Guidebook for Ngatira
Parks & Nature
It is beautiful, easy 45 minute walk along the riverside - leading to The Blue Spring where 70% of New Zealand's bottled water is sourced from.
13 residents recomanen
Te Waihou Walkway
303 Whites RdIt is beautiful, easy 45 minute walk along the riverside - leading to The Blue Spring where 70% of New Zealand's bottled water is sourced from.
The lake front is lovely. Great picnic spots, children's playgrounds, and activities.
21 residents recomanen
Lake Rotorua
The lake front is lovely. Great picnic spots, children's playgrounds, and activities.
It's a great place to walk and enjoy. Redwoods also has an excellent mountain biking track and facilities.
150 residents recomanen
Redwoods Treewalk
Tarawera RoadIt's a great place to walk and enjoy. Redwoods also has an excellent mountain biking track and facilities.
Not just a park, follow the boardwalks around a geothermal wonderland. Very well priced and easy pace to get around.
42 residents recomanen
Craters of the Moon
171 Karapiti RdNot just a park, follow the boardwalks around a geothermal wonderland. Very well priced and easy pace to get around.
It's a great beach - swim between the flags of the lifeguards. Good shopping and places to eat are near, and great walks up the Mount - for great photos.
51 residents recomanen
Mt Maunganui Main Beach
It's a great beach - swim between the flags of the lifeguards. Good shopping and places to eat are near, and great walks up the Mount - for great photos.
Sanctuary Mountain - a predator free park with walks and, at times, night tours. Experience NZ native bush, birds and critters in this extraordinary sanctuary. It is this mountain you can see from The Sanctuary 1127 as the sun sets behind it.
9 residents recomanen
Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (Cambridge Office)
12 Gillies StSanctuary Mountain - a predator free park with walks and, at times, night tours. Experience NZ native bush, birds and critters in this extraordinary sanctuary. It is this mountain you can see from The Sanctuary 1127 as the sun sets behind it.
Hamilton Gardens - Acknowledged as a world class garden, we go here for inspiration for The Sanctuary 1127. Not only does it have practical set ups for sustainable gardening, traditional food gardens both Maori and pakeha, it also has the incredibly themed gardens including rose, Chinese, Japanese and Italian - we love this place. Entry is free. there is a cafe on site but you can take a picnic!
84 residents recomanen
Hamilton Gardens station
Hamilton Gardens - Acknowledged as a world class garden, we go here for inspiration for The Sanctuary 1127. Not only does it have practical set ups for sustainable gardening, traditional food gardens both Maori and pakeha, it also has the incredibly themed gardens including rose, Chinese, Japanese and Italian - we love this place. Entry is free. there is a cafe on site but you can take a picnic!
Food Scene
Award winning cheese maker (and The New Zealand Cheese School on site) - with great coffee and superb cheeses made on the premises.
Over The Moon
33 Tirau StAward winning cheese maker (and The New Zealand Cheese School on site) - with great coffee and superb cheeses made on the premises.
Eat street has a great collection of restaurants that is likely to satisfy. Nearby are a variety of restaurants - worth a wander around.
134 residents recomanen
Eat Street
Tutanekai StreetEat street has a great collection of restaurants that is likely to satisfy. Nearby are a variety of restaurants - worth a wander around.
The food court offers a variety of food types including indian, thai, italian, and traditional kiwi fare. Open long hours and set in an iconic building. Easy to find in the middle of Putaruru at the main roundabout on State highway 1.
Putaruru Food Court
26 Kensington StThe food court offers a variety of food types including indian, thai, italian, and traditional kiwi fare. Open long hours and set in an iconic building. Easy to find in the middle of Putaruru at the main roundabout on State highway 1.
Great Flavours of India
31 Arapuni StIt’s our favourite local curry house with lovely hosts.
Essentials
Countdown Putaruru
Tirau StreetA full supermarket.
Tirau Supermarket
7a Hillcrest StPak n Save is one of NZ's cheapest supermarkets. Don't forget to take bags to put your groceries in. NZ is trying to ban plastic bags.
47 residents recomanen
PAK'nSAVE Rotorua
Amohau StreetPak n Save is one of NZ's cheapest supermarkets. Don't forget to take bags to put your groceries in. NZ is trying to ban plastic bags.
There is another one on SH5 in Fairy Springs near the Mcdonalds and BP. Don't forget your shopping bags, NZ is banning single use plastic bags. Countdown does have bags available.
51 residents recomanen
Countdown Rotorua
246 Fenton StThere is another one on SH5 in Fairy Springs near the Mcdonalds and BP. Don't forget your shopping bags, NZ is banning single use plastic bags. Countdown does have bags available.
If coming in on that highway past Matamata, this is the nearest. There is a small supermarket in Tirau too.
14 residents recomanen
New World Matamata
45 Waharoa Rd EIf coming in on that highway past Matamata, this is the nearest. There is a small supermarket in Tirau too.
Everything Else
Not only a lovely historic hotel with good meals, and bar food, it is also home to some good old fashioned natural NZ hot pools. There is also a golf course on site.
9 residents recomanen
Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel
18 Somerville RdNot only a lovely historic hotel with good meals, and bar food, it is also home to some good old fashioned natural NZ hot pools. There is also a golf course on site.
Local knowledge, transport and excursion bookings, and next door to the local library if you want some quiet time.
Putaruru Information Centre
2 Overdale StLocal knowledge, transport and excursion bookings, and next door to the local library if you want some quiet time.
Shopping
This quaint town known for The Dog, Sheep and Ram - huge corrugated iron shops, is full of great cafes, boutiques, outlet stores, gift and decor stores. It's a very pleasant place to shop.
On the way to Tirau on SH5, is the Tirau Museum. Entry fee is minimal ($5 a couple of years ago) and the chap has collected everything from 1900's NZ iconic items to tractors, shop fronts from our towns and so much more. They also sell fresh honey from their own hives.
16 residents recomanen
Tirau
This quaint town known for The Dog, Sheep and Ram - huge corrugated iron shops, is full of great cafes, boutiques, outlet stores, gift and decor stores. It's a very pleasant place to shop.
On the way to Tirau on SH5, is the Tirau Museum. Entry fee is minimal ($5 a couple of years ago) and the chap has collected everything from 1900's NZ iconic items to tractors, shop fronts from our towns and so much more. They also sell fresh honey from their own hives.
Moos Baas and Oinks is a great butchers on 'Main Street' opposite Van Dykes. They have their own great sausages and salami, and good quality meat.
Great Flavours of India on Arapuni Street is a superb indian restaurant and takeaway. The chef loves to cook, for sure!
The bakeries and cafes are all good - it's down to your own tastes. Lots of homemade food.
The Putaruru Hotel is a 1920's building as is the Arapuni Dam (in Arapuni township) with its swing bridge across to the power station.
There are plenty of shops to browse in Putaruru, our nearest bit town , with supermarket, petrol stations, and all other needs.
6 residents recomanen
Putaruru
Moos Baas and Oinks is a great butchers on 'Main Street' opposite Van Dykes. They have their own great sausages and salami, and good quality meat.
Great Flavours of India on Arapuni Street is a superb indian restaurant and takeaway. The chef loves to cook, for sure!
The bakeries and cafes are all good - it's down to your own tastes. Lots of homemade food.
The Putaruru Hotel is a 1920's building as is the Arapuni Dam (in Arapuni township) with its swing bridge across to the power station.
There are plenty of shops to browse in Putaruru, our nearest bit town , with supermarket, petrol stations, and all other needs.
Getting Around
For all bookings, local and tourist information - they are in The Dog - the big corrugated iron building opposite the BP. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
Tirau i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
65 Main RdFor all bookings, local and tourist information - they are in The Dog - the big corrugated iron building opposite the BP. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
Tour and transport bookings.
41 residents recomanen
Centre d'informació per a visitants Rotorua i-SITE
1167 Fenton StTour and transport bookings.
Entertainment & Activities
Good price, and they don't mind you taking in a coffee and snacks.
21 residents recomanen
Reading Cinemas
1281 Eruera StGood price, and they don't mind you taking in a coffee and snacks.
Motion Entertainment Rotorua
366 Te Ngae Rdmuch more than just arcades and games.
Rotorua is a one stop tourist city. It is the cultural capital of NZ and is well set up for the needs of tourists.
107 residents recomanen
Rotorua
Rotorua is a one stop tourist city. It is the cultural capital of NZ and is well set up for the needs of tourists.
One of a number of cultural experiences to choose from in Rotorua - thermal wonderland.
57 residents recomanen
Wai-O-Tapu
201 Waiotapu Loop RdOne of a number of cultural experiences to choose from in Rotorua - thermal wonderland.
It's a great venue for families and mini-golf lovers. They also have night golf - a great glow in the dark experience. Recently, big rabbits have been hopping around adding delight to the experience.
15 residents recomanen
Mini Golf Rotorua
152 Fairy Springs RdIt's a great venue for families and mini-golf lovers. They also have night golf - a great glow in the dark experience. Recently, big rabbits have been hopping around adding delight to the experience.
Not just a tour of geothermal activity, the facility has natural hot pools and mud pools to lounge in - and spa treatments (good for rainy days).
54 residents recomanen
Parc Geotèrmic Hells Gate i Spa de Fang
351 State Hwy 30Not just a tour of geothermal activity, the facility has natural hot pools and mud pools to lounge in - and spa treatments (good for rainy days).
Vila Maori Mitai
196 Fairy Springs RdIt's a great experience of Maori culture and food.
Te Puia station
A great cultural experience including geothermal wonders.
One of a number of Maori cultural experiences found in Rotorua. They all offer something unique. Find the one that ticks the boxes for you.
40 residents recomanen
Whakarewarewa - La vila maori viva
17 Tryon StOne of a number of Maori cultural experiences found in Rotorua. They all offer something unique. Find the one that ticks the boxes for you.