Whether you are passing through on a roadie, stopping in to visit friends, or you’re a local – check out our pick of 20 AWESOME things to do in Tirau, with kids!
1. Take a photo with the most famous sheep in NZ
This is the Tirau claim to fame. (People travel the world to see sites like this!). Auckland’s got the Sky Tower, Paris has the Eiffel Tower… And Tirau has New Zealand’s most famous sheep and ram.
You definitely won’t miss these on State Highway 1, but make sure to stop and truly admire them up close. Go check them out!
2. Get a coffee and eclair at The Baker, Tirau
Tirau’s treasure The Baker, is every bread and pastry fiends dream. They seem to have the perfect balance of incredible savoury and sweet treats, all made fresh on site and right in front of you. You can’t wish for more than that right?
For the kids, the éclairs have become a favourite. And for us, we revel in the freshly ground Chiaso coffee which seems to perfectly compliment anything and everything in the cabinet!
The risk of fast becoming a regular is dangerously high… Though fortunately that has qualified us to compile an epic bucket-list of The Baker’s treats you definitely need to try, like:
- Nana Val’s custard slice
- Fresh almond croissant
- Custard cream Bavaria rings
- Self-saucing sausage rolls
- Lamb and mint pie
This family-owned bakery just gets it right.
- Address: 35 Main Road
- Open: 6:00am – 2:00pm Wednesday – Sunday
3. Try an ice cream from One Road
Plan your pitstop for Tirau and break up that summer roadie with a homemade creamy ice cream or refreshing dairy free sorbet. All of the ice creams are homemade(!) on site with fresh cream and the delicious sorbets are made with real fruit.
There are some awesome flavours to try, including:
- By Hokey (the most popular)
- Old Fashioned Lime
- Turkish Delight
- Pistachio
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Taste of Christmas
I recommend the Caramelized Honey Fig or famous Kiwi Pavlova…
But in truth; it’s hard to decide – it all tastes so great!
- Address: 52 Main Road, Tirau
- Open: 11:00am – 5:00pm daily (weather depending).
One Road Ice Cream is open seasonally between Labour Weekend and Easter (perfect timing for a summery stop on your kiwi road trip!).
4. Enjoy the playground
Tirau has an awesome playground! There are swings, a seesaw and a big climbing structure with a tube slide and balancing bridges. There is a great grassy area, a free BBQ and a beautiful big old oak tree for shade. And, if you have younger children, there is a great junior play area too.
- Tip: Check out the new drinking water fountain, and don’t forget to bring your reusable drink bottle.
- Address: Access from Church Street or via the car park at the BP petrol station on SH1.
- Toilets: The nearest toilets are next to the i-Site on the opposite side of the main road.
5. Go inside the i-Site Dog, Tirau
What does every giant sheep and ram need beside it? A giant sheepdog of course!
This icon of Tirau has been cleverly designed to accommodate the Tirau Information Centre inside (as well as the public toilets). For kids, there are some great summer reading displays, craft activities and library books available inside.
If you are just visiting Tirau, the Information Centre can help you with itinerary planning. There are free maps, local information on events and attractions, plus access to free wifi and council customer services.
- Address: 65 Main Road
- Open: Daily 9:00am – 5:00pm (summer hours).
6. Take a photo at the Tirau Outhouse
This has surely got to be one of the essential (most unique?) things to do in Tirau…
Because I can only think of one other small town in New Zealand that can boast such fame-claiming toilets!
Check out the impressive corrugated creation (and seriously, the public toilets) on Hillcrest Street.
Address: Hillcrest Street – next to the small supermarket.
7. Try the fudge of dreams at La More
Have you been inside the sweet treat heaven that is La More?! The inside of the shop looks like the work of movie set designers: sweet cottage jars and tins of every favourite lolly. There are chewy jellies, granny mints, bonbons and every kind of classic lolly that childhood dreams are made of.
And they make delicious fudge on site! Which, by the way – you won’t be able to stop at one packet… There’s tempting creamy classic flavours like Russian, salted caramel, and rum and raisin, as well as toffee brittles, hokey pokey and all kinds of international sweet treats.
No matter what sweet you are after, you are sure to find it at La More.
- Address: 3 Main Road
- Open: Daily 9:30am – 6:00pm
8. Get a Tip Top ice cream at the dairy
It’s true, we’re spoilt for choice with ice cream stops in Tirau. But, as a bit of a local secret, the ice creams at Tirau Foodmarket are great value for money.
There is an awesome range of delicious Tip-Top ice cream flavours, made right here in New Zealand. And Rohit and Dharmista are a friendly local family with top service and ice cream scoops to match.
- Address: 36 Main Road
- Open: 7:30am – 7:30pm daily
9. Go for a swim in the Tirau Pools
The Tirau Summer Pools are the best place to be in summer! The pools are located at Goodwin Street reserve, adjacent to the Tirau Playcentre and Primary School. There are shaded spectator bleachers, grassed areas, changing rooms and two swimming pools of different depths to suit kids of all ages.
Go and see Mr. T and enjoy a refreshing dip!
- Address: 11 Goodwin Street
- Cost: Adult $3.10, Child (5-16) $1.70, Preschool (1 – 4) $0.50, Spectator ($0.50) Family (2A + 3C) $6.70
- Open: During school term – Monday to Friday 3:00pm – 6:00pm; Saturday, Sunday and school holidays 12 noon – 6:00pm.
10. Visit the Okoroire Hot Springs
Go for a swim in the historic geothermally heated pools at Okoroire. The pools were first constructed in 1880 to capture water just downstream from Putaruru’s famous Blue Spring. And since then have been enjoyed for relaxation and rejuvenation by locals and tourists alike.
Temperatures of the pools range from 32 to 37 degrees so it is perfect for families and a great highlight of things to do in Tirau.
- Local tip: If you can, visit at sunset and enjoy the beautiful bottom pool – the Fairy Spring. This is the cooler pool of the three but gets its name from the glow worms living on the surrounding banks!
- Address: 18 Sommerville Road, Okoroire
- Cost: Adult $16.50, Children (< 16) $8; Children (preschool) $3; Family (2A + 2C) $40.
- Open: Monday – Sunday 9:00am – 9:00pm
11. Admire the Blue Springs
If you’re a local, the chances are you know about the Blue Springs. But if you aren’t, and you don’t know already, that could be because it’s the Waikato’s best kept secret.
The Waihou River and Putaruru Blue Springs are as incredible as they sound; a brilliantly blue, freshwater wonderland. With uncannily clear water and vibrant blues and greens, it is magnificent to see. You can make a day of it and walk the return track from either end. Or park at the carpark on Leslie Road and take a short stroll to the main viewing point to admire the pristine spot.
- Address: Leslie Road, Waikato 3483
- Distance: 4.70 kms
- Time needed: 2-3 hours for the full track or one hour for the shorter option
- Read our guide to the Putaruru Blue Springs here.
12. Have a coffee at the Oxford Bakery & Café
The Oxford Café has been a part of Tirau for many moons. Locals and travellers passing through will attest to the fresh pies and crunchy crackling served with a roast.
Note: The café is convenient for vehicles travelling north with plenty of car parks right outside.
Don’t be misled by the humble signage of a typical kiwi café. The Oxford is a local pride in Tirau.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, brunch
- Address: 30 Main Road
13. Go for a walk in the Tirau Domain
The Tirau Domain is a beautiful green space on the Tirau township side of the Oraka Stream. Work to complete a pedestrian walkway and rail-crossing at one entrance to the domain is a great credit to the Tirau community and all of those who worked to share in this dream coming to fruition. It is a beautiful space to enjoy!
- Address: Parking at the Upper Domain (SH1/SH5 roundabout end).
14. Get fish and chips at Youngs Kitchen
Another (pretty much) compulsory experience in Tirau! Fish and chips are a New Zealand favourite and nothing beats a hearty meal of fish and chips on a summer evening (and truth be told; in any season). Every New Zealand small town has a fish and chip shop, and we have got a great one!
Head on up the hill to Youngs Kitchen for the best fish and chips in town. And you can take our word for it – the burgers are pretty great too!
- Address: 17a Main Road
- Open: 4:30pm – 8:00/9:00pm Monday – Sunday
- Phone: 07 883 1504
15. Go on a corrugated-iron hunt around town
Corrugated iron is a classic New Zealand building material. But Tirau has taken that classic material and made it a world-famous-in-New-Zealand, kiwi icon! There are signs and displays all around the town, carefully designed and crafted from corrugated iron. The sheep, ram and i-Site dog are the most largest and the most famous. But there are many more…
Look out for:
- A yellow school bus
- Santa and his sleigh
- A corrugated kiwi
- Two poppies
- A lashy looking pukeko
- And the funky Tirau Motors car
Check out Corrugated Creations to take home a corrugated iron treasure of your own.
16. Swap a book at the Little Library
Have you seen Tirau’s Little Library? This is another awesome community-based initiative in Tirau. The recognisable blue cupboard is set up just behind the Memorial Hall on Station Street (where the old library used to be) and is free for people to access.
For a little library it has a great range of books for young, old and in between. Check it out and swap a book!
- Address: Station Street, behind the Tirau Memorial Hall
17. Go for a scoot or skate
Older kids will love the half pipe/mini ramp and basketball hoop down at the corner of Prospect Terrace. There are shady trees, picnic tables and lots of green area. Enjoy yourself and make the most of another great community space.
- Address: Corner of Prospect Terrace and Okoroire Street
18. Wave out at some trucks
If truck-waving ever becomes an Olympic sport, then Tirau would be the place to train. With the merge of two highways on each end of the town, the road is a mecca for big and beautiful trucks coming from all over New Zealand.
Find a safe spot to park up and admire some of these shiny beauties coming through. Give them a wave – you might even get a honk!
19. Put something in the Community Pantry
The Tirau Playcentre has set up a beautiful food stall which has been converted into the “Tirau Community Pantry”. This is a fantastic resident-led solution to immediate and local need and a great way to reduce food waste and strengthen the sense of community in town.
Updates on items at the pantry can be found on the Tirau Ward Community Facebook page. And if you have something spare that could be shared; take the kids for a walk downtown and find it.
- Address: 9 Goodwin Street (outside the Tirau Playcentre)
20. Walk around and come say hi!
There are plenty of awesome things to do in Tirau, but the best thing about the town is the people.
Tirau is a friendly, local little New Zealand town and you won’t get far without a friendly wave and greeting. Come say hi!
What else?
That’s a wrap on our list of awesome things to do in Tirau with kids – but the list isn’t exhaustive; theres plenty more to rave about. Tirau is also known for its antique shops, craft stores and plenty more cafes.
There is some great shopping and coffee sipping to be done, so get out there and enjoy this beautiful little town.
Read more about New Zealand
- Wairere Falls Track: North Islands tallest waterfall.
- Hiking Roys Peak Track in Wanaka with kids.
- The Hooker Valley Track: Is this New Zealand’s best family day walk?
- An epic South Island road trip: 25 campsites we can recommend.
- 5 fun things to do in Russell with kids (even if the weather changes).
Whether you’re passing through, stopping as a destination visit, or you’re a local – let us know your favourite thing about Tirau. What else would you add to our list of awesome things to do in Tirau?
