Western-Bay-Of-Plenty-District

The experiences described here in the Western Bay of Plenty District range from haiku and mural art in Katikati to a coastal walk to Orokawa Bay and visits with local food producers. You can choose between a cultural walk, a path through dense bush and a food-focused visit. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it helps to first consider which of these experiences you want to shape your trip.

Haiku and art in Katikati town centre

The Katikati Town Centre walking trail begins at Haiku Park. Along the paths, haiku verses are engraved in rocks and in the paving. This means you encounter the poems not just at one point, but at various places along the trail. The walking trail follows Uretara Stream, crosses a footbridge to Uretara Landing and continues along the main street to murals and other artworks in the town centre.

On this walk, short texts in the path and in rocks alternate with artworks along the main street. If you enjoy noticing details together, you can look out for both the engraved verses and the murals. Haiku Park, Uretara Stream, the footbridge and Uretara Landing provide clear landmarks along the described route. Katikati thus offers a cultural experience in which art is part of a walk through the town centre.

Walking to Orokawa Bay

The Orokawa Bay Walk offers a different kind of outing. It begins at the northern end of Waihī Beach and leads over the coastal headlands to Orokawa Bay. Walking time is about 45 minutes each way. Keep in mind that this is the time for one direction when planning the walk as part of your day.

The walk passes through dense bush with pōhutukawa, Kauri and Puriri trees, as well as native Nikau palms. Alongside the route over the coastal headlands, the surroundings are characterised by these trees and palms. Orokawa Bay is part of a 145-hectare scenic reserve. If you want to focus on nature and exercise, this outing has a clearly described starting point, destination and approximate walking time each way. This makes it different in character from the walk among haiku and murals in the town centre.

Discover local food

The Katikati Cuisine Trail focuses on local artisan food producers. Visitors can meet the producers and sample their products on site. The emphasis is on the makers and their food: the trail offers a chance to get to know and taste both firsthand. This is a different focus from the art walk or the route to the bay. If regional products are among your travel interests, you can include this visit in your plans as a food-focused experience.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can weigh up the experiences based on what you are most looking forward to during your trip: art and verses along a walking trail, the route through the bush to Orokawa Bay, or local food and its producers. The activities described cater to different interests; choose your accommodation to suit the kind of stay you want to plan.

Other places in the district

Discover other places in the district: Waihi Beach, Katikati, Papamoa, Tahawai, Te Puke, Lower Kaimai, Pyes Pa, Whakamarama, Paengaroa, Pukehina, Athenree, Te Puna and Aongatete.

For the broader travel overview: Bay of Plenty.