Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Matamata is on SH27, 20km north of Tirau.
daily), Hamilton ($27, one hour, three daily), Rotorua ($25, one hour, one daily) and
Tauranga ($26, one hour, two daily).
daily), Cambridge ($20, two hours, one daily), Hamilton ($20, 3½ hours, two daily) and
Tauranga ($14, one hour, one daily).
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Te Aroha
POP 3800
Te Aroha has a great vibe. You could even say that it's got 'the love', which is the literal
meaning of the name. Tucked under the elbow of the bush-clad Mt Te Aroha (952m), it's
a good base for tramping or 'taking the waters' in the town's therapeutic thermal springs.
It's also the southern trailhead on the Hauraki Rail Trail (
Click here
)
.
Sights & Activities
Te Aroha Museum
MUSEUM
(
www.tearoha-museum.com
;
Te Aroha Domain; adult/child $4/2; 11am-4pm Nov-Mar, noon-3pm
Apr-Oct)
In the town's ornate former thermal sanatorium (aka the 'Treasure of Te Aroha').
Displays include quirky ceramics, old spa-water bottles, historic photos and an old print-
ing press.
Te Aroha Mineral Spas
SPA
( 07-884 8717;
www.tearohamineralspas.co.nz
; Boundary St, Te Aroha Domain; 30min session
adult/child $18/11; 10.30am-9pm Mon-Fri, to 10pm Sat & Sun)
In the Edwardian Hot Springs
Domain, this spa offers private tubs, massage, beauty therapies and aromatherapy. Also
here is the temperamental
Mokena Geyser
- the world's only known soda geyser -
which blows its top around every 40 minutes, shooting water 3m into the air (the most
ardent eruptions are between noon and 2pm). Book ahead for spas and treatments.
Te Aroha Leisure Pools
SWIMMING, BATHHOUSE
