Otorohanga: The Fantastic Kiwiana Town
Otorohanga, New Zealand is a town known as the “gateway” to the Waitomo Caves. It is also well-known as the country’s “Kiwiana Town”. In the 1860s, it was a Ngati Maniapoto village. It changed its name for a while in 1986 to “Harrodsville”.
Best Time to Visit
The perfect time to visit Otorohanga is during the months of November through April, for the best weather. Peak tourist season is usually during the months of April, July, and December. Tourists are least likely to visit in October.
What to Do & Area Attractions
One of the must-see attractions in town is the Kiwi House Native Bird Park, which has been breeding and conserving kiwi, the country’s iconic national bird, since 1997. It is not just a sanctuary of kiwi, but also of other native birds and reptiles. More than just a tourist destination, it offers many educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. It is also a breeding center engaged in scientific research. In fact, it has an active Brown Kiwi captive breeding and research program. Brown Kiwi is one of the 5 kiwi species. Another interesting site to visit in the area is Alphra Lavender. It offers free tours during high season. It harvests and distils oil, and produces high-quality lavender oil products. The farm began in 1997. Today, it grows different varieties of lavender. There are a lot of Otorohanga hotels. Get to stay at the Redwood Lodge Bed & Breakfast, Caves Motor Inn, and the Woodlyn Park. These hotels provide commendable accommodation and customer-oriented services.