6 Offbeat Towns to Visit in New Zealand
New Zealand is a popular tourist destination. From January 2023 until November, the country had 2.9 million visitors. While places such as Brisbane are popular tourist destinations, there are other less popular places to experience the hidden beauty of New Zealand. The country's towns, offer fewer crowds along with the stunning scenery of the country. In the small town Coromandel, experience the beauty of the Pacific Ocean by walking the Coromandel Coastal Walkway. To see wildlife in New Zealand, visit Motueka and take a trek to Abel Tasman National Park. New Zealand's small towns also have a rich culture. In Oamaru visit the Victorian Precinct to explore the old-worldly charm of the town. Whatever you are looking for, these six offbeat towns in New Zealand are a great travel destination.
Coromandel
Coromandel is a small town on the Coromandel Harbour, known for its stunning scenery and mining history. The town's name comes from the British boat HMS Coromandel, which arrived in 1820. The British came to Coromandel to collect kauri logs to make spars. In 1860, the first gold strike happened in this town, making the population boom. Learn more about the town's gold mining history on the town's Heritage Walking Trail. On the trail discover colonial architecture reminiscent of this era. To look at photographs and artifacts from the gold mining era, pay a visit to the School of Mines and Historical Museum.
Those looking for a hike or bike route to enjoy the scenery should venture to the Coromandel Coastal Walkway. The walkway takes hikers to a remote part of the Northern Coromandel. The hike offers spectacular sea and island views over the Pacific Ocean and Hauraki Gulf. There is even a chance to admire volcanoes and 1000-year-old pohutukawa trees. For a special view of the town, consider riding on the Driving Creek Railway tour. The tour takes riders through tunnels within a regenerating native forest on The Coromandel Peninsula.
Glenorchy
Another beautiful, offbeat town to visit is Glenorchy. Full of hiking trails and a bustling town center, Glenorchy is a great town for active individuals looking for new adventures to tackle. Just outside Glenorchy, is one of New Zealand's top hikes, the Routeburn Track. The 20-mile hike travels through the Southern Alps, finishing on the road between Te Anau and Milford Sound. For those looking for a shorter hike, the Glenorchy Boardwalk is a great option. The 3-mile trail follows a completely flat boardwalk to the Glenorchy Lagoon.
A well-kept secret about Glenorchy is that there are a lot of Lord of the Rings film locations in the town. Some popular spots from the film you can find in town are Misty Mountains, Isengard, Forest of Fangorn, and Ithilien Camp. Exploring Glenorchy wouldn't be complete without a trip to Paradise. The town has a version of Paradise, an 8-mile stretch of gravel road. Here, you will enjoy paradise on Earth with spectacular views.
Kawhia
One of New Zealand's hidden gems is the town of Kawhia. The quiet coastal town is on the west coast in the Waikato region of the North Island. Few New Zealanders know about the town and only around 600 people live there. Despite Kawhia's quietness, it is still a great place to visit. Kawhia’s Ocean Beach is unique. The best time to visit is when the tide is at low tide. This is because if you dig yourself a hole in the sand, hot spring water bubbles to the surface. In other words, you get a personal hot spring. Kawhia Harbour is also a great place to explore.
Those who like to fish will enjoy casting a line in the ocean. There is an abundance of fish close to the harbor and further out in the ocean. Some of the common fish caught include snapper, kahawai, terakihi, gurnard, and kingfish. Considering the beautiful natural scenery of the area, it is no wonder Kawhia has been a historically significant area throughout history. The area has been an important place for Indigenous groups, particularly the local Tainui people. To learn more about the history of the area, visit the museum in the waterfront offices of the former Kawhia County Council.
Motueka
Another town with beautiful beaches is Motueka. The lesser-known beach town is on the South Island of New Zealand. Motueka is only a 35-minute drive from the nearby city of Nelson. The town has everything people go to Nelson for, such as a rich culture and beautiful scenery. Pioneers originally settled in the area in 1842. The Motueka District Museum recounts the town's early history in depth and is a great introduction to the town.
Many people go to the area to explore Abel Tasman National Park, which is one of the most stunning parks in the country. Abel Tashman is full of hiking and biking trails that show off the remote beauty of New Zealand wilderness. One of the most famous hikes in the park is the Abel Tasman Coast Track. The 37-mile hike takes multiple days to complete and goes through the entire length of the park. While at the park, don't forget to visit the famous landmark, Split Apple Rock. The landmark is a giant boulder, split in half like an apple, as the name suggests.
A relaxing attraction in Motueka is the saltwater baths on the Otueka foreshore. The formation of the baths dates back to the 1920s. Locals attempted to swim in the water; however, the presence of sharks made swimming unsafe. As a result, locals enclosed the foreshore, and today, the area is concrete. The enclosed swimming area makes this a safe, relaxing place to swim where you don't even have to worry about the tide.
Oamaru
Oamaru is the largest town in the Waitaki District on the South Island and is well known for its rich culture. The town is home to the Victorian Precinct, a section of the town that takes you back in time to the Victorian era. Here there is everything from bookbinders to old-worldly charming cafes. There is even a portion of the Victorian Precinct that is a mock-up of Oamaru’s early settlement. This section is Whitestone City and is a place of historical fun, where you can try your hand at Victorian-era games. The town's love of the Victorian era ventures into the world of steampunk. There is a steampunk-themed park at the Oamaru harbor and the town is home to Steampunk HQ. This is a neat steampunk themes art museum set in an 1880's Grain Elevator building. Other art galleries in Oamaru include the Grainstore Gallery.
People aren't the only ones who enjoy this town. The world's smallest penguins, little blue penguins, call the town home. You can visit the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony to watch groups of penguins return from the sea.
Whataroa
While the town of Whataroa is small, with only 300 residents, there is still plenty to do for outdoor enthusiasts. Whataroa is a natural paradise with pristine lakes, rivers, and forests. Enjoy views of the forest and pakihi swamp on the Waitangitaona Wetland Walk. The walk takes you through the kahikatea forest on a raised boardwalk where you can see rushes, ferns, moss, and manuka. There are also stunning views of the Alps. One of the most spectacular natural sites in Whataroa is seeing the white heron in the swamp Kahikatea and White Pine rainforest. The Waitangiroto Nature Reserve provides guided tours of the white heron nesting sites, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see these beautiful birds up close.
The Whataroa River runs past the town and is a stunning site to enjoy. The white water rafting river has stunning gorges and canyons. More adventurous spirits should try helicopter rafting on the river to enjoy the breathtaking views.
New Zealand is a small but beautiful country. These six offbeat towns aren't the most popular tourist destinations, but they are remarkable places to visit. Since they aren't overcrowded with tourists you will get a better chance to enjoy the scenery. In these towns, you will also have unique experiences, such as seeing white herons at Waitangiroto Nature Reserve or enjoying a personal hot spring at Kawhia’s Ocean Beach. These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities not found in too many places. To make lasting memories with friends, family, or whoever you travel with, consider visiting these New Zealand towns.
