Otorohanga - The Kiwiana Capital

Probably the main reason for visiting the rural King Country town of Otorohanga (pop 2,700) is that it is a place to stock up on food and petrol before visiting Waitomo Caves, 16km to the South. The InterCity and other buses stops near the visitor centre. Otorohanga is on the North Island Main Trunk Line and the Northern Explorer Train stops here. A noteworthy local attraction is the Kiwi House Native Bird Park.

TheKaram & John Haddad Menswear store famous as a cheap source of outdoor gear to suit the New Zealand climate - Swandri bushwear and Driza-Bone waxed coats.

Otorohanga markets itself as the home to kiwiana - kiwis, buzzy bees and pavlova, in ways similar but different to the way Eketahuna on the other side of the island promotes it's kiwi-ness.

FULL DAY WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND SCENIC TRAIN RIDE

NORTHERN EXPLORER AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON BY TRAIN