Te Awamutu

Te Awamutu Regional Information

Te Awamutu is a town in the Waikato region, located 30 kilometres south of Hamilton, providing services to the farming communities within the region. Dairy and beef farms are established in the area, along with horticultural operations.

This place is one of rural peace, where people come to view the town's famous rose gardens, which have earned the town the title of New Zealand's Rose Capital. The rose garden is situated next to the visitor centre and features 2,000 bushes, with fifty different varieties of rose. The flowers are in bloom from November through to April.

Two of the most recent volcanic mountains in the region, Pirongia and Karioi, form part of the Pirongia Forest Park. Although now clad in forest, these mountains still retain volcanic characteristics, such as rocky outcrops, gorges, conical peaks and domes. The forest park is home to many species of native flora and fauna, and offers many opportunities for walking, tramping, picnicking and camping. Other scenic walking tracks include Yarndley's Bush, where a thirty minute walk will take you through one of the North Island's largest Kahikitea stands; Lake Ngaroto, whose perimeter can be walked in 90 minutes; and tracks which lead to the summits of Mount Kakepuku and Mount Maungatautari.

For the adventurous traveler, Wharepapa South is rock climbing heaven. The site offers more than 800 climbing routes, with a temperate climate year round and a quiet, rural setting. Te Awamutu is a gateway to this climbing region, including Frogatt Edge, one of the region's biggest and best climbing crags.

Historically, Te Awamutu and the surrounding area was a major site of conflict during the New Zealand land wars in the 19th century. Maori had settled in the region as early as the 14th century, but with the seizure of fertile land by the settler government in the 1860's, conflict broke out. In present day Te Awamutu, Maori Pa sites, battle grounds from the land wars and remnants of pioneering settlement remain.

Musical brothers Tim and Neil Finn are natives of Te Awamutu. They have achieved national and international success in Split Enz and Crowded House, as well as solo works and collaboration with such artists as Dave Dobbyn and Bic Runga. If the history of New Zealand rock music interests you, take a walk along the Finn Trail to discover the Finn brothers' old haunts and see the History Never Repeats exhibit at the Te Awamutu Museum.

As well as outlining the history of the area, the museum is home to a precious Maori artifact, Te Uenuku. This carving is one of the most important taonga (treasures) of the Tainui people and is said to be the embodiment of Uenuku, a traditional Maori god. Another site of historical interest is St John's Anglican Church, opened in 1854 and constructed from Matai and Rimu timbers. The building's sanctuary contains one of New Zealand's oldest stained glass windows.

Navigate with our great Te Awamutu map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Waikato weather.

For more information on Te Awamutu, visit Tourism Waikato.