Gina’s local guidebook
Food scene
For the best fresh produce Visit Growlink - known to locals as the “Onion Vege place” - at 2998 SH 2, Katikati. It’s a ‘drive through’ farm shop owned and operated by long term Katikati locals, with the best locally grown produce in town.
Growlink
2998 State Highway 2For the best fresh produce Visit Growlink - known to locals as the “Onion Vege place” - at 2998 SH 2, Katikati. It’s a ‘drive through’ farm shop owned and operated by long term Katikati locals, with the best locally grown produce in town.
If you’re visiting in Summer, you really ought to treat your self to a punnet of “Kauri Point Strawberries”. A cash only shop at the farm gate, operated out of a repurposed shipping container. The strawberries are BIG and SWEET, and due to the quality and demand, you’ll need to get out there first thing in the morning, as they regularly sell out before midday. Locals have been known to queue from 6 in the morning so they don't miss out! Located a few hundred metres up Kauri Point Road on the left, call them for opening hours.
Kauri Point Road Strawberries
77 Kauri Point RoadIf you’re visiting in Summer, you really ought to treat your self to a punnet of “Kauri Point Strawberries”. A cash only shop at the farm gate, operated out of a repurposed shipping container. The strawberries are BIG and SWEET, and due to the quality and demand, you’ll need to get out there first thing in the morning, as they regularly sell out before midday. Locals have been known to queue from 6 in the morning so they don't miss out! Located a few hundred metres up Kauri Point Road on the left, call them for opening hours.
Delicious food and coffee plus a regular market called the Chrome Collective. Some vegan options available.
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CHROME Cafe
3 Wharawhara RdDelicious food and coffee plus a regular market called the Chrome Collective. Some vegan options available.
The best place to eat is the Talisman https://www.talismanhotel.co.nz/ wonderful all year round but the garden bar is great in summer.
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Talisman Hotel & Restaurant
7 Main RoadThe best place to eat is the Talisman https://www.talismanhotel.co.nz/ wonderful all year round but the garden bar is great in summer.
Beaches near by
Whilst Katikati is a costal town, we only have estuaries as apposed to sandy surf beaches. For that I recommend taking a scenic 30 minute drive over to Waihi Beach or Mount Maunganui. Waihi Beach is on one of New Zealand's safest surf beaches and home to a bustling beachside community. A destination for outdoor adventure, relaxation, weddings and good old-fashioned beach holiday time. Waihi Beach has also become a sought after destination for boutique shopping and dining, with Flat White Cafe on the beachfront a local favourite.
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Waihi Beach Hotel
60 Wilson RdWhilst Katikati is a costal town, we only have estuaries as apposed to sandy surf beaches. For that I recommend taking a scenic 30 minute drive over to Waihi Beach or Mount Maunganui. Waihi Beach is on one of New Zealand's safest surf beaches and home to a bustling beachside community. A destination for outdoor adventure, relaxation, weddings and good old-fashioned beach holiday time. Waihi Beach has also become a sought after destination for boutique shopping and dining, with Flat White Cafe on the beachfront a local favourite.
A fabulous surf beach with dreamy white sand and great shopping near by. About a 40 minute drive away. For a calmer swim suitable for kiddies try pilot bay. Walk up or around the mount then cool off with a swim
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Mount Maunganui
A fabulous surf beach with dreamy white sand and great shopping near by. About a 40 minute drive away. For a calmer swim suitable for kiddies try pilot bay. Walk up or around the mount then cool off with a swim
Supermarkets
Countdown Katikati
131 Main RdA large supermarket 15 minutes drive away, closes at 9pm
Freshchoice Omokoroa
160 Omokoroa RdThe closest supermarket (but not the cheapest!)
Hot pools
Thermal Hot pools! The general public are able to come and enjoy the mineral pools – adults are $8.00 and children (under 14) are $6.00. The hours of use for the general public are 9am to 9:30pm (summer) or 8:30pm (winter).
Omokoroa Kiwi Holiday Park
165 Omokoroa RdThermal Hot pools! The general public are able to come and enjoy the mineral pools – adults are $8.00 and children (under 14) are $6.00. The hours of use for the general public are 9am to 9:30pm (summer) or 8:30pm (winter).
A bit of a drive (40 minutes) but worth it for a nice long soak. Kids and adults pools and private spas on offer.
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Mount Heiße Quellen
9 Adams AveA bit of a drive (40 minutes) but worth it for a nice long soak. Kids and adults pools and private spas on offer.
About a 20 minute drive away. Relaxing private spa pools and big pools for the kids too
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Fernland Spa
250 Cambridge RdAbout a 20 minute drive away. Relaxing private spa pools and big pools for the kids too
A very family friendly (and close by) hot pool experience. With a big colder pool and smaller warm pools and also hot tubs, this place caters to everyone. Great BBQ area too.
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Sapphire Springs Holiday Park & Thermal Pools
274 Hot Springs RdA very family friendly (and close by) hot pool experience. With a big colder pool and smaller warm pools and also hot tubs, this place caters to everyone. Great BBQ area too.
Walks and Hiking
A 17 minute drive to the starting spot, and then a 30 minute walk to an epic water hole. Explore the river and discover the waterfalls. The walk is suitable for children, though you may need to help them cross the river at the end
Aongatete Forest Project
16 Pikirangi RoadA 17 minute drive to the starting spot, and then a 30 minute walk to an epic water hole. Explore the river and discover the waterfalls. The walk is suitable for children, though you may need to help them cross the river at the end
Located within the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, this track begins at the end of Hot Springs Road, just south of Katikati off SH2. 50 minutes return
A magnificent kauri tree is a stunning feature of this walk. The kauri is known as Tuahu, named after its location on an old Māori route that was used as a bridle path in the 1890s.
A well-benched and graded track winds through native forest of young kauri ‘rickers’ and juvenile rimu trees. After 20 minutes, a side track leads to a platform surrounding one of the largest kauri trees in the Bay of Plenty.
Beyond this, the main track narrows and becomes more difficult, continuing to the crest of the Kaimai Range. Return by the same route.
Tuahu Track
Tuahu TrackLocated within the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, this track begins at the end of Hot Springs Road, just south of Katikati off SH2. 50 minutes return
A magnificent kauri tree is a stunning feature of this walk. The kauri is known as Tuahu, named after its location on an old Māori route that was used as a bridle path in the 1890s.
A well-benched and graded track winds through native forest of young kauri ‘rickers’ and juvenile rimu trees. After 20 minutes, a side track leads to a platform surrounding one of the largest kauri trees in the Bay of Plenty.
Beyond this, the main track narrows and becomes more difficult, continuing to the crest of the Kaimai Range. Return by the same route.
The journey starts at the car park in Haiku Park reached via an access road on the northern side of Robert Harris cafe from Main Road (State Highway 2). 40+ minutes return
For those who appreciate art in the landscape this is more of an experience than a brisk walk.
To begin your journey, take a wander through Haiku Park and discover all the haiku poems carved into the boulders and pavement scattered around the park.
The Uretara Stream runs through the park. The main path leads over a footbridge, and downstream to the highway and Uretara Landing.
From the landing, stroll up the main street to appreciate the murals and other works of art throughout the town centre. Rest at a cafe, or at the replica kauri dam water feature in Diggelman Park, before crossing the road and returning to your vehicle.
Or for a longer stroll, you can do the loop by crossing the Uretara Stream via the new 45m single-span suspension bridge, which follows where the old railway line used to go, connecting to the footpath along the stop-bank on Uretara Drive.
The new bridge complements the growing network of cycle trails around Katikati, providing a ‘loop’ around the stream, and giving residents of Highfields Drive pedestrian access to the southern end of town.
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Haiku Park
60 Main RdThe journey starts at the car park in Haiku Park reached via an access road on the northern side of Robert Harris cafe from Main Road (State Highway 2). 40+ minutes return
For those who appreciate art in the landscape this is more of an experience than a brisk walk.
To begin your journey, take a wander through Haiku Park and discover all the haiku poems carved into the boulders and pavement scattered around the park.
The Uretara Stream runs through the park. The main path leads over a footbridge, and downstream to the highway and Uretara Landing.
From the landing, stroll up the main street to appreciate the murals and other works of art throughout the town centre. Rest at a cafe, or at the replica kauri dam water feature in Diggelman Park, before crossing the road and returning to your vehicle.
Or for a longer stroll, you can do the loop by crossing the Uretara Stream via the new 45m single-span suspension bridge, which follows where the old railway line used to go, connecting to the footpath along the stop-bank on Uretara Drive.
The new bridge complements the growing network of cycle trails around Katikati, providing a ‘loop’ around the stream, and giving residents of Highfields Drive pedestrian access to the southern end of town.
If you're into golf then this a great course with incredible views of the harbour. There is also a walk way along the harbour front that flanks the golf course, it's a really lovely and easy stroll.
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Omokoroa Golf Club
67 Links View DrIf you're into golf then this a great course with incredible views of the harbour. There is also a walk way along the harbour front that flanks the golf course, it's a really lovely and easy stroll.
This walkway features historic railway remains in a stunning natural gorge setting, including two steel truss bridges and a 1 km rail tunnel, and provide access to the relics of historic gold mining. The walkway follows the railway line through the gorge and then opens out alongside the Ohinemuri River, passing through the huge Victoria Battery complex and terminating at the Waikino Station where a cafe and train rides can be investigated.
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Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway
Karangahake Gorge Historic WalkwayThis walkway features historic railway remains in a stunning natural gorge setting, including two steel truss bridges and a 1 km rail tunnel, and provide access to the relics of historic gold mining. The walkway follows the railway line through the gorge and then opens out alongside the Ohinemuri River, passing through the huge Victoria Battery complex and terminating at the Waikino Station where a cafe and train rides can be investigated.
Sightseeing
If you want to view the local area from a height, this is the spot. Get panoramic views of the Western Bay of Plenty without having to walk to get there! Just drive up the Minden and walk up the steps to the viewing platform.
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Minden Lookout
431 Minden RdIf you want to view the local area from a height, this is the spot. Get panoramic views of the Western Bay of Plenty without having to walk to get there! Just drive up the Minden and walk up the steps to the viewing platform.
one of New Zealand's oldest heritage sites. As a place of early contact between Māori and Pākehā, this historic site remains at the centre of Tauranga’s history and identity today. Encompassing category one listed heritage buildings and nationally significant collections – all set within a diverse and tranquil garden setting – this one hectare property is a must-see destination for visitors to the region.
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The Elms | Te Papa Tauranga
15 Mission Stone of New Zealand's oldest heritage sites. As a place of early contact between Māori and Pākehā, this historic site remains at the centre of Tauranga’s history and identity today. Encompassing category one listed heritage buildings and nationally significant collections – all set within a diverse and tranquil garden setting – this one hectare property is a must-see destination for visitors to the region.
Katikati is the Mural town of New Zealand. Pick up a map from the Katikati information centre in town and walk the streets spotting all the many murals that depict the towns history.
Mural Drive
Mural DriveKatikati is the Mural town of New Zealand. Pick up a map from the Katikati information centre in town and walk the streets spotting all the many murals that depict the towns history.
www.nzmuseum.com Opened in August 2016 - Located in the centre of town in the recently decommissioned Volunteer Fire Brigade Station, the Western Bay Museum has curated a selection of Katikati's vast collection of local historical artefacts and stories.
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Western Bay Museum
32 Main Rdwww.nzmuseum.com Opened in August 2016 - Located in the centre of town in the recently decommissioned Volunteer Fire Brigade Station, the Western Bay Museum has curated a selection of Katikati's vast collection of local historical artefacts and stories.