With the move to a traffic light system allowing New Zealanders to travel the country once again this summer, we’ve pulled together our favourite small town landmarks across the motu to keep your trips fun. Remember, it’s important if you’re visiting smaller towns that you follow all Covid-19 restrictions closely to keep residents of these areas safe while you enjoy yourself.
With an impressive collection of displays and artefacts related to space, interactive games and a telescope, Te Awamutu Space Centre holds something for everyone (who is interested in space). They say “we love sharing our passion for space and astronomy but we're not just for space geeks! Most of our visitors arrive with no real interest in space but end up finding it more interesting and fun than they expected.”
C’est Cheese brings a truly astounding array of Aotearoa New Zealand gourmet snacks, drinks and cheese together under one roof, and one punny name. You can dine in, have a great locally roasted Neighbours coffee, or you can do your fanciest grocery shopping on your way to Martinborough for a vineyard tour. Either way, C’est Cheese is worth a visit.
Wairere Boulders Nature Park - Hokianga
Wairere Boulders Nature Park boasts natural boulder formations, a river, a caravan cafe, and even the opportunity to kayak in the Hokianga Harbour. Take the family for an easy day stroll, or you can camp overnight in this beautiful space. You’ll interact with a herd of Highland cattle and native birds protected by a predator programme across the park.
Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery
Curator Bruce Mahalski has opened up three rooms of his private residence for the purpose of this museum, displaying “a collection of skulls, bones, biological curiosities, ethnological art and unusual cultural artifacts” as well as textural bone sculptures created by the curator himself. It’s $5 per person to visit at select hours, and it is worth every dollar.