Discover Katikati

Katikati combines public art with museum history, waterside tracks and hikes in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the experiences: in town, murals and haiku poems lead you through Katikati; on the walking tracks, the focus varies by route, with riverside paths, forest or longer hikes. This can help you decide which activities you would like to shape your stay when looking for a holiday rental in Katikati.

Murals, museum and local culture

The Haiku Pathway & Katikati Murals Walk is an easy walking route through Katikati. Along Uretara Stream, haiku poems are carved into stones; the murals add another artistic touch to the walk. If you enjoy exploring on foot and are interested in public art, this offers a different way to experience the town than a hike through forest or hills.

The Western Bay Museum is located in the historic old fire station at 32 Main Road, Katikati. Through its collections, interactive experiences and carefully curated exhibitions, it tells the story of tangata whenua and the settlers who built the Western Bay. The museum is open to walk-in visitors, and admission is free. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and weekends and public holidays from 11 am to 3 pm. This means you can plan a museum visit whether you are exploring Katikati on a weekday or at the weekend.

The Junction Theatre at the Art Junction arts centre is also part of the local art scene. The small theatre is furnished with sofas and theatre-style seating; films, concerts and theatre performances are held there regularly. Katikati also hosts the NZ Mural Contest & Art Festival every two years, involving numerous art forms and community groups. For a stay focused on art and culture, the museum, murals, festival and theatre offer a range of experiences rather than centring on just one attraction.

Walks and hikes with different character

If you prefer to be by the water, consider the Bird Walk, also known as the Yeoman Walkway. This flat riverside and estuary track along Uretara Stream offers opportunities for birdwatching and views of the harbour. It is quite different from the longer hikes on Hot Springs Road. The Sentinel Rock Lookout Track is about 6 km long and leads through forest to a lookout. The Motutapere Hut Walk on Hot Springs Road is approximately 11 km long and is considered a more challenging hike in the Kaimai Range.

For a longer circuit, the Te Rereatukahia Loop Track on Hot Springs Road connects the road with Te Rereatukahia Hut. The circuit is 14 km long; as a return hike, it takes about seven hours. Its length and estimated time make this a different day plan from the shorter walk to the Sentinel Rock Lookout. If you would like to include hikes in your trip, you can take these differences into account when choosing your activities, without combining the different tracks into a single hike.

There are also various options outside Katikati. Waitekohekohe Recreational Park is about 15 minutes south of town. It has walking tracks, mountain biking trails graded 1 to 4, more than 6 km of horse-riding trails, and swimming spots on Waitekohe Stream. About 5 km north of Katikati is the Tuapiro Point Foreshore Walk, with beach and forest tracks. When choosing between these destinations, you can use the activities and types of tracks mentioned here as a guide.

The Tuahu Kauri Track lies just south of Katikati. A 20-minute return walk leads to a protective boardwalk around one of the largest mature kauri trees in the Bay of Plenty. These different travel interests may factor into your choice of holiday rental: would you mainly like to discover Katikati’s art, museum and cuisine, or are hikes and tracks in the surrounding area also part of your plans? The Katikati Visitor Information Centre at Arts Junction in the heart of Katikati provides maps, brochures and information for travellers.

Local produce and other places

On the Katikati Cuisine Trail, visitors can meet local artisan food producers and sample their products on site. This adds a culinary discovery to the walks and cultural offerings. Other places to explore include Te Puna, Waihi Beach, Aongatete, Te Puke, Paengaroa, Lower Kaimai, Pukehina and Pyes Pa.

For the broader travel overview: Western-Bay-Of-Plenty-District.