ROAD TRIP - Waitomo Caves to Cambridge

A journey through Te Awamutu

Waitomo Caves to Ōtorohanga via SH 37 & SH 3 12min, 15km

Ōtorohanga to Te Awamutu via SH 3 26min, 30km

Te Awamutu to Cambridge via Cambridge Rd/Te Awamutu Cambridge Rd 24min, 26km

SIDE TRIP - Hangatiki to Te Kūiti via SH 3 9min, 11km

Here comes a road paved with character. From charming country towns to the sweet smell of sprawling roses.

Journey along SH 37 and turn north onto SH 3 toward Ōtorohanga – New Zealand’s official Kiwiana town. It’s worthwhile stopping there, whether to simply enjoy the Kiwiana display along the main street or to spot the country’s iconic flightless bird at the Kiwi House and Native Bird Park. Continue on to Te Awamutu where, depending on the time of year you visit, you can literally stop and smell the roses. The town has the ideal climate for growing the sweetly scented blooms. Take a stroll through the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens before heading for Cambridge, a lovely town complete with boutique clothing and homeware stores, cafés, restaurants and picturesque rural outlooks.

ADRENALIN ADVENTURES Have an Indiana Jones moment with The Lost World and their dedicated guides. Dangle 100m into the void on a 20-minute rappel into the gigantic vaults of the Mangapu Cave system, enveloped by dense foliage and stalactites.

Abseil into ‘Lost World’

© Discover Waitomo

FAMILY FUN

VOLCANIC WALKS Stretch the legs on a walk to the summit of Mt Kakepuku in Te Awamutu. The track is partly shared with mountain bikers.

BLACKNOSE SHEEP AT ALPACA EXPERIENCE IN CAMBRIDGE Of all the fluffy sheep out there, this variety has got to be the cutest! This hands-on tour gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals.

PYO BLUEBERRIES From early December to late February, pick your own blueberries at Blueberry Country in Ōhaupō and then reward your efforts with a blueberry ice cream from the café.

GRASSROOTS TRUST VELODROME, CAMBRIDGE Drop into this world-class venue to watch the athletes train or check out one of their major events. They hold Have a Go days for those keen to try the track, plus there’s a bike skills park.

HANDS-ON LEARNING Te Awamutu Museum’s impressive collections reflect the history of the Waipa District, including significant taonga Māori and Pacifika artefacts.

LAKESIDE PICNICS Near Te Awamatu, enjoy a picnic overlooking the calm waters of Lake Ngāroto, then stroll along the fringing boardwalk.

SWEET PERFUME From December to January, a cloud of purple envelops Alphra Lavender Farm in Te Awamutu. Take a free tour and learn all about lavender.

JUBILEE GARDENS, CAMBRIDGE Pretty public gardens with a playground, this one makes a great pit stop.

Open over the summer months the Tree Church in Ōhaupō is foremost a garden, the centrepiece being a full-sized chapel made entirely out of trees.

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge Town Hall

© Waikato Hamilton Tourism

The town has a long history of producing talented sportspeople, particularly in the equestrian, rowing and cycling fields. It’s no surprise because Cambridge is home to beautiful countryside, a network of cycle trails including the renowned Te Awa Cycleway, and nearby, Lake Karāpiro. If adventure is on your agenda, hire a bicycle and take to one of several tracks in the area weaving through native bush and alongside the rushing Waikato River. Lake Karāpiro offers kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing and the thrill of jet boating further downstream. Enjoy the town at a slower pace by popping into the Cambridge Museum, the town’s former courthouse. You’ll see pioneer relics, a military history room and other historic displays. Pick up fresh, artisan goodies from the weekly farmers’ marketheld in Victoria Square or from the selection of delicatessens in the town centre and enjoy a picnic in Jubilee Gardens. Sit in one of the many cafés dishing up delicious food and coffee, or inside the converted church which is now Good Union – where Hamilton’s Good George Brewing empire has expanded to.

Good Union pub, Cambridge © DWB

© DWB

HIGHLIGHTS

ŌTOROHANGA KIWI HOUSE AND NATIVE BIRD PARK Seeing a kiwi bird in real life is a special experience. Enjoy up close and personal encounters with New Zealand’s icon in specialised nocturnal enclosures. Walk through the country’s largest dome aviary and meet a tuatara, the native reptile which pre-dated the dinosaurs. Entry fees aid conservation work.

ŌTOROHANGA KIWIANA TOWN Bell tea, Sunlight soap, Kiwi boot polish, Edmonds baking soda; most Kiwis will remember these classic items. Take a walk down memory lane on this self-guided art trail down Ōtorohanga’s main street.

Kiwiana signs & art, Ōtorohanga ©Hamilton Waikato Tourism

©Hamilton Waikato Tourism

ED HILLARY WALKWAY KIWIANA TOWN 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.

TE AWAMUTU ROSE GARDENS From November through to May, the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens are filled with bright colour and sweet scents. Established in 1969, the grounds were once a military site. With more than 2000 rose bushes and 50 different varieties. perfect place to stretch the legs, stay for a picnic or to simply stop and smell the roses.

TE ARA WAI JOURNEYS These free, self-guided cultural tours cover the whole of Waipā district. Use your smart phone to select from six different zones, each offering a range of local information and fascinating insights.

Kiwiana signs & art, Ōtorohanga

©Hamilton Waikato Tourism

SIDE TRIP - TE KŪITI

This township, a 15-minute drive south of Waitomo, celebrates the sheep shearing industry. Drive down the main street to see a 6m-tall statue of a shearer which pays homage to local man, David Fagan, who won multiple shearing titles and became a world champion in the sport five times over. The town is also home to many others making a living out of shearing. But that’s not all there is to Te Kūiti. The nearby Timber Trail brings many cyclists to the town, while the Te Kūiti lookout and Mangaokewa Scenic Reserve deserve a look in. If you’re visiting during The Great New Zealand Muster, an annual event held the weekend after Easter, you’ll get a true feel for the town’s love of sheep by watching or even participating in shearing contests and sheep races. You’ll also enjoy performances from Māori cultural groups and taste a range of delicious kai (food) served in street stalls.

Limestone cliffs, Te Kuiti

© Adobe Stock