Te Awamutu is a town in the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. It is a service town for the farming communities that surround it. Te Awamutu is located on SH3, one of the major routes used when touring the North Island of New Zealand.

Understand

St Paul's church

The town is often referred to as "The Rose Town of New Zealand" because of its elaborate rose gardens in the centre of the town. The town is the council seat of the Waipa District, and was home to 14,000 people in 2020.

The town is close to the extinct Kakepuku and Pirongia volcanoes (and other volcanoes of the Alexandra Volcanic Group). Maungatautari, another extinct volcanic cone, now the site of New Zealand's largest ecological restoration project, is also nearby.

The town has a large dairy factory, and serves as an important centre in the local dairy industry. This includes Fonterra and Ergozyme NZ.

The town's best known residents are the Finn Brothers, Tim and Neil, whose musical careers have stretched from Split Enz through the internationally successful Crowded House to their current solo and collaborative works. The town is mentioned in Split Enz's song "Haul Away", and also in Crowded House's 1986 song "Mean to Me", the debut single from their self-titled debut album. Musician Spencer P. Jones (The Beasts of Bourbon, Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls) was also born in Te Awamutu.

Kihikihi has a population of 2,808 (2018), and has some historic buildings on a village trail.

Get in

Te Awamutu is 30 km (19 mi) south of Hamilton on State Highway 3, one of the two main routes south from Auckland and Hamilton.

See

• 1 Te Awamutu Museum, 55 Rickett Road. M–F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Te Awamutu Museum was established in 1935. The museum has a number of permanent exhibitions focusing on the history of Te Awamutu and the surrounding area. The museum contains one of the most famous early Māori artifacts, a large carved post known as Te Uenuku. This impressive carving has caused much controversy because its style is markedly different from any other early Māori work, yet it is clearly of a Māori design. The museum has relocated from 135 Roche Street, which was deemed to be vulnerable in an earthquake, and is running an education and research centre at Rickett Road. free. (updated Jul 2023)
• 2 Te Awamutu Space Centre, 5 Whitmore Street, Kihikihi. Advance booked visits only. Museum and activity centre (updated Jul 2023)

Do

• The Kihikihi Trail cycleway, opened in 2017.
• 1 McDonald’s Kihikihi Speedway, Cnr Oliver & Grey Street, Kihikihi. Race meeting on occasional Saturday evenings.. Stockcar racing. (updated Jul 2023)

Buy

There are three large supermarkets, and electronics retailers.

• 1 Alphra Lavender Farm Shop, 169 Brotherhood Road. Lavender farm with shop. Farm tours may be possible. (updated Jul 2023)

Eat

• 1 The Stallions, 20 Arawata Street, Te Awamutu. mains around $30. (updated Jul 2023)

Drink

• 1 Star Hotel. Built in 1882. (updated Jul 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Albert Park Motor Lodge, 299 Albert Park Drive, Te Awamutu. 15 units with kitchenettes. from $159. (updated Jul 2023)

Go next

• Cambridge
• Pirongia
• Te Kuiti
• Waitomo – the caves