Ohaupo: TreeChurch, Gardens and Mystery Creek

A church made from living trees makes Ohaupo an unusual destination for anyone looking to discover distinctive places while travelling. There is also a historic community hall and the versatile Mystery Creek Events Centre. Together, gardens, local history and events offer different reasons to visit. If you are planning a holiday in Waikato, these very different experiences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

TreeChurch and Gardens: a living chapel

TreeChurch and Gardens is a three-hectare garden in the rolling farmland of Ohaupo in Waikato. At its centre is a living chapel: TreeChurch is a church made from living trees in a garden. The New Zealand Gardens Trust rated TreeChurch and Gardens a garden of national significance with five stars. The gardens are open for tours, visitors and photo shoots from October to May. If you are travelling with children, its unusual design can provide a shared topic of conversation: the church itself is made from living trees. The garden thus combines a tangible visitor experience with a remarkable form of church architecture.

Community life and architectural history

Ōhaupō Memorial Hall offers a different, more community-focused aspect of the area. Built in 1923, it is a distinctive community building on Great South Road in Ōhaupō. The concrete and stucco hall stands out for its characteristic Dutch gabled roof. It served as a social gathering place for film screenings, sports groups, concerts and community meetings. Alongside the garden, it is a concrete example of local architectural history: the hall is defined not only by its design, but also by its role as a community meeting place.

Mystery Creek and Fieldays

Mystery Creek Events Centre is a large multipurpose venue for indoor and outdoor events of every size and type. It is located on a 114-hectare site with a natural setting in Ōhaupō. The Heritage Village provides a historic outdoor backdrop for day events, both large and small. The centre is two minutes from Hamilton Airport. Extensive free parking is available for event organisers and attendees.

Fieldays is held at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Ōhaupō. At the 58th Fieldays, visitors could explore hundreds of exhibitors, live demonstrations and interactive experiences covering agricultural technology, products, services and the rural economy. Fieldays also features several food courts. Extensive free parking for Fieldays is available on Mystery Creek Road and Airport Road. The venue offers a very different reason to travel than TreeChurch or the Memorial Hall: the focus here is a large event site and a varied programme.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When choosing holiday accommodation in Ohaupo, you can start by considering what is driving your trip. For TreeChurch, the period from October to May is relevant for tours, visits and photo shoots. Those interested in Ōhaupō Memorial Hall will find a historic community building with a clearly described role in social life. A visit connected with Fieldays or another event takes you to Mystery Creek Events Centre, whose grounds, parking and location near Hamilton Airport provide practical guidance. Gardens, local history and event visits offer different focuses, without requiring the same kind of stay.

More places to help plan your trip: Pirongia, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Te Miro, Karapiro.

For the broader travel overview: Waipa District.