Guidebook for Te Kauwhata and surrounding areas.
Food Scene
There are a range of places to eat in and around Te Kauwhata. Both Rangiriri and Te Kauwhata have cafes under new management which are worth visiting. Rangiriri Hotel has a restaurant which is open every night. Te Kauwhata Tavern has takeaways from the bar most evenings and a restaurant open Thursday to Sunday evenings. Sometimes there is a Thai takeaway van parked in Te Kauwhata and the local garage does pizza's.
Basic food at a reasonable price at two cafes opposite each other in the Main Street of Te Kauwhata.
Bakehouse Cafe
10 Main RdBasic food at a reasonable price at two cafes opposite each other in the Main Street of Te Kauwhata.
Plentiful meals at a good price in a historic building. The new owners are gradually upgrading and restoring the heritage building. Not haute cuisine but open 7 days. Beware the meals are very large, you may want to request a half meal (still large).
7 locals recommend
Rangiriri Hotel
8 Rangiriri RdPlentiful meals at a good price in a historic building. The new owners are gradually upgrading and restoring the heritage building. Not haute cuisine but open 7 days. Beware the meals are very large, you may want to request a half meal (still large).
Woodturners Cafe
3815 State Hwy 2great food, nice ambience
Zeelong Tea Estate is an experience not to be forgotten. They produce top quality teas for the export market. Tours of the plantation can be arranged. Tea tastings, Light meals and full service is available in the restaurant. Bookings essential.
31 locals recommend
Zealong Tea Estate
495 Gordonton RdZeelong Tea Estate is an experience not to be forgotten. They produce top quality teas for the export market. Tours of the plantation can be arranged. Tea tastings, Light meals and full service is available in the restaurant. Bookings essential.
The Tavern has a restaurant which is open Thursday to Saturday nights in addition to the bar which is open every night and often features live music. .
Te Kauwhata Trust Tavern
18 Main RdThe Tavern has a restaurant which is open Thursday to Saturday nights in addition to the bar which is open every night and often features live music. .
A recently developed cafe under new management in the Main St. of Te Kauwhata. It is open during the day most days and offers great food in an attractive environment. It has an outdoor area at the back.
Kiki
13 Main RoadA recently developed cafe under new management in the Main St. of Te Kauwhata. It is open during the day most days and offers great food in an attractive environment. It has an outdoor area at the back.
Parks & Nature
Awesome natural cave experience. Bookings essential. There is also a walkway through bush to a small waterfall on the property which all are welcome to use. A cafe on site offers both kitchen and cabinet food in an awesome setting.
22 locals recommend
Nikau Cave & Cafe
1770 Waikaretu Valley RdAwesome natural cave experience. Bookings essential. There is also a walkway through bush to a small waterfall on the property which all are welcome to use. A cafe on site offers both kitchen and cabinet food in an awesome setting.
Fantastic views from Bombay hills to Mt. Ruapehu.
Can also walk in from the Huntly end off Hakaramata Rd, just south of Huntly.
51 locals recommend
Hakarimata Summit Hiking Track
2 Brownlee AveFantastic views from Bombay hills to Mt. Ruapehu.
Can also walk in from the Huntly end off Hakaramata Rd, just south of Huntly.
Lake Puketirini
nice walk around the lake which used to be an old open cast coal mine.
The Wetlands are a world heritage site and have a scenic drive and walkways around the area.
Whangamarino Wetlands
The Wetlands are a world heritage site and have a scenic drive and walkways around the area.
Raglan is renowned for its surfing beaches and harbour plus a good selection of shops and cafes to suit all tastes. Take care with west coast surf and always swim between the flags when lifesavers on duty. Good picnic spots on the cliff tops and farm park above the beach.
107 locals recommend
Raglan
Raglan is renowned for its surfing beaches and harbour plus a good selection of shops and cafes to suit all tastes. Take care with west coast surf and always swim between the flags when lifesavers on duty. Good picnic spots on the cliff tops and farm park above the beach.
The Miranda Seabird Centre has a great display about the amazing seabirds that arrive every year from as far afield as Russia. The birds can be seen along the coastline. The Centre also has a shop with interesting items featuring the birds and seabird coast. It is about 45 minutes from us.
10 locals recommend
Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre
283 E Coast RdThe Miranda Seabird Centre has a great display about the amazing seabirds that arrive every year from as far afield as Russia. The birds can be seen along the coastline. The Centre also has a shop with interesting items featuring the birds and seabird coast. It is about 45 minutes from us.
The coast road north of Thames going up to Coromandel township is a beautiful Pohutukawa lined scenic road with small beaches most of the way, ideal for a picnic and swim if the tide is right. If you have plenty of time go right up to Coromandel and come back down the other coast. A full day's trip.
Thames Coast Road
Thames Coast RoadThe coast road north of Thames going up to Coromandel township is a beautiful Pohutukawa lined scenic road with small beaches most of the way, ideal for a picnic and swim if the tide is right. If you have plenty of time go right up to Coromandel and come back down the other coast. A full day's trip.
A fascinating collection of different gardens representing famous gardens around the world. Surrounded by lovely parkland with a good cafe on site. Tours and information centre. Donations gratefully received.
193 locals recommend
Hamilton Gardens
A fascinating collection of different gardens representing famous gardens around the world. Surrounded by lovely parkland with a good cafe on site. Tours and information centre. Donations gratefully received.
Arts & Culture
This museum is open 7 days and has some interesting exhibitions. Well worth a visit.
72 locals recommend
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
1 Grantham StThis museum is open 7 days and has some interesting exhibitions. Well worth a visit.
Shopping
Peplers create top class sauces, jams, pickles and much more including great gift baskets. They supply some top restaurants in NZ.
Savour The Taste Ltd t/a Peplers Fine Foods
5 Main RdPeplers create top class sauces, jams, pickles and much more including great gift baskets. They supply some top restaurants in NZ.
This shop is an example of an old style general store with a fascinating array of merchandise.
West's Trading Co (Te Kauwhata)
17 Main RdThis shop is an example of an old style general store with a fascinating array of merchandise.
Essentials
Four Square
4 Main RdThe local grocery shop stocks most food items and is open 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm.
The pharmacy is open 5 days per week Monday to Friday with a pharmacist in attendance. Well stocked with essentail items.
Te Kauwhata Pharmacy
14 Main RdThe pharmacy is open 5 days per week Monday to Friday with a pharmacist in attendance. Well stocked with essentail items.
The petrol station is open most days and sells petrol and diesel. Not the cheapest gas, for that try Hampton Downs or Hamilton.
Waitomo Te Kauwhata (Service Station)
35 Main RdThe petrol station is open most days and sells petrol and diesel. Not the cheapest gas, for that try Hampton Downs or Hamilton.
Te Kauwhata Health Centre
12 Main RdThe local doctor.
Entertainment & Activities
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park has regular activities and Events and is only 10 minutes away.
25 locals recommend
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and Event Centre
20 Hampton Downs RdHampton Downs Motorsport Park has regular activities and Events and is only 10 minutes away.
Waikare Golf Club is a beautifully maintained 18 hole course with bookings taken for green fee players. Carts and trundlers available for hire.
Waikare Golf Club
66 Waerenga RdWaikare Golf Club is a beautifully maintained 18 hole course with bookings taken for green fee players. Carts and trundlers available for hire.
Sightseeing
Thames is only a one hour drive away and has some very interesting historic places plus great cafes and beaches. It is the gateway to the Cormandel Peninsula. The town has some renowned antique shops, great for browsing.
18 locals recommend
Thames
Thames is only a one hour drive away and has some very interesting historic places plus great cafes and beaches. It is the gateway to the Cormandel Peninsula. The town has some renowned antique shops, great for browsing.
Hamilton Zoo is less than 1 hour away and is an interesting zoo with lots of rare and endangered species set in a lovely natural environment. You walk through bush walks and view the animals as you turn each corner.
64 locals recommend
Hamilton Zoo
183 Brymer RdHamilton Zoo is less than 1 hour away and is an interesting zoo with lots of rare and endangered species set in a lovely natural environment. You walk through bush walks and view the animals as you turn each corner.
Hamilton Gardens are a plethora of beautiful and distinctive replicas of famous gardens. Entry is by donation and many hours can be spent exploring this extensive facility. There is a great café on site.
84 locals recommend
Hamilton Gardens station
Hamilton Gardens are a plethora of beautiful and distinctive replicas of famous gardens. Entry is by donation and many hours can be spent exploring this extensive facility. There is a great café on site.
Coromandel township is a small iconic and historic NZ town with interesting shops and cafes. It is the gateway to fresh fish and shellfish caught and harvested locally which are sold in the town.
38 locals recommend
Coromandel
Coromandel township is a small iconic and historic NZ town with interesting shops and cafes. It is the gateway to fresh fish and shellfish caught and harvested locally which are sold in the town.
Thames has several museums and historic gold mining experience activities in the town. The town was the centre of the NZ goldrush in the 1800's with deposits of gold believed to still be in the Coromandel Ranges above the town. Thames is a pleasant place to spend a day out and is less than 1 hour from our place.
11 locals recommend
Thames Goldmine Experience
Tararu RoadThames has several museums and historic gold mining experience activities in the town. The town was the centre of the NZ goldrush in the 1800's with deposits of gold believed to still be in the Coromandel Ranges above the town. Thames is a pleasant place to spend a day out and is less than 1 hour from our place.