Rolling green hills and towering pine trees greet visitors to New Zealand’s South Waikato region, a colourful region home to a range of cultures.
Cheese tasting, scenic walks, mountain bike tracks… Waikato is a great place to visit and the southern part of the region is even better.
You’ll love it here whatever your interest.
Blue Spring
The popular Blue Spring, in the upper reaches of the Waihou River, is a must-visit spot. The world-renowned spring gets its name from its distinct blue/green colour and purity; the water is sold in service stations around New Zealand and supplies the local town of Putaruru, with no treatment needed before distribution. Water flows from the Blue Spring at a rate of 42cu m (9240 gallons) per minute.
Access it from Te Waihou walkway, which you can start on Whites or Leslie Roads near Putaruru. The scenic walkway goes through wetland and rolling pastures, and past small waterfalls nestled in native bush.
Talking Poles
Visit Tokoroa in the South Waikato region and you’ll be wowed by the unique Talking Poles that line the central shopping streets of Tokoroa.
More than 40 poles comprise the collection, with each reflecting the variety of cultures in this tight-knit South Waikato community. The Pacific Memories and Professional Business Women Poles and the interestingly named Crazyman Pole – so called because of the grass growing out of his head – are among the collection, which was developed as part of the retail upgrade Tokoroa has undergone in recent years.
Most of the poles are made from pine and other woods found in abundance around the region, which is renowned for its forestry heritage.
Cheese Tasting in Putaruru
The staff members at the world-renowned Over the Moon Dairy Company in Putaruru live and breathe cheese and they share the love with all visitors. There’s no better way to share it with them than by tasting their delicious wares.
So come along to this tiny town and sample award-winning cheeses made from locally sourced cow, goat, sheep and buffalo milk. There’s a tempting range of traditional hard, soft and blue cheeses and somewhat undiscovered goodies such as haloumi.
There are even cheese-making courses – the perfect treat for serious cheese fans. Just ask the locals. Visit once and you’ll be hooked. We guarantee it.
Shopping in Tirau
Tirau’s Main Road holds delights any casual or serious shopper will love. Antique and gift stores, boutique fashion shops, art galleries and souvenir factories – you name it. This little town has a big name throughout the Waikato region as a hot shopping spot. There’s even a clock shop and honey store with a range of manuka honey goods.
Cougar Mountain Bike Park
On the edge of Tokoroa, Cougar Mountain Bike Park offers 35km of off-road forest tracks with views over the surrounding area.
The park’s 14 different tracks range from loop, cross country and downhill, and cater to riders of all abilities. The popular Tester is a grade five track comprising a steep climb, technical single trail and elevated wooden bridge. Families and beginners will enjoy 3 Blind Mice, with its variety of climbs, descents and fast-flowing sections. Exits along the 3.4km track mean you can leave the forest early if you wish.
But the riding is so good you probably won’t want to.
Featured image by Phillip Capper
