Translating as the "Place of many cabbage trees”, Tirau is home to New Zealand’s purest water source. It’s a short drive from the Wairere Falls and the historic logging museum at Putaruru, as well as the Hobbiton Movie Set where scenes from the “Lord of the Rings” were filmed.
Things to do in Tirau
Follow the Te Waihou Walkway to the Blue Spring, one of the purest water sources in the world. The trail hugs the Waihou River through wetlands and rolling pastures before arriving at the turquoise waters. Information plaques detail the river’s history as a thoroughfare for transport and trade.
Discover the legacy of the country’s logging industries at the New Zealand Timber Museum, which occupies an old timber mill in Putaruru. Wander amidst the native tree plantings and historic buildings where old artefacts and photographs are displayed alongside vintage machinery scattered throughout the park-like grounds.
Join a guided tour through the rolling pastures of the Shire to the Hobbiton Movie Set where Peter Jackson staged his epic trilogy, “Lord of the Rings”. Follow in the footsteps of Bilbo Baggins as you explore the Hobbit Holes and the water-powered Old Mill, then enjoy a drink at the famous Green Dragon Inn.
Visit the spectacular Wairere Falls, a 153-metre-high cascade that plunges over the Kaimai Escarpment. A walking trail leads through groves of native palms to a spectacular viewing platform at the base before continuing to the top of the plateau for sweeping panoramas of the valley below.
Getting around Tirau
Tirau is 35 minutes’ drive from Hamilton Airport or just under one hour from Tauranga Airport. The town can easily be explored on foot, but having your own vehicle is best for accessing the surrounding sights.