Don't Miss:
- Te Aroha Mineral Spas
- Summit walk Mt Te Aroha
- Mokena geyser
- Hauraki Rail Trail
- Mountain biking
- Te Aroha and District Museum
- Howarth Memorial Wetland walk
- Heritage Trail
- Street Sculptures and Adrian Worsley Gallery
While there are now feel-good locales throughout the Waikato, Te Aroha is where people in search of wellness and wellbeing were first drawn to in the region.
As far back as the late 1800s people flocked from Auckland and elsewhere to Te Aroha to ‘take the waters’ – naturally bubbly, silky mineral water renowned as a cure-all.
Today, the distinctive heritage Victorian and Edwardian buildings around Te Aroha Domain are a pleasing reminder of the peak when some 30,000 bathers a year arrived by train and boat to soak and sip, returning home feeling revitalised.
Varying in temperature, Te Aroha’s springs include natural hot soda water springs, the water being infused with sodium bicarbonate as it rises from under the ground.
Together with the scenic beauty of the area and the walking, hiking and biking activities, the rejuvenating waters continue to draw visitors.
One of the great free attractions in the Waikato is the Mokena Geyser, which is one of only a few hot soda water geysers in the world and was created when a bore was sunk to improve access to the water.
Te Aroha Mineral Spas, located in one of the heritage buildings in the domain, is popular with visitors and locals alike for its range of luxurious experiences it offers, from spa baths in wooden tubs to massages and beauty treatments.
Next door are the Te Aroha Leisure Pools where mineral-infused waters are also a feature at the No. 2 Bath House which can be booked for private soaking. The range of pools in the complex includes options suitable for young children and toddlers.
The hills, native forest and farmland around Te Aroha are readily accessed via walking, cycling and mountain bike tracks. Cycling trails include the Hauraki Rail Trail, regarded as one of the easier Great New Zealand Rides.
For walkers, there are tracks through Waiorongomai Valley where in the late 1880s gold was discovered. Still visible along the way are the remains of the Piako County Tramway, New Zealand’s oldest bush tramway, plus other machinery and miners’ lodgings.
Another favourite with hikers is the steep climb to the top of Mt Te Aroha, which stands 952 metres tall over the town, with the reward being spectacular views out over surrounding countryside.
Each year in October all manner of interesting vehicles from classic cars, hot rods and motorbikes come to town for the Aroha Cruise In. The day includes live music and entertainment, family fun, a food festival and a market offering the likes of collectibles, handcrafts, art and apparel.
How far to:
- Hamilton: 54kms, 54 mins
- Auckland: 140kms, 1 hour 50 mins
- Rotorua: 105kms, 1 hour 30 mins
Related Links
| www.tearohanz.co.nz | www.mpdc.govt.nz |
