Dotted around New Zealand are many small towns and settlements that rarely appear in tourist guides or on must-do lists. But it’s often these places that linger in your memories, immersing you in the heart of what makes smaller communities so special. Tuakau is frequently bypassed by those motoring between Auckland and Hamilton – but a quick detour is time well spent as Lisa Potter discovers.
Rather than just steaming ahead on the motorway, take a short detour from Pukekohe, Pokeno or Mercer out towards the coast and discover Tuakau.
Surrounded by the scenic Waikato River, rolling farmland, and the wild and rugger Port Waikato coastline, the drive from all directions is quite the visual feast, so take your time and enjoy the views along the way.
Fertile volcanic ash soil is the reason behind the region’s rich vegetable-growing history, evident as you come across large expanses of horticultural plantings and massive plots of greenhouses. (It’s all good news for those who enjoy high-quality local produce).
And speaking of local produce, one of the gems of our Tuakau trip was the rather unassuming looking Tuakau Fresh Market. We were expecting the ‘usual’ offering of local fruit and vegetables, but this recently renovated delight is bursting at the seams with everything you’d expect and so much more.
We staggered away loaded up with locally made sauerkraut and honey, Little Island dairy free ice cream, Italian pasta, and the best selection of gluten free treats I’ve seen – well, anywhere (other than a specialist GF store). The shelves are also laden with herbs and spices, and you’ll find unusual offerings like frozen cassava and taro in the freezer and a huge selection of bottled peppers and olives. To top it all off, you can grab a freshly made Ozone coffee and hot vegetable samosa on your way out.
Having been closed some time, Tuakau Fresh Market reopened recently in style under the new ownership of brothers Manpreet Singh Sidhu and Jaspreet Singh Sidhu, and business partner Rajwant Kumar. They’ve done an excellent job curating food and drink offerings for all tastebuds and cater astonishingly well for those with food allergies. Definitely put this on your list as it’s a perfect opportunity to stock up your pantry with some treats for the festive season. You’ll find it on Buckland Road with plenty of parking for RVs (depending on crowds however), and opening hours are from 7.30am-7.30pm Monday-Sunday.
Tuakau township
Don’t expect to breeze in and out of Tuakau for a flying visit. Tuakau retains its small-town rural character but also offers a surprisingly rich lineup of historical spots, along with a stunning waterfall walk, riverside RV campground, a rather epic playground (for those with families), and the main street is surely one of the most heavily populated in the country when it comes to bakeries and food shops.
Park up as you head down the main street and meander on foot down both sides. Even the Tuakau NZ Post Shop is worth a visit – there aren’t many left around the country any more with such a comprehensive selection of specialist magazines (on every topic imaginable) and it’s heartening to see this selection given the decline of magazines in shops elsewhere. There’s also a lovely family-owned butcher, Tuakau Quality Meats, where the emphasis is on locally grown and prepared meats (try the venison salami and home-made sausages), and proof that the charm of old-fashioned butcher service still exists.
Dominating the town landscape is Tuakau Hotel, a beautifully restored 1875 building and the perfect spot for lunch or dinner at Elsies Restaurant and Bar, or for relaxing with drinks and nibbles later in front of the enormous fireplace.
The historic charm of the building remains intact, despite being thoughtfully updated with modern comforts and boasting a large conference room (able to cater for functions for 100 or seated dinners for 30), as well as a board room, TAB area and ample accommodation.
Continuing on the historical buildings theme, Tuakau Museum is packed with quirky and local memorabilia, although it’s worth noting this volunteer-run space is open only on Thursday (9am-midday) and Sunday (1pm-3.30pm), so you’ll need to plan your trip accordingly if you want to explore.
On the same site is Feather Cottage, gifted to the museum and previously home to the Feather family for almost 50 years. This ongoing project is the source of plenty of community support, with progress and notes on display along the fenceline.
Pop into Mai Lighthouse Op Shop for a quick browse also and help support some great local programmes including free sessions for parents with autistic children, and for parents of teenagers.
As you leave the main street and head towards Port Waikato, Tuakau Bridge Motorhome Park is just a few minutes out of town. Boasting 10 powered sites (each with its own all-weather parking space framed by hedging) as well as three spacious cabins, the sprawling grounds are extremely well presented and tidy, and include a handy children’s playground, and ample space to relax and enjoy the river views. During our stay, we sat on the riverbank and enjoyed local Waka Ama crews in action, with Waikato Waka Ama Sports located at the far end of the grounds.
If you’re travelling by RV but planning a gathering of friends or family, this is a great spot to consider. Each cabin is air conditioned, fully self-contained and can sleep five people with ease. There’s also plenty of entertaining space and a covered deck outside overlooking the river views.
Straight opposite and across the (main) road, is River Road Nursery, home to a lovely selection of native plants, an excellent rose collection and indoor plants and accessories. As a family business, you’ll often find Hayley on site or one of and Chad’s three boys. A horticulturist, Hayley is constantly developing the nursery and always happy to offer planting advice. The nursery is open from Wednesday to Saturday.
Just outside River Road Nursery is Little Riverside Café, a delightful container coffee spot with freshly baked goodies, including gluten free options, and is open Wednesday to Saturday.
A few minutes down the road is Les Batkin Reserve, with plenty of space to run your dog, a playground and toilet block. There’s plenty of space here to park the largest rig and take in the historic Tuakau Bridge. Built in 1933, and for some time the longest single-span bridge in the Southern Hemisphere, it links Tuakau to Mercer across Waikato River.
If you’re keen to enjoy Mother Nature, plan your Tuakau trip to include Vivian Falls not far from Tuakau Bridge. However, the car park is small, and the last part of the road is gravel, so it may pay to leave your caravan behind if you’re towing. The reward is worth it, with the waterfall an easy enough walk from Harker Reserve.
Mercer
Whether you’re coming from the north or south, plan to stop off at Mercer to fuel up – and not just for your vehicle. In fact, Mercer Cheese and Ossewa Biltong are worth a trip to Mercer on their own merits.
There’s good reason Mercer Cheese boasts four decades of award-winning cheese and with more than 20 (yes 20) different varieties of its infamous Dutch-style cheese to choose from. We recommend the Walnut Cream Gouda, Smoked Gouda, Wasabi Gouda and Stinging Nettle Gouda.
Next door is another artisan producer, and coincidentally it’s the perfect accompaniment to your cheeseboard. Ossewa Biltong have a mouthwatering selection of Boerewors and Biltong, and flavours include jalapeno and zesty lime, red wine and garlic, sweet chilli, and smoky habanero.
Whether you’re coming or going towards Tuakau, take the scenic route and drive through Onewhero for stunning rural landscapes. The most rewarding destinations don’t have to be high profile or ‘buzzing’. Embrace the offerings of rural towns and enjoy the journey.
