Birthplace of the first Maori King, Te Awamutu is a picturesque rural town surrounded by the patchwork fields of Waikato. It’s home to an excellent local history museum and a bird-filled lake and is near Raglan’s surf breaks and the spectacular Bridal Veil Falls.

Things to do

Discover the local history at the Te Awamutu Museum, which was established as Waikato’s first museum back in 1935. Browse the Maori and Pasifika artefacts, as well as old photographs and family histories detailing Awamutu’s colonial years and the 19th-century New Zealand Wars.

Stroll around the natural wetland of Lake Ngaroto, the largest peak lake in the region. Follow the flat trail through native bush and farmland while stopping to read the interpretive signs that explain the local ecology and birdlife.

Make a day trip west to the coastal town of Raglan to relax on the black sands of Ngarunui Beach or surf the long break at nearby Manu Bay. Learn about the town’s surfing heritage at the small Raglan & District Museum or hike to the volcanic peak of Mount Karioi for sweeping Tasman Sea views.

A short drive from Raglan takes you to the Bridal Veil Falls, which plunge 55 metres over a basalt cliff into the Pakoka River. Follow the trail through native tawa forest to a series of lookout platforms or make the steep climb down to the pool at the base of the falls.

Getting around

Te Awamutu is around 20 minutes’ drive south of Hamilton Airport or just under two hours from Auckland. The downtown area is small enough to explore on foot, but having your own vehicle is best for accessing the surrounding sights.