7 minute read
ROAD TRIP: A journey through Tirau
Cambridge to Tīrau via Thermal Explorer Hwy - 25min, 32.3km
SIDE TRIP - Piarere to Matamata via SH 29 - 16min, 19km
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SIDE TRIP - Piarere to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari via Oreipunga Rd & Arapuni Rd - 31min, 29km
Tīrau to Rotorua via SH 5 - 42min, 52km
Leaving Cambridge, heading east, you go along a very picturesque section of SH 1 to Tīrau, following the ribbon of Waikato River part way. Enjoy the quirky delights of Tīrau, famously touted as the world’s corrugated iron capital. Lining the main road are unconventional buildings. Inside a huge corrugated iron sheep dog is the town’s i-SITE Visitor Centre and nearby an enormous sheep is home to a wool and craft shop. Pick up a selection of home-made fudge, ice cream and local honey. Browse the handful of galleries and boutique clothing and homeware stores lining the main street before continuing on, through forestry, to Rotorua via SH 5.
HOT SPOTS
• HELL’S GATE GEOTHERMAL PARK AND MUD SPA
Mix steamy walks with geothermal mud pools.
• WAIMANGU VOLCANIC VALLEY
Self-guided walks and lake cruises to sites not accessible on foot.
• WAI-O-TAPU THERMAL WONDERLAND
A lunar-like terrain with coloured ponds. The Lady Knox Geyser explodes daily at 10.15am.
HIGHLIGHTS
TE WAIHOU WALKWAY AND BLUE SPRING
Follow the native bush-laden boardwalk revealing mesmerising views of the crystal clear spring, 10km out of Tīrau on route to Rotorua. The water is so pure, it’s bottled and sold. Sights along the three-hour return journey include glimpses of trout and snapshots of waterfalls trickling down mossy embankments through clearings in the wetlands.
Blue Spring
Charlies Yuan
TĪRAU MUSEUM
Entering this privately owned gallery is like turning back the clock. Old furniture, lamps and radios mix with vintage machinery and horse-drawn vehicles.
THE REDWOODS, ROTORUA
A visit to Whakarewarewa Forest provides hours of fun along extensive walking and mountain biking trails beneath soaring Californian Coast Redwoods. The Redwoods Treewalk is a 700-metre-long boardwalk suspended between ancient redwood trees. It can also be completed after dark when the Redwoods Nightlights transforms the forest into an ethereal wonderland. Traverse 28 suspension bridges linked between 27 trees and dozens of hanging lanterns. New for summer 2020, Redwoods Altitude features 25 themed swing bridges, three flying foxes and two spiral staircases.
The Redwoods
Rotorua Tourism
THE BURIED VILLAGE
Discover New Zealand’s most visited archaeological site. Te Wairoa was a village that was completely buried by the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886. Explore parts of the buried village that have been excavated along with recreated buildings and fascinating relics.
Learn about MĀORI CULTURE through art, history and nature. There are many ways to enrich your stay.
1. TE PUIA – is home to The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. Spanning 70 hectares within Te Whakarewarewa Valley, visitors can learn to cook their own hangi-style meal or hang out with kiwis at the Kiwi House. Guests are also privy to the Pohutu geyser (reaching heights of 30 metres, it’s the largest in the southern hemisphere), mud pools and hot springs.
2. MITAI MĀORI VILLAGE – this traditional Māori village offers a guided bush walk, cultural performances and ground-cooked hangi meal.Enjoy a spine-tingling haka performance as well as the grace and beauty of an authentic poi dance and waiata singing.
3. TAMAKI MĀORI VILLAGE – enter a world of proud warriors and ancient traditions in this pre-European Māori village cradled in native forest. Experiences are nightly and include ceremonial rituals and storytelling. Watch authentic tattooing, weaving,carving and warrior training before congregating at the ancestral meeting house for a hangi dinner.
Māori performance, Rotorua
Rotorua Tourism
SIDE TRIP - Matamata
You don’t need to be a fanatical Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan to become lost in the magical and whimsical world that is the Hobbiton movie set – and what Matamata is best known for. The detailed fantasyland complete with more than 40 unique hobbit holes, including Bilbo’s house, and The Green Dragon™ Inn (which serves specially brewed beers) has captivated both hard-core movie buffs and inquisitive passers-by just the same. Wander through the heart of the Shire and hear how it all began. Matamata also has other scenic delights. Wairere Falls is New Zealand’s highest waterfall at 153 metres. The walking track reveals native bush and sweeping views across the valley and Waikato Plains.
Hobiton feast, Matamata
Hobbiton Movie Set
ROTORUA
The unique geothermal environment here is a surprise to the senses and almost unbelievable, with bubbling hot mud pools, steaming geysers, neon-coloured microbiology in fizzing hot springs and the strong smell of sulphur permeating the air. Rotorua is known as one of New Zealand’s adventure capitals but what makes Rotorua special is that a stay can be equally relaxing. A gentle walk around one of the lakes, a stroll through a forest of towering redwood trees or a soak in geothermal hot pools will do you good. There is also a lot of fascinating history and, of course, the opportunity to become familiar with Māori culture which is fully celebrated in Rotorua.
TOP TIP: The Pink and White Terraces (once considered one of the Wonders of the World) were destroyed in the 1886 volcanic eruption. Download the free Waimangu App for a digital reconstruction.
Te Puia, Rotorua
Rotorua Tourism
FAMILY FUN
• WINGSPAN NATIONAL BIRD OF PREY CENTRE – enjoy a free-flight bird show, it’s all part of the bird’s rehabilitation. They may even land on your hands – or your head! • AGRODOME – an animal farm complete with farm shows and tours to hand-feed the animals. • SKYLINE ROTORUA LUGE AND GONDOLA – race the family go-kart style, soak up the views in a gondola on the way up and dine in the café at the top. • ROTORUA’S PARADISE VALLEY SPRINGS – stroll through the aviary, chat to comical alpine parrots and meet the lions.
THRILLING ADVENTURE
WHITE-WATER RAFTING –the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world is found down Rotorua’s Kaituna River... all seven metres of it!
VELOCITY VALLEY– here you’ll find giant sky swings, jet boats, aerodynamic racing pods, bungy jumps, simulated skydives and a soft airbag to practice bike tricks.
ZORB – Rotorua invented ZORB (or zorbing), the sport of rolling downhill inside a giant, inflatable ball. It’s also the only place in New Zealand where you can do it.
ROTORUA CANOPY TOURS – fly above a canopy of native trees and see the forest just like the birds do!
Rotorua Canopy Tours
Rotorua Tourism
AGROJET – as ferocious as it sounds, this is New Zealand’s fastest jet-boating experience. Delivering 3 Gs of force, speeds of up to 100kmph and 360-degree twists.
THE LUGE – this family-friendly go-kart (of sorts) can be driven downhill at great speed on a specially designed track. Catch the Gondola up Mt Ngongotaha to access the start line.
ROTORUA DUCK TOURS – Ride a converted WWII amphibious truck-cum-boat from the road into the water. One moment you’re driving, the next you’re sailing!
SIDE TRIP: Sanctuary Mountain
Discover a world that once was when you walk through Sanctuary Mountain’s pest proof fence – one of the longest in the world. The ancient forest is a safe haven for native endangered species including birds, skinks, geckos, frogs, bats and insects. Tuatara (the endangered reptiles dating back to pre-dinosaur times) can be spotted basking on rocks. Take a guided daytime tour to reveal the wonders of the sanctuary. At night, you can listen out for the calls of kiwi and gaze at twinkling glowworms.
Kākāriki
Jack Mace
JUST RELAX!
SECRET SPOT - Private cedar hot tubs in the forest with tub-side beverage service.
HAMURANA SPRINGS - A 45-minute walking loop leads to these aqua-marine springs, or you can stand-up paddleboard there along Hamurana Stream.
POLYNESIAN SPA - Bathe in hot mineral springs overlooking Lake Rotorua. Healing waters are sourced from two natural springs.
Polynesian Spa, Rotorua
Rotorua Tourism
