the barrel.

HAVELOCK NORTH WAIPUKURAU ROTORUA

The Tukituki Trails A gentle 12km limestone pathway with a Grade 2 mountain bike trail running parallel. Stretching out in both directions from Russell Park, the trails follows the Tukituki River.

Ongaonga Historic Village For those who like to step into history, this rural village has lots of historic buildings and a museum.

Central Hawke’s Bay Settlers Museum The jewel in Waipawa’s crown, the museum has a wide variety of artefacts from the past, with many items carefully restored. For $8 adult entry ($2 for children) you get a lot of bang for your buck.

A’Deanes Bush An easy 1km loop, this 38.5ha reserve is saturated in matai and kahikatea trees. Peek

inside weta boxes and, come dusk, long tailed bats come out to feed.

Te Angiangi Marine Reserve Between Aramoana and Blackhead beaches, this stretch of ocean is protected and ideal for snorkelling and diving. At low tide, a rock platform is exposed where you can explore thriving rock pools. Forty minutes east of Waipukurau.

Ngā Arā Tipuna Better understand pre-European Māori life in the district with this new culturally significant trail. Focusing on eight important historical pā sites in Tamatea, each plot details ancestral history via installations, displays, carvings and digital storytelling.

Historic Homesteads There are several historic homesteads

TOP TIP: For every vineyard in the vicinity, visit www.havelocknorthnz.com/places/category/ wineries/

in central Hawke’s Bay creaking with stories. Ashcott, Ōruawharo, Wallingford, Gwavas and Woburn Homestead are all worth discovering. All between five and 25 minutes of Waipukurau.

Te Paerahi Beach Golden sand stretches for miles, providing the ideal terrain for surf casting, kite flying, swimming, fishing and diving.

Sunrise Hut Straddling the crown of the Ruahine Range in Ruahine Forest Park, it’s an easy one to three-hour hike to reach this 20bunk hut. As the name suggests, it’s one of the best places to catch the first rays of a new day. And for $15 per night for adults, it’s a five-star experience for minimal dollars.

Junction Wines One for the wine and rugby lovers. This small boutique vineyard is run by former All Black John Ashworth. With a distinct rugby theme and collection of award-winning aromatic wines, combine your wine tasting with enrapturing All Blacks’ stories.

V

ines were first planted here in 1851, but today Hawke’s Bay wines have an international reputation for quality. Red wines are regarded as the region’s traditional strength, but it is the white variety of Chardonnay that is increasingly catching the eye. The Top 10 Tasting at winefolio.co.nz recently had six of their top ten as Chardonnays from Hawke’s Bay.

Although Hawke’s Bay has a rich heritage to it’s winegrowing, the real key to it’s success today is the ongoing innovation that keeps its wine at the cutting edge of what the worldwide consumer is looking for. Names like Te Mata and Mission Estate are reminders of the pioneers of modern day winemaking, with the investment and experience that underlines the heart

of Hawke’s Bay as the fine wine region of NZ. The premium grape varieties like Syrah and Chardonnay are not only well-suited, but add to the diversity of produce in the Bay – using the freedraining, often gravelly types of soils that many other agricultural products do not thrive in.

Perhaps the best way to enjoy the wine is about a bike on the fabulous Hawke’s Bay Trails – there is an aptly-named ‘Wineries Ride’ section of the cycle trail. It’s a magnificent way to meander through the vineyard-filled surroundings, and not have to worry about who is the designated driver. You’ll mostly be off-road as well, on lime pathways. AA Traveller produce an annual travel guide to the nation’s cycle paths and it’s well worth a read.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM OF NZ

KENNEDY PARK RESORT

PAR2 MINI GOLF

FARADAY MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY

MTG HAWKE’S BAY

BAY SKATE

TŪRANGI & RUAPEHU

Discover

BAY TARANAKI WHANGANUI & MANAWATŪ

You can admire its unmistakable shape from afar, go up it, around it or play on its fringes; Taranaki Maunga offers endless adventure. The rest of the region enjoys a dalliance with the Tasman Sea, resulting in gnarly surf, dramatic beaches and cool coastal towns like peppy New Plymouth.

WELLINGTON

Local Buzz

Just above Port Taranaki is Paritutu Rock. A 15-minute steep climb will reward you with a magnificent 360 degree panorama of the mountain, city, port and the Tasman Sea. Also for the energetic there is Mangamāhoe Bike Park.

RICHARD JORDAN

TOY MAKER AT FUN HO! TOY MUSEUM

TaranakiUnique wonder

• Fenton Street Arts

Collective An art gallerycum-café-cum-gin-distillery in Stratford

• Paritutu Rock Sitting on New Plymouth’s coastline is a short, steep, exhilarating climb for outstanding views over Taranaki.

• Mount Damper Falls At 74m, this is the fourth highest waterfall in the North Island. See it in the Waitaanga Conservation Area near Urenui in North Taranaki.

TOP SPOT

It could be the natural landscape, from the picture-perfect peak of Mt Taranaki/Taranaki Maunga to the black-sand surf beaches, or maybe it’s the creative events calendar. Perhaps it’s the many marvellous gardens, or the hundreds of kilometres of alpine and bush hikes, golf courses and world-class surf breaks. The reasons for visiting Taranaki are many.

South Taranaki district is centred on the vibrant town of Hāwera, with Eltham, Waverley, Pātea and Ōpunake also worth a visit. The main centre of Taranaki, New Plymouth, offers an eclectic mix of culture, contemporary style and hospitality. Stratford sits between Mt Taranaki/ Taranaki Maunga and East Taranaki and is unique in its Shakespearean theme –many of the town’s streets are named after the great Bard’s works.

Mt Taranaki/Taranaki Maunga offers over 200km of walks, from ‘goblin’ forests to spectacular waterfalls, to alpine hikes and the drive around the base of the Maunga will connect you with many of the region’s stories, as well as welcoming towns, cosy cafés, art galleries and other points of interest.

Hollard Gardens

Venture Taranaki

Bowl of Brooklands

Andy Jackson

MUSEUMS GALORE

Taranaki has many museums at which to discover many stories about the region, from South Taranaki where there is the stunning Tāwhiti Museum and its impressive Traders & Whalers ride, to New Plymouth’s waterfront Puke Ariki, Aotea Utanganui in Pātea, to Stratford’s Pioneer Village

The New Plymouth Guided Historic Walk is a fabulous easy two-hourwalking tour that brings the past to life with stories of the city’s pioneering past and the colourful characters. Learn about pistol duels at dawn on the now main street, to strong independent pioneering women, Marsland Hill, sites of the New Zealand land wars, and St Mary’s Cathedral, the oldest stone church in New Zealand. Discover a range of private collections, spanning the interesting and eclectic, from the Hillsborough Holden Museum to Hāwera’s Elvis Presley Museum, Maketawa John Deere Tractor Museum to Inglewood’s Fun Ho! National Toy Museum

To discover more walks around Taranaki pick up a free Taranaki Walker’s Guide from an i-SITE or download from taranaki.co.nz/visit

New Plymouth’s 13km Coastal Walkway is a great place to start and, trailing off the Coastal Walkway, the Te Henui Walkway takes you on a picturesque trail alongside Te Hēnui River. Enjoy a 6km scenic bush walk around Lake Mangamahoe, while the 7km Ōpunake Loop Trail has stunning coastal views and a secret garden surprise along the way. For a more intrepid adventure, the Pouākai Crossing is a spectacular 19km one-day walk across Taranaki Maunga.

The West End Precinct This is a vibrant community of businesses combining cafés and bars with some seriously cool boutique shops. Tucked away off the main street and opposite the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre. Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/ Len Lye Centre An internationally renowned, contemporary art museum. The cutting-edge architecture sets a precedent for what you’ll find inside; Len Lye’s genius will impress.

The Wind Wand Designed by Len Lye, this instantly recognisable kinetic structure sways 48m above New Plymouth’s esplanade known as the Coastal Walkway.

Pukeiti Recent upgrades to this 360ha property include an impressive Treetop Walkway,

education centre, Treehouse Trail for the young (and young at heart), a fitness trail, treehouse accommodation and a tunnel to a secret garden. Entry is free and 23km from New Plymouth.

Puke Ariki Combining the Public Library and Taranaki Museum, this multi-purpose venue allows visitors to learn about the region’s past via interactive displays detailing Māori art, wildlife and geology. The New Plymouth i-SITE is also located here.

TOP TIP: Every spring the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, Taranaki Fringe Garden Festival and Sustainable Backyards Trail showcase over 100 gardens in the region.

New Plymouth Coastal Walkway Highlights along this 12.7km walkway include the Wind Wand, Fitzroy and East End beaches, the striking Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and, in summer, Paris Plage serving light bites and chilled beers. Pukekura Park Often described as the jewel in New Plymouth’s crown, this is one of New Zealand’s premier botanic gardens. Rentable rowing boats, a fantastic playground and café.

Brooklands Park Here you’ll find a free zoo and the Bowl of Brooklands, a natural outdoor amphitheatre and acclaimed venue for national and international artists.

Tūpare Gardens Awarded New Zealand Gardens Trust highest six-star rating, entry is free to this impeccable estate, with a picnic area by the river and handsome heritage buildings. Free tours of the house take place at 11am Friday to Monday, October until March.

TARANAKI NEW PLYMOUTH TONGAPŌRUTU MT TARANAKI EGMONT NATIONAL PARK WAITARA STRATFORD INGLEWOOD HĀWERA ŌPUNAKĒ PĀTEA

Te Kāinga Mārire Backed by a bush reserve, beside a mountain spring and packed with native flora, this is the quintessential Kiwi garden. $10pp entry.

Paritutu Rock It may only be 100m to the top, but it’s 100m of almost vertical terrain. The

far-reaching views across New Plymouth and surrounding coastline are well worth the climb.

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge Why put in any old boring bridge when you can design one as superb as this?

Swimming at Merrilands

Domain Just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of town, a small sandy beach on the Waiwhakaiho River is a top spot for a picnic and a dip.

Taranaki Aviation Transport & Technology Museum Explore New Zealand’s oldest methods of transportation, agriculture, communication, aviation and retro home appliances. Open weekends.

Ōakura Arts Trail Visit local potters, painters, jewellers, sculptors and glass artists in their studios. Download the free trail map on oakuraarts.co.nz/map.

Stone Sculpture Symposium

From 1-21 Jan 2023, watch on in wonder as artists transform boulders into works of art as part of the Te Kupenga Stone Sculpture Society’s annual event.

Chaddy’s Charters Throw on a lifejacket and head out to sea on an old Royal National Lifeboat Institution rescue boat. Along with

Back Beach, New Plymouth © Rob Tucker LEFT: Take a drive along Surf Highway 45 © Venture Taranaki BELOW: Family at Pukeiti, New Plymouth © Jane Dove Juneau / Venture Taranaki

THE COASTAL ARTS TRAIL

Ideal for curious wanderers keen on the visual arts. This self-drive trail covers art galleries, museums and open studios running through the Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū regions, giving insight into the lives and inspiration of these creatives.

Visit coastalartstrail. nz/map, and try to visit them all or narrow down the search to the kinds of artists and mediums that interest you most.

seals and sea spray, Taranaki’s history comes to life with tales about the region’s first settlers, early whalers, local iwi and Māori. The Hideaway Not only can you visit New Zealand’s largest private collection of Holden cars and memorabilia, but you can now race along on their brand-new luge.

Gover Street Gallery A community-focused art gallery with exhibitions, workshops and gifts.

Mt Damper Falls North of New Plymouth on the Okau Road. It’s a 1km walk from the car park.

Tapuae Marine Reserve

Providing a habitat for fish as well as occasional fur seals and whales. Snorkel off the beach at the Tapuae Stream end, or surf at Back Beach. You can also walk the entire reserve from Herekawe Stream to the Tapuae Stream in two hours.

Fenton Street Art Collective Indulge in the wealth of art, history, hand-crafted gin and espresso on offer at this eclectic gallery and workshop space.

Lake Mangamāhoe Arguably the best place for views of Taranaki Maunga, which looms over the lake looking absurdly attractive. Enjoy walks of varying difficulty or hit the MTB trails in the mountain

NORTH TARANAKI

AWAKINO This laid-back coastal town embraces the roaring Tasman Sea. With black-sand beaches favoured by surfers and spectacular West Coast sunsets: a hidden gem in plain sight. The town is also known as one of the whitebait capitals along with the nearby town of MŌKAU

URENUI This coastal settlement comes complete with cafés including the Old Town Hall Tea Rooms famous for their traditional English Cream Tea and Cafe 487. You’ll also find a scenic marine reserve and a strong Māori connection, including the Urenui Marae where iwi events are held.

bike park. Fifteen minutes from New Plymouth.

Guided Fly Fishing Taranaki Catering for all levels of skill, from beginners to experts, experience the superb, uncrowded trout fishery of the beautiful Taranaki region.

Tawhiti Museum Underground Boat This impressive private collection regails the history of Taranaki through life-sized and scale models. Traders & Whalers will take you back in time to the Taranaki Coast in the 1800s with an underground canal boat ride, and Tawhiti Bush Railway recollects the logging railways days.

Juno Gin Cellar Door This awardwinning distillery offers a range of experiences from Taster to Full Tour, and Cocktail Classes, all set in their bespoke tasting room with a guided walk through the distillery.

TSB Festival of Lights Pukekura Park is the backdrop to the hugely popular TSB Festival of Lights, a free, annual six-week event featuring light installations, music shows and daytime family fun. Held from 17 Dec 2022 to 29 Jan 2023.

Taranaki Arts Trail Between 2830 Oct and 4-6 Nov 2022, this trail joins the Centuria Garden Festival to feature local artists and gardens.

TARANAKI

TARANAKI NEW PLYMOUTH TONGAPŌRUTU

NEW PLYMOUTH

MT TARANAKI

TONGAPŌRUTU

WHITECLIFFS WALKWAY Embark on a five-hour walk at low tide across farmland and coastal bluffs to see the dramatic white cliffs (Parininihi), Three Sisters and historic Te Horo stock tunnel. Always check with DOC for restoration closures and up-to-date access information.

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

THREE SISTERS AND ELEPHANT ROCK In Tongapōrutu, colossal 25m rock formations known as the Three Sisters, the sea is swallowing them one at a time (along with the Elephant Rock’s trunk that eroded away). See them while you can!

MT TARANAKI

WAITARA

ABOVE: Three Sisters and Elephant Rock, Tongapōrutu © Rach Stewart

EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

STRATFORD

WAITARA

TE ROIMATA O TE ATIAWA

STONE This commemorative stone in Waitara pays tribute to the iwi chief at the time of the first Taranaki War in 1860.

STRATFORD

INGLEWOOD HĀWERA

WAITARA RAILWAY

PRESERVATION SOCIETY Chug from Waitara to Lepperton travelling along Taranaki’s historic Waitara Branch Line in an open carriage. Part of the track is New

Zealand’s steepest. Running once a month during winter and on the first and third Sunday of each month over summer.

INGLEWOOD HĀWERA

ŌPUNAKĒ

PĀTEA

ŌPUNAKĒ

PĀTEA

MANUKORIHI PĀ Waitara was one of the first areas in the region to be settled by Māori and its pā sits on a knoll above town. Arrange a tour to see the attractive carved meeting house, Te Ikaroa-a-Maui.

MT TARANAKI EGMONT NATIONAL PARK WAITARA STRATFORD

HĀWERA

PĀTEA

Taranaki Maunga Summit

Track You need to be fit, wellequipped and arrive in season (December to April) to summit this demanding peak. A serious 10-hour hike awaits. Snow-covered winter ascents are for seasoned mountaineers only.

SURF HIGHWAY 45

Pouākai Crossing A hike to rival the more populous Tongariro Crossing, this is one of the best day walks in the country. Covering 18km, there are landslide crossings to navigate and stunning views.

Around the Mountain Circuit Best tramped October to April, this

Weather conditions on Taranaki Maunga can change rapidly. Check the doc.govt.nz before climbing it.

challenging 52km loop is entangled with undulating forest, wild rivers and disorientating alpine scenery. Enjoy four to five days of pure wilderness.

The Pouākai Circuit Little wonder this is the park’s premier two to three-day/25km tramp –dazzling views of Taranaki Maunga are just the beginning. Between the forest, fields and swamps, scars left by centuries of volcanic activity include red-watered streams and ancient lava flows. Trampers will want to stay at Pouākai Hut, which must be booked in advance.

Officially State Highway 45, it’s dubbed Surf Highway 45 for the wild surf breaks between New Plymouth and Hāwera. World-class swells are sought at the famous Kumera Patch as well as Stent Road; other highlights include Cape Egmont Lighthouse, the Historic Cape Light and Museum, Everybody’s Theatre and the shipwreck of SS Gairloch

Wilkies Pools Part of the Kāmahi Walk, a series of natural plunge pools hide in the forest. Good for families, the 1.9km track is easy and takes approximately 80

minutes. Visitors love the swing bridge, stream paddles and quick dips in cool pools.

Dawson Falls/Te Rere o Noke

The 10-minute walk to this 18m-high waterfall starts from its namesake visitor centre and the forest setting to get there is simply beautiful.

Goblin Forest Otherwise known as the Kāmahi Walk, in East Egmont, this is where the trees have grown in and around one another, with an abundance of moss adding to the ‘hairy’ jumble. Spooky yet spectacular.

MAIN IMAGE & LEFT: Taranaki Maunga

The Stratford Glockenspiel

TONGAPŌRUTU

TARANAKI

NATIONAL PARK WAITARA

Little Liberty Creamery Sample an award-winning ice cream that is not only delicious but is plant-based and made from the finest natural ingredients. Open Sundays. Stoney Oaks Never brushed a Highland cow before? Time to meet the tame and gentle animals at Stoney Oaks. Home to pigs, deer, giant rabbits, llamas and more, there are bush walks, rowing boats and overnight accommodation. Ten minutes from Inglewood.

Everett Park Scenic Reserve

INGLEWOOD HĀWERA

Purangi Walks Taranaki The Otunahe Walk was developed to showcase the rich diversity of the local indigenous forest. The walk costs $10 per person, under 5s are free, with proceeds fed back into providing a predator-controlled environment. The Hidden Valley

taking you through farmland, rich bush, and a natural canyon amidst glowworms.

East Taranaki Environment Collective The mission of the collective is to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity in East Taranaki by controlling invasive pest species

TARANAKI NEW PLYMOUTH TONGAPŌRUTU MT TARANAKI

Information centre to find out more about the project and to shop for gifts or souvenirs.

Fun Ho! National Toy Museum

Calling all Kiwi kids of the 70s and 80s, enjoy a pinch of nostalgia admiring toys from yesteryear and seeing how they were made.

ROTOKARE AND ROTORANGI

LAKES Meander along the various tracks around these lakes. It’s a 20-minute drive from Stratford to Lake Rotokare, a one-hour drive to Lake Rotorangi.

TANGAHOE TUNNEL Close to Lake Rotorangi, this tunnel is 160m-long and narrow, requiring a fair amount of courage to creep through.

PERCY THOMSON GALLERY

A captivating gallery and shop supporting local artists.

ELTHAM MURALS There is hardly a wall left in Eltham that hasn’t been transformed into a bright, uplifting mural. Ten minutes from Stratford.

Check out the figures of Romeo and Juliet when they pop out to perform a scene from Shakespeare’s tragedy at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 7pm daily.

TARANAKI PIONEER VILLAGE

Appreciate the life of early settlers by stepping inside the recreated heritage buildings; ride the ‘Pioneer Express’ train around the village. Open weekends. HOLLARD GARDENS Learn how to grow your own food at Bernie’s Home Garden, enjoy the use of free

barbecues in the Family Corner and drop by The Hollard Centre to use the gardening library and to help yourself to a free cuppa.

TE POPO GARDENS Seventeen minutes from Stratford, picturesque woodland walkways are freckled with animal sculptures; suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

ROTOKARE SCENIC RESERVE

Explore stunning wetland and lowland forest, home to native flora and endangered wildlife and serving as a safe haven for kiwi.

FENTON ST ARTS COLLECTIVE Step inside this elegant heritage building and find an emporium of emporium of fascinating art, superb gin tasting, unique gifts, and excellent food and coffee.

THE FORGOTTEN WORLD

HIGHWAY Weaving between Stratford and Taumarunui is a remote and highly intriguing, 150km route with a creaky, single lane mountain tunnel and concertinaed landscape. Unforgettable.

On the banks of Manganui River, there are large grassy areas to sprawl out on and huge swimming pools to cool off in. Ten minutes from Inglewood.

Maketawa Museum Gleaming with over 20 green and yellow examples of vintage classic John Deere Machinery, this charming museum is run by Barry Bishop. His pristine collection is immaculately presented and a delight to inspect. Open weekends.

REPUBLIC OF WHANGAMŌMONA

Thirty-five years ago this quirky township centred around the Whangamōmona Hotel, declared itself a republic and elected a goat as its president.

FORGOTTEN WORLD

ADVENTURES While based in Taumarunui, this unique rail cart experience is an alternative way to enter Taranaki. The tours utilise converted golf buggies which have been transformed into leisurely vehicles that ride the original railway track between Taumarunui and Stratford.

TOP TIP: Extend your action-packed days by squeezing jet-boating along the Whanganui River in with your rail cart ride plus a trip to Lauren’s Lavender Farm, with overnight stays at The Blue Duck Lodge and the Whangamomona Hotel.

Tawhiti Museum and Traders

& Whalers With the help of Weta Workshop, life-size displays and model figures depict New Zealand’s early history. From flying cannon balls to recreated pā battles, it’s one of the country’s best museums and a guaranteed great day out.

Elvis Presley Museum

A fascinating place housing rare

records and memorabilia. Open by appointment only.

Giant Cow In keeping with our need to display really large things, Hāwera is home to the biggest dairy plant in the southern hemisphere, and celebrates this with a ginormous cow.

Hāwera Water Tower Climb to the top for excellent views. Various

signatures have been left by visitors and some even date back to early last century. Most charming are those declaring love. Visitors will need to call into the Hāwera i-SITE to gain access.

King Edward Park With a lake for model boats, play area, pirate ship and fort, as well as an observatory and enclosed gardens. The Victorian-style lamp posts are delightful, as is the statue of Wendy – counterpart to Peter Pan in

Yarrows Family Baker

Dubbed the Bread Capital of the World, Yarrows’ flagship factory in Manaia ensures the entire town smells scrumptious, while the on-site bakery fills hungry tums. A 10-minute drive from Hāwera.

Lysaght Watt Gallery Treat yourself to an art feast at this bright and modern art space. With such a gorgeous exterior, the doorway alone compels passers-by to step inside.

TONGAPŌRUTU MT TARANAKI EGMONT

ŌPUNAKĒ BEACH In summer, the family-friendly beach is surf patrolled, offering beachfront camping, satisfying surfing and a community-centric vibe. The population swells every January for the annual beach carnival.

ŌPUNAKĒ LOOP TRACK

A 7km one-way walk with several access points. Explore Ōpunakē Lake, the secret garden that has been planted by members of the community, coastal cliff lookouts,

a historic pā and the Old Armed Constabulary Cemetery.

ŌPUNAKĒ LAKE Quiet and peaceful, except for the chattering birds, walk the perimeter in 30 minutes, jump in for a swim and soak up surrounding mountain views.

PIHAMA LAVENDER Stroll around this boutique lavender farm and breathe in heavenly aromas. Lavender is harvested in the

distillery room with a shop and gallery open every Saturday and Sunday. A monthly market is held on the third Sunday of the month.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE A refined and historic cinema which has been restored to its 1920s glory. A novel experience with a selection of retro sofas to sink into.

ABOVE:

LIFE-SIZE WAKA The lifesized representation of the Aotea Waka with several ancestors of Ngāti Ruanui and Ngā Rauru iwi was first unveiled on Pātea’s main street in 1933. Local artist, Luther Ashford repainted the iconic sculpture in 2020.

PĀTEA RIVER HISTORIC WALKWAY Tracing the lower end of Pātea River all the way to Pātea Beach, story-telling panels by award-winning botanical artist Audrey Eagle pepper the route.

AOTEA UTANGANUI –

MUSEUM OF SOUTH TARANAKI

A fantastic way to learn about the region’s history, the museum in Pātea is beautifully set out, with modern displays, a theatre and striking facade.

GALLERY PĀTEA A non-profit gallery mainly showcasing local artists and their work.

DISCOVER TARANAKI A REGION LIKE NO

Explore all that Taranaki has to offer. Vibrant, contemporary, and buzzing with loads of things to do, see, eat, and experience, Taranaki is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, families, arts- and culture-lovers.

Head

taranaki.co.nz/visit

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Hillsborough Hideaway Luge

Pouākai Crossing

Enjoying

KERRY LANE MOTEL

KIWI COURT MOTEL

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TARANAKI WHANGANUI & MANAWATŪ GREATER WELLINGTON

Getting off the beaten track is as easy as stepping into Whanganui National Park. Ditch the daily grind and hike, bike or kayak a route carved by the Whanganui River. When civilisation calls, rural towns and homely cities welcome with open arms.

Local Buzz

The Royal Whanganui Opera House is the oldest Victorian theatre in the country, hosting everything from rock quests, ballet, national and international touring shows, and even body-building comps. If you’re visiting and there isn’t a show on, you can arrange a behind-thescenes theatre tour complete with its history and a peek at all the cool nooks and crannies backstage.

CARLA DONSON MANAGER OF WOMEN’S NETWORK, WHANGANUI

Adventures of Whanganui & Manawatū

RIVERS, WILDERNESS, INTRIGUING HISTORY AND A GENUINE CULTURAL CONFIDENCE SET THIS REGION OF NEW ZEALAND APART. TO VISIT IS TO BE ENRICHED.

TOP SPOT

Whanganui, on the banks of New Zealand’s longest navigable river, is as pretty as its setting, thanks to a rich concentration of heritage buildings. Take in the architecture via a walking tour of the town, including a visit to the Durie Hill War Memorial Tower, reached via an elevator built inside a hill. A river cruise on a paddle steamer is another highlight. The beauty and stories of the region are an inspiration for Whanganui’s famed artist community and there is plenty of creative energy to enjoy.

In Manawatū visitors can go from fine dining to river valley rafting at the flick of a switch. Tararua borders the Ruahine and Tararua ranges; it’s the only place in New Zealand where a river begins its journey on one side of the main divide and joins the sea on the other.

The clear waters and sheer white papa (mudstone) cliffs of the Rangitīkei River create the ideal setting for heart-pumping, white-water rafting. Horse treks and river activities tempt visitors to linger here on their way to the ski fields and Tongariro National Park.

NATURE WALKS FAMILY FUN

• Matemateāonga Track

COACH HOUSE MUSEUM Feilding’s Coach House Museum is all about agricultural heritage, with restored farm equipment, informative displays recounting the history of the Manawatū region and interactive exhibits kids will love.

WHANGANUI REGIONAL MUSEUM In the cultural heart of Whanganui, Pukenamu / Queen’s Park, the Whanganui Regional Museum is housed in a beautiful heritage building that has recently re-opened after a refurbishment and seismic strengthening. With an impressive Taonga Māori collection tracing the rich cultural history of the region sitting alongside regularly changing exhibitions, the museum provides a wealth of information about the things that make Whanganui unique.

NEW ZEALAND RUGBY MUSEUM Discover the history of the sport that shaped our nation at the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North. See some of the rarest rugby memorabilia in the world and try the interactive exhibits where you can have a go at tackling, scrums and kicking.

VICTORIA ESPLANADE Running alongside the picturesque Manawatū River, the Victoria Esplanade is a lovely location for a family picnic with its tranquil duck pond and groomed gardens. Kids will love the colourful playground, the miniature railway offering weekend rides and making feathered friends at the on-site aviary.

KIWI

• Visit one of the largest sand dune fields in New Zealand at Himatangi Beach

• Get a glimpse of rural New Zealand at the Feilding Sale Yards

• Walk or cycle the He Ara Kotahi pathway in Palmerston North

• Take on the Rangitīkei River at your own pace

• Art, science and rugby in Palmerston North

• Experience historic tunnels and towers in Whanganui

• Cruise the Whanganui River on a heritage vessel

• Get hands-on with molten glass in Whanganui

A multi-day tramp, the Matemateāonga Track follows an ancient Māori trail and the original Whakaihuwaka setters’ road through thick native forest, taking you deep into the Whanganui National Park. With no river crossings required, relatively even gradient and back country huts to stay in overnight, it’s a great trip that can be accomplished even by novice trampers. 43km, 3-5 day’s walk.

• Bledisloe Park Walkway

Take an easy stroll through one of Palmerston North’s pockets of native bush on the Bledisloe Park Walkway. Graded gravel paths and well maintained steps lead you alongside the pretty Turitea Stream, where birdsong abounds.

• Massey Arboretum Also in Bledisloe Park you’ll find the Massey Arboretum.

hongi at Koriniti Marae

Filled with rare and exotic trees, the arboretum is an historical landmark for both Massey University and the city of Palmerston North. Wander amongst mature specimen trees or pack a picnic to enjoy in this peaceful haven.

City of DESIGN

In recognition as a creative hot spot, Whanganui just received the international designation of UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN.

THE SARJEANT GALLERY

Temporarily housed in the Taupō Quay facility, a diverse collection of contemporary and high-quality exhibits will impress every art lover, while the gift shop is sure to seduce.

NEW ZEALAND

GLASSWORKS Located within the award-winning Drews Avenue precinct, with the chance to see glassblowing in action almost any day of the week. With vibrant shop and glass paperweight making workshops.

SPACE STUDIO & GALLERY

Buzzing with fortnightly exhibitions featuring both local and in-house studio artists.

QUARTZ, MUSEUM OF STUDIO CERAMICS Got a passion for pottery? Then you mustn’t miss the only museum in the country dedicated to ceramics, with the largest and most diverse range on display.

ARTISTS OPEN STUDIOS

Annually, during the last two weekends in March, is the chance to visit the studios of talented creatives throughout the region.

STREET ART Try to spot the bold and beautiful creations throughout the city: Wāhine by @jacob_chrisohoou_artist, Hangar’s Home by @swiftmantis, Kārearea by @janine_divatmd and @charles_phat1tmd and the Community Fridge on Hill Street by @swiftmantis.

COASTAL ARTS TRAIL This self-drive trail continues down from Taranaki and Manawatū to Whanganui, giving insight into the lives and inspiration of these creatives. Map available from coastalartstrail.nz/map.

Durie Hill Tunnel and Elevator Burrowed 213m into hillside, take an antique elevator 66m to the summit. From here, 176 steps lead to the War Memorial Tower and spectacular views across the city and surrounds.

St Paul’s Anglican Memorial Church Bursting with intricate Māori carvings, lattice panelling and tukutuku (wall panels), book a $10 tour via the Whanganui i-SITE.

The Great Whanganui Play Trail Download the map and head off on the short or long version of this hilarious family activity. Parade down the ‘Silly Walk Zone’, pick up the phone to see who answers and have a nibble in the herb garden.

eclectic mix of collectors of vintage and retro, traditional crafts, plants and street food, there’s something for everyone.

Falling Creek Ranch This working farm share their love of the land with horse treks for the whole family.

Two Historic Boat Cruises Take a trip up Whanganui River on an historic boat cruise. Originally built in 1899, the Waimarie paddle steamer was salvaged from the bottom of the Whanganui River while the restored MV Wairua first launched in 1904. Check online for run times.

NORTH PAHIATUA DANNEVIRKE

Castlecliff and Kai Iwi Beach Shimmering black sand beaches are firm favourites with families for their swimming, facilities and playgrounds.

succulents and frisbee golf course.

Paloma Gardens A perfect slice of paradise governed by nature, albeit upkept by two passionate owners, take a picnic and relax amidst the greenery. $10pp entry.

Bushy Park This forest sanctuary, north of the city, hosts native wildlife, the world’s largest rata tree and a grand Edwardian homestead with excellent Devonshire teas.

Whanganui River Market Every Saturday morning, come rain or shine, the Whanganui River is the backdrop to more than 100 stalls. From local food producers to an

Bason Botanic Gardens Free entry and complimentary barbecues. Pack your snags and have a sizzle in between the glasshouses, terraced

Virginia Lake Five minutes north of the city centre, enjoy a woodland walk by the lake, passing gazebos, rotunda and bronze statues. Stop by

the café and fountain: pretty by day and lit up at night.

Windemere Farm PYO fresh berries, pat resident alpacas, sit in the café overlooking a strawberry patch and eat real berry ice cream. Don’t leave without a few bottles of strawberry dessert wine.

That Place MTB Park Get your heart racing at this 50ha of private mountain bike park, built by bikers for bikers. With the chance to increase your skill set through guidance and coaching.

WHANGANUI NATIONAL PARK

An adventurist’s playground packed with gorges, sheer clay cliffs and waterfalls, all crying out for walks, mountain biking, kayaking and jet-boat rides.

THE WHANGANUI RIVER GREAT WALK Classed as a ‘Great Walk’, this is actually a three to five-day jaunt down the Whanganui River by Canadian canoe. Self-led or guided, nothing spells intrepid more than living off your packed supplies, zero commercialisation and no-frills DOC campsites.

THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE Built for a remote farming community that eventually diminished to nothing. Part of Whanganui National Park, access is via jet boat, mountain bike, hike or the Whanganui River Great Walk.

BULLS

White-water Rafting The clear waters and sheer white cliffs of the Rangitīkei River create the ideal setting for whitewater rafting. There are grade 5 rapids over a maze of boulders in a daunting canyon.

Mount Curl Bike Ride Snaking for 34km between Hunterville and Marton it includes an almighty steep climb but the vistas are astounding.

Dudding Lake This is a great spot for swimming, boating, water sports and with an abundance of trout fishing, too. The campground is next door and a 2km walkway skims the perimeter. A 10-minute drive from Marton.

DANNEVIRKE

woodwork and everything in between. A former church, the gallery’s painted bright yellow, so you can’t miss it.

Hunterville Huntaway

Yellow Church Art Gallery Close to Mangaweka on SH 1, stop and stretch your legs while admiring prints, pottery,

Marton was Made for Kids Check out the new $1.3 million playground designed by awardwinning landscape architects Boffa Miskell, newly built skate park and a bike pump at Marton School.

Festival Held every October, experience a fun and familyfriendly event focused on farmers and their canine friends.

TAIHAPE BULLS

PALMERSTON NORTH PAHIATUA DANNEVIRKE

ENORMOUS GUMBOOT

Taihape is proudly gumboot capital of the world. To celebrate this, they've planted an enormous corrugated iron gumboot, made by well-known Kiwi artist Jeff Thomson.

TAIHAPE ANNUAL GUMBOOT

FESTIVAL Stand back for the number one event – the gumboot

throwing championship. Taking place every March, there are a number of activities based around the humble rubber boot.

OUTBACK GUMBOOT THROWING LANE If you're not quite skilled enough for the gumboot throwing championship, fear not. This purpose-built

gumboot-chucking facility has plenty of discarded boots for any novice to pick up and lob. Located on Outback Road, complete with coffee cart.

TAIHAPE MUSEUM Local history fills every corner of this small but charming heritage building. Open every Sunday from 11am-2pm.

Puns, Puns Everywhere!

Unforgett-a-bull Bulls is certainly a ‘town like no udder’. There are humorous bull themes peppered across town, including the Consta-bull (police station), Reliev-a-bull (toilets) and Cure-a-bull (medical centre).

WHANGANUI RANGITĪKEI TAIHAPE BULLS PALMERSTON PAHIATUA DANNEVIRKE

Bulls Museum Great history lesson on the Rangitīkei region. Largely volunteer-based so donations are gladly received.

What a Load of Bull Gift Store The eye-catching shop front pulls the punters inside, where they’ll find an enthralling range of gifts.

Waireka Honey Centre Twelve minutes south of Bulls, find honey products such as honey ice cream and honey brandy. Samples come thick and fast. Also observe the bees as they go about their busy lives.

Taihape town centre © Adobe Stock • ABOVE: Taihape gumboot © AATP

BULLS

PALMERSTON NORTH PAHIATUA DANNEVIRKE

The Square/Te Marae o Hine

With its striking clock tower and well-kept lawns, this communitycentric sanctuary envelops a pond, a giant chess set, Māori carvings and statues.

Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History Fun and engaging museum that swells with interactive exhibits for all ages. Within this complex is the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

Dugald MacKenzie Rose Gardens

Sniff out this fabulous rose garden, voted in the world’s top five. Located within Victoria Esplanade, it’s a stunning picnic spot or backdrop for your Insta feed.

Lido Aquatic Centre During warmer months, pack snacks and head over for the day. With diving boards and water slides, it’s a big hit with kids, while adults enjoy the spa pool, sauna and steam rooms. With basic pool entry starting from $4.20, it’s cheap-as.

He Ara Kotahi Palmerston North’s newest riverside pathway with He Ara Kotahi Bridge. At night, the bridge is illuminated, creating the illusion that it’s floating above the water.

Manawatū River Bike Ride Hire an electric bike from the i-SITE in The Square and skirt the banks of the Manawatū River on a 10km riverside jaunt.

Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve

With swimming spots, horse trekking and various day walks, the most popular being the three to five-hour (one way) Te Āpiti – Manawatū Gorge, which offers fantastic views.

Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park Over 30km of trails offering mostly Grade 3 and 4 tracks with a few Grade 5 thrown in for good measure. A shuttle service operates in the park but will little phone service, download a park map before heading in.

The Herb Farm Renowned for their skincare products, pick up a few goodies in-store and then walk the herb gardens before dining at the wholesome café. Twenty minutes from Palmerston North.

Miniature Train Ride along the 2.2km track on this adorable passenger train, set in the glorious Victoria Esplanade. Picnic and splash in the shallow paddling pool over summer.

Sledge Track A lesser-known scenic walk 20 minutes from the centre of Palmerston North, it’s laced with waterfalls, swimming holes, a 22m

swing bridge and intriguing Argyle Rocks.

Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery With new patients every day awaiting their release following treatment at Massey University’s Wildbase Hospital, come and see our native animals up close – and for free!

New Zealand Rugby Museum

Sitting within Te Manawa Museum, discover some of the world’s rarest rugby artefacts, take a tour and test your rugby skills. Could you don the black jersey?

Food Truck Thursdays What was once the Food Truck Street Feast has been rebranded as the Block Party Street Festival, held in The Square from 5-8pm on the last Thursday of every month.

Feilding A 20-minute drive south from Palmy, this place has won New Zealand’s most beautiful town a whopping 16 times. Fly over for a bird’s eye view with a hands-on guide aviation lesson. Check out the Focal Point Cinema, Feilding’s awardwinning boutique movie theatre.

Te Arapiki a Tāne / The Stairway of Tāne, Palmerston North

BELOW: Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, Palmerston North. BOTH: © Manawatunz.com

PALMERSTON

PAHIATUA DANNEVIRKE

Pahiatua Railcar Society This working railway museum is located at the Pahiatua Railway Station, 2km from town. Admire a smart collection of restored carriages.

Pahiatua Main Street This leafy tree-lined street is packed with shops; most charming is the long strip of spacious garden.

Tui Brewery Stop in for a meal, beer or tour in Mangatainoka, north of Pahiatua. Between the tours, tastings and tap room there is also a small museum and a shop packed with Tui gear.

Pahiatua & Districts Museum This details the history of the Polish children who arrived in New Zealand following WWII, amongst other stories from the area. Open Sundays 2-4pm.

Harvard Adventure Park Previously circling the skies during WWII, this plane has since been converted into a unique playground slide.

Timeless Horse Treks Down by the Manawatū River, take your pick from daily horse rides, overnight treks and trots on horse-drawn wagons. Twenty minutes from central Pahiatua.

Pahiatua Trout Fishing Carnival With six rivers surrounding town, this annual festival makes a lot of sense; every Labour Weekend.

The Yellow Plane Gallery Running creative workshops, with an interesting selection of locally made crafts to buy on Main Street.

RESERVE

of Dannevirke

Explore

WHANGANUI & MANAWATŪ GREATER WELLINGTON

Unapologetically hipster, this is where creativity flourishes, craft beers are brewed and wisdom is nurtured. History and culture seep from every crevice. Away from the city flutter, surrounding regions offer a solid mix of ocean, nature and vineyard.

Local Buzz

A bike ride to Pencarrow Heads along the shores of the Cook Strait is a great way to get the adrenalin pumping. It’s a great way to get the whole family out together and while it’s a long way to the lighthouse, you can do as much or as little of the track as fitness and enthusiasm allows. There is a lot to see and stop to explore on the way with stony beaches, lots of bird life and large rocks to climb - kids love it!

SHIRLEY PORTEOUS PRINCIPAL OF NEWLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL

Greater Wellington Highlights of

The Kāpiti Coast stretches along the tumultuous Tasman Sea from Pukekākāriki to Ōtaki. With the majestic backdrop of Kāpiti Island and the Tararua Ranges, there are many ways to enjoy this coastline

Wellington has its own story, of course. It’s a city that embodies all the warmth and personality of a village with the energy and sophistication of the world’s biggest cities. Wellington offers up bountiful art, culture and heritage, and boundless natural beauty. Experience world-class fine dining, an abundance of art and culture, myriad colourful and charming coffee houses, internationally recognised craft beers and charming boutiques showcasing the best of New Zealand high fashion.

Hutt Valley, 14km from central Wellington, boasts 3000ha of parks, reserves, bush-clad hills, beaches and walkways, as well as neighbouring, energetic Lower Hutt.

The Wairarapa region, an hour’s drive from Wellington, has huge variety and charm and while it is peaceful and restorative, it is also energetic and interesting thanks to its mix of busy towns, quality cafés, arts, culture and wine. Each spot on the Wairarapa map has its own character; each is well worth exploring.

KIWI

• Drink in the spectacular views on Wairarapa’s Deliverance Cove Track

• Queen Elizabeth Park: family-friendly fun

• Absorb the legends of Aotearoa at Te Hikoi o Pūkaha

• Go behind the scenes at Weta Workshop

• Matiu/Somes Island: New Zealand’s Alcatraz

• Find Wellington’s largest fur seal colony at Turakirae Head

Some of the best brunches can be found at Maranui Café overlooking the waves in Lyall Bay, the iconic Floriditas on Cuba Street or the institution that is Nikau Café on the ground floor of Wellington’s City Gallery.

For a truly special meal, you can’t go past the famous Logan Brown in the original bank building on Cuba Street, Ortega Fish Shack in Mt Victoria, or the spectacular Hiakai where Monique Fiso serves Michelin-style Māori cuisine.

The Clareville Bakery, on the outskirts of Carterton, is a popular spot. Housed in an old church, the multi-award-winning bakery sells handmade breads, delicious pastries and sweet treats alongside a full café menu.

Don Luciano In a gorgeous Art Deco style building in Masterton, you can have an excellent flat white served with a delicious Central American-style brunch and take a bag of freshly roasted beans away with you for later.

Food Forest Organics A deli and grocery store in Greytown selling small batches of produce like honey, olive oil and walnut oil. The café serves plant-based, gluten-free and organic food.

C’est Cheese in Featherston stocks a wide range of dairybased delights, including locally-made cheeses, specialty varieties from around the world and other delectable gourmet products.

FAMILY FUN

Catch the Wellington Cable Car to Wellington’s Botanic Gardens.

Get up close to New Zealand’s native wildlife at Zealandia Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand is a must-visit, with its range of fascinating family-friendly exhibits.

Take to the treetops at Adrenalin Forest in Porirua.

Admire the 450+ vintage vehicles at Paraparaumu’s Southward Car Museum

Ride a steam train at Steam Incorporated in Paekākāriki. Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton - Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton boasts one of the bests play areas in New Zealand.

Stonehenge Aotearoa, Carterton is a full scale adaptation of Stonehenge.

Cobblestones Museum, Greytown – tells the story of New Zealand’s early settlers.

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is a sanctuary for rare native species, complete with breeding programmes. Cape Palliser, with its fur seals, dramatic rock formations and lighthouse is also on the ‘essential visit’ list.

MORE MUST DO’S

Pencarrow Lighthouse At the rocky entrance to Wellington Harbour, this beauty can be reached on a four-hour return walk or 1.5-hour bike ride from Eastbourne. The lighthouse is both scenic and historically significant, as New Zealand’s first permanent lighthouse.

Wellington Chocolate Factory

Discover how to turn a cocoa bean into a chocolate bar at this open-plan chocolate factory, with Saturday tours thrice a day at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm. Nonstop sweet samples are part of the experience.

The Attic is on the fourth floor of Wellington Museum, in the heritage 1892 Bond Store on Jervois Quay on city’s waterfront. As attics ought to be, it’s a compelling and intriguing place, filled to the brim with fascinating things. It’s a treasure trove of discovery, with a healthy dose of playfulness, featuring (among much else) records of Wellington’s UFO sightings, a time machine, movie costumes and two taxidermied lions.

Denzien Gin Distillery Not just purveyors of beer, gin reigns supreme too. This distillery, off Lombard Street, creates small batch gin from rainwater! Drop in at the tasting shop or book a tour.

Old Bank Arcade Exuding all the regal glamour of yesteryear, boutiques and coffee shops now fill the spaces of this former bank. Shop, eat then go and find the hefty old bank vault door.

Scorching Bay Beach Protected from Wellington’s notorious northerly winds, this curvy innerharbour has a white-sand beach, safe swimming and a large grassed area with playground.

Red Rocks Reserve Walk (or drive if you have a 4WD) from Owhiro Bay to the 200-million-year-old Red Rocks (Pari-whero), looking for fur seals in between ocean views. Thirty minutes from Wellington.

PAEKĀKĀRIKI

PORIRUA

Matiu/Somes Island Home to protected wildlife, walks and a lighthouse. Reached by a 20-minute boat ride from Queens Wharf. If you fancy an overnight stay in the DOC camp, book in advance.

safe swimming and a large grassed area with playground.

Red Rocks Reserve Walk From Ōwhiro Bay to the 200-million-yearold Red Rocks, look for fur seals in between ocean views.

fortress in Karori consists of an underground network of tunnels, operation rooms and three-gun emplacements. Open weekends.

Wellington Botanic Gardens

Catch the cable car to these wellmaintained gardens with trails, lots of gardener tips, aromatic rose garden, duck pond and sound shell.

Wellington Zoo A well-considered zoo with vantage points for visitors big and small, as well as several playgrounds to break up the day.

Mt Victoria Lookout Walkway

Admire every inch of Wellington from this spot. Allow one-and-a-half hours to walk the full 4.6km loop.

Cable Car Experience the capital’s iconic red cable car. Marvel at LEDlighted tunnels and at the top, visit the free Cable Car Museum.

Space Place A quick hop from the cable car and next to the Botanic Garden, this state-of-the-art complex boasts hands-on exhibits, movies and a junior astronaut zone.

Weta Workshop Take a tour of Weta’s sets, costumes and props or book a special effects workshop to learn the tricks of the trade.

COAST

Oriental Bay Both a bay and a suburb, the small but immaculate beach is framed by an appealing row of cafés and restaurants.

The Great Harbour Way/Te Aranui o Pōneke Walk or cycle Wellington’s entire coastline from Baring Head in the east to Sinclair Head in the west.

Visit The Beehive Absorb the architecture and history on a free one-hour tour. If Parliament is meeting, observe from the public gallery, and venture to the first floor of Bowen House for art exhibitions. Harbourside Market Proudly the city’s oldest market, on the corner of Cable Street and Barnett Street (beside Te Papa) every Sunday.

Waterfront Fun Picnic, play and stroll along the city’s waterfront. Frank Kitts Park and Waitangi Park precincts are must-do stop offs.

Katherine Mansfield House & Garden Enter the former abode of acclaimed New Zealand writer, Katherine Mansfield and travel back in time to her 19th century heyday.

World of Wearable Art Awards New Zealand’s single largest theatrical production where incredible works of wearable art from around the world are brought to the stage, every Sep/Oct.

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park A place of great significance for Kiwis, outdoor memorials commemorate World War battles.

The Writers’ Walk Uncover 15 text sculptures dotted along Wellington’s pedestrianised waterfront. Created by artist Catherine Griffiths, each piece features a city quote written by a well-known New Zealand writer.

Scorching Bay Beach Protected from Wellington’s notorious northerly winds, this curvy innerharbour has a white-sand beach,

Remutaka Forest Park There are terrific walks for every fitness level and several lovely places for a picnic. Crocodile Bikes Hire a three or six-seater bike from Wellington Crocodile Bikes? A fun way to cruise from Oriental Bay to Kumutoto. Wellington Museum In an 1892 heritage building on the waterfront; the city’s history over four floors. Check out The Attic, a steampunkstyled exhibit space with fantastical creations from lions to flying saucers. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa This world-class museum is free to visit. Detailing every aspect of New Zealand’s landscape, people and history, it also houses New Zealand’s national art collection.

Zealandia Ecosanctuary A fullyfenced urban ecosanctuary with over 40 species of native wildlife roaming free. Explore at your own pace or book a tour. There are twilight tours in summer and come sundown, kids’ night walks, too.

Wrights Hill Fortress Continuing past Zealandia, this impressive WW2

City Gallery Wellington

A stunning building both inside and out, with contemporary and often thought-provoking exhibitions.

Showtime Catch a show at one of the city’s theatres. From glamorous to backstreet, there’s something for every taste at The Embassy Theatre, BATS, Circa, St James, The Opera House, Gryphon Theatre and more.

Shopping Areas Get your retail therapy fix at one of these top Wellington shopping hubs: Cuba Street, Willis Street, Manners Street, Courtenay Place, Old Bank Arcade or Hannahs Laneway.

TUCK IN & DRINK UP

> Wellington Chocolate Factory – tours

> Whistling Sisters – brewery & eatery

> Evil Twins – jar drinks & coffee

> The Oatery – breakfast

> Choice Bros – brewery & eatery

> Heyday Beer Co. – tours

> Fred’s on Cuba – gourmet sandwiches

> Pour & Twist – coffee

> Belén Vegan Bakery –pastries

Southward Car Museum

Buffed until you can see your own reflection, classic autos gleam with polished good looks. Five minutes from Paraparaumu township.

Kāpiti Island Nature Reserve

One of New Zealand’s most

accessible nature reserves, home to its finest rare birds. Access is by tour operator only – book a day tour or stay overnight in the lodge. Boats depart from Kāpiti Boating Club at Paraparaumu Beach.

Wellington Tramway Museum

Located at Queen Elizabeth Park, this is more than a museum; you can also ride a vintage tram for 2km to Whareroa Beach.

PAPAITONGA SCENIC RESERVE Amble through native bush on boardwalks cradled by wetland and lush coastal forest. An eightminute drive from Levin.

LEVIN PORIRUA PARAPARAUMU KĀPITI COAST

WAITĀRERE BEACH Ten minutes from Levin, flop onto a wide stretch of beach famed for its surf, dunes and wreck of the Hydrabad which ran aground in 1878.

ADVENTURE PARK

You’ll find playgrounds with tumbling drums, a ropes course, climbing wall, fitness trail, mini-ball court, skating area, sand volleyball court, disability swings, Bocce courts, a dog exercise area and a miniature train with free rides from 1-3pm weekends and holidays.

Pātaka Art + Museum

Showcasing the best in contemporary Māori, Pacific Island, New Zealand and international arts and culture. Toi Store also has an appealing range of ceramics, art prints and jewellery.

New Zealand Police Museum

A wonderfully presented history of the New Zealand Police, full of engrossing stories.

Aotea Lagoon This is a great spot with wheelchair and buggy-friendly walkways. Kids love the Splash Pad, complete with spray cannons and tipping buckets, there’s also a playground, barbecue and picnic area, coffee cart and miniature train rides operating most Sundays.

Adrenalin Forest If aerial obstacle courses, rope swings, flying foxes and high-wire challenges are your thing, this will put a smile on your dial.

Plimmerton Beach Flat, sheltered and shallower than other beaches in the area, this beach is a popular for swimming and windsurfing.

Mana Island Sitting just off the coast of Porirua, day trips to this predator-free island put visitors in proximity to little spotted kiwi, North Island robins, blue penguins, parakeet and more.

Harbour’s Edge Take a stroll along the Harbourside Path to Get Fixed Bicycle Café where you can hire a bike or just relax with a coffee, gelato or light bite on a bean bag. Pop into Blue Bell Club for vibrant Pacifica homeware and fashion.

Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae

Both wheelchair and buggy-friendly, explore walkthrough aviaries, reptile enclosures and a nocturnal kiwi house. Feed the eels at 2pm, embark on free guided weekend walks and wander the open lawns, escorted by an army of ducks.

Ōtaki Forks In the rural town of Ōtaki, you’ll find Ōtaki Forks, one of the Kāpiti District’s best-kept secrets. Here is a campground adjoining a truly magical stretch of river with deep swimming holes and

rocks for jumping off. A 45-minute drive from Waikanae.

Tararua Forest Park This is the North Island’s largest conservation park, so the tramping possibilities are almost endless and the opportunity to have a wild, windwhipped adventure is guaranteed.

Akatārawa Forest in Waikanae Steady uphill climbs lead to epic views across Hutt Valley. 4WD tracks are available to run, bike, hike or drive, and shared by dirt bikes, too.

Golders Cottage One of the oldest homes in Upper Hutt, gain a fascinating insight into the lives of early pioneers. Open Sat 1.30-4pm. Kaitoke Regional Park Drive 40 minutes from the CBD and you’ll end up at the location for Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. Film sets aside, there are multiple swimming holes along the riverbank and shingle embankments for picnics and sunbathing.

Aston Norwood Based on a Japanese garden, meander from the hedge maze to the tiny bridges, ponds and a rhododendron dell (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg). Little wonder this spectacular garden, café and manor house is a top wedding venue.

WELLINGTON PAEKĀKĀRIKI

The Staglands Wildlife Reserve

Meet and feed a medley of wildlife in their natural environment. The animals are curious – if not a little cheeky – so you'll have plenty of (humorous) interactions.

LEVIN

PORIRUA

COAST UPPER HUTT LOWER HUTT PETONE GREYTOWN FEATHERSTON MARTINBOROUGH CARTERTON CARTERTON & MASTERTON

Raft or Kayak Hutt River Both the Hutt River gorge and rapids upstream of the Whakatikei River will challenge the experienced

WELLINGTON PAEKĀKĀRIKI

vibrant art centre (formerly known as Expressions Whirinaki) now houses three new gallery spaces, a theatre and tasty Dough Bakery.

Brewtown Find the region's best craft breweries all under one roof (and spilling across a big green lawn with indoor and outdoor seating) there's an on-site distillery, arcade games, ten-pin bowling, several food options and craft beer tours. All within walking distance of Upper Hutt train station.

kayaker, whereas the river south of Birchville will appease beginners.

WELLINGTON PAEKĀKĀRIKI

Frisbee Golf at Harcourt Park Home of disc golf, you'll also find a toddler's splash pool (open in summer), playground, flying fox, communal barbecues and picnic tables. Brilliant for families.

LEVIN

Whirinaki Whare Taonga After a $9 million renovation, this

PORIRUA

KĀPITI COAST

UPPER HUTT

LOWER HUTT

PETONE

The Dowse Art Museum Free entry to forward-thinking exhibits that have been known to include virtual reality. There is also a great gallery store. Open TuesdaySunday, 10am-5pm.

in summer, trains or boats. They also have electric barbecues, so you won’t go hungry.

GREYTOWN

Wildfinder Days Bay Looking to explore the area by kayak, stand-up paddleboard or mountain bike?

Hetet Artspace An emporium of Māori artwork, comprising the Hetet School of Māori Art, art studios and The Gallery, established to develop and promote traditional Māori arts.

FEATHERSTON

Head here for all your on-water/ off-road rentals. A 15-minute drive from Wainuiomata.

Percy Scenic Reserve A mere three minutes by car from the heart of Lower Hutt, find an unexpected garden area with picnic lawns, easy trails, a small cave and waterfall.

Motutawa Avalon Park Dinosaur fans will love Colin the T-Rex, taking centre stage. Fill your day at the playground, with minigolf, the mini-road bike park, and

MARTINBOROUGH CARTERTON CARTERTON & MASTERTON

Seals Wellington’s largest fur seal colony occupies Turakirae Head on the Wainuiomata Coast. Spied yearround, it’s most rewarding in winter, when up to 500 seals turn up here.

Turakirae Head As well as seals, the other spectacle here is the craggy landscape. Over 7000 years, earthquakes have caused five separate beaches to raise and reposition above the sea level.

PARAPARAUMU

Birchville Dam Waterfall One of the most impressive falls in the region can be found in Belmont Regional Park. With easy access, the waterfall’s beauty and crystalclear water makes this a favourite among the locals.

KĀPITI COAST

highlighting the various pathways to help guide you.

UPPER HUTT

Te Puna Wai Ora (The Spring of Life) For something decidedly unique, taste all-natural spring water from this free fountain sitting on the corner of Buick and Jackson streets.

LOWER HUTT

PETONE

Jackson Street A lovely 20-minute walk from Lower Hutt, a trendy row of smart cafés, art galleries and boutique stores occupy this historic street. Don’t miss The Chocolate Story for superb artisan chocolates and devilishly good hot cocoa. The Dutch Shop will help you to fill up your picnic basket for the day. Korokoro Dam Popular with cyclists, families and dog walkers, this tranquil walkway is aloud with birdsong. There are various access points to this large park land but you’ll find notice boards

PARAPARAUMU KĀPITI COAST UPPER HUTT LOWER HUTT PETONE GREYTOWN FEATHERSTON MARTINBOROUGH CARTERTON CARTERTON & MASTERTON

Petone Settlers Museum

An unexpected surprise along Petone's seafront. Housed in an historic building, this bijou museum details the region's past. Small from the outside, the exhibits are rich within.

GREYTOWN

FEATHERSTON

C’est Cheese - Artisan Cheese & Deli A charming boutique cheese shop in Featherston that sells every imaginable flavour. A top place to stop for provisions while cycling the Remutaka Rail Trail.

MARTINBOROUGH CARTERTON

Booktown Bibliophiles listen up – Featherston is New Zealand’s only Booktown! Part of a global community of Booktowns, there are more bookshops per head in Featherston than anywhere else in Aotearoa. Literature lovers should keep an eye on the annual Booktown Festival, every May.

Fell Locomotive Museum Located in Featherston. Home to a H199, the only locomotive of its type in the world and a myriad of niche exhibits relating to railway heritage. Open weekends 10am-4pm.

CARTERTON & MASTERTON

LEFT: Dowse Art Museum © Hutt City Council

ABOVE: Staglands Wildlife Reserve, Upper Hutt © WellingtonNZ

FEATHERSTON MARTINBOROUGH

CLASSIC NEW ZEALAND

WINE TRAIL With almost 40 wineries, Martinborough is at the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Most vineyards are within walking or cycling distance of one another. The annual Toast Martinborough, in November, celebrates the region’s best produce.

CAPE PALLISER Spy fur seals and the iconic red and white striped lighthouse. You’ll find

251 steep steps that lead to its door. Accept the challenge and you’ll be rewarded with sensational views. An hour from Martinborough.

PUTANGIRUA PINNACLES

These rock formations, an hour from Martinborough, are truly incredible! The Pinnacles Track is a 2-4 hour route; continue the loop to the base of the rocks for a different perspective.

PETONE GREYTOWN

Stonehenge Aotearoa A unique open-sky observatory inspired by Stonehenge in England. Guided tours and star safaris are popular here. 13km from Carterton.

Art Precinct Cop an eyeful of great artwork at the rousing ConArt Gallery & Studios. Also in the complex is Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History and The Woolshed: National Museum of Sheep and Shearing, home of the world-famous Golden Shears.

Masterton Queen Elizabeth Park Hours of family fun here with a playground-cum-wooden fort with a flying fox; boating on the lake; and riding a miniature train.

Festivals Masterton hosts the shearing and wool handling championship, Golden Shears each March and the aviation event Wings Over Wairarapa every two years. Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre Twenty minutes north of Masterton, meet rare New Zealand wildlife in an unfenced sanctuary. Book a one-hour guided tour for deeper insight or try the ‘Ranger for a Day’ experience.

Castlepoint Home to Castlepoint and Riversdale beaches, both good for surfing and swimming. Castlepoint also features a striking white lighthouse. An hour from Masterton.

GREYTOWN Come to observe the restored Victorian buildings and stay for the antiques, art shops, boutiques and cafés.

PINEHAVEN ORCHARD, GREYTOWN It doesn’t get fresher than justpicked fruit and pure apple juice from fruit straight off the trees, while the fresh boysenberry and banana ice cream takes some beating.

SCHOC CHOCOLATES With a vast array of decadent chocolates, drop in for a tasting, treat yourself to a hot chocolate and discover more than 85 different flavours. Located at Cobblestones Museum on Main Street

COBBLESTONE MUSEUM Next door you’ll learn about early settler life through the museum’s carefully curated artefacts. Wonder amongst the heritage buildings and gardens to get a feel for life here in the 1800s.

AUCKLAND

HAMILTON

TAURANGA

ROTORUA

NAPIER

HASTINGS

GISBORNE

Hawke’s Bay

TAURANGA

Hamurana

Okere

Mamaku

Ngongotaha

LAKE

Horohoro

Ngakuru

i-SITE

Cycle Trail

FENTON

TŪRANGI

Lake

CAMBRIAST

TAKARANGIST

The perfect year-round destination