New Zealand Travel - Corrugated Capital, Tirau

Corrugated Iron Country Town on a Busy Highway, South Waikato, NZ

Mar 26, 2009 Lyn Rasmussen

New Zealand's Corrugated Capital makes an energising shopping or coffee break. Boutiques, gift shops and cafés are crowned by Tirau's landmark corrugated iron signage.

Two hours south of Auckland, the tiny township of Tirau is stitched along both sides of State Highway One midway between Hamilton and Rotorua. Three main roads feed into the town, making it a busy stop for the travelers who converge onto its main street from northern, southern or eastern highways. No matter which direction visitors arrive from, the drive will have transported them through the verdant countryside of the South Waikato where dairying and stud farms thrive on the fertile, gently rolling landscape.

Corrugated Iron Art is a Feature of Tirau Township

Tirau is especially famous for its quirky corrugated iron art. The corrugated iron shepherd who stands watch over the Church of the Good Shepherd, also guards the enormous corrugated dog where the Tirau Information Centre lives alongside the corrugated iron sheep that houses an extensive wool gallery. Many of the businesses that clamber up the main street have adopted the corrugated theme, with corrugated poppies, teddy bears, hearts and birds just some of the unique signage featured.

Vintage homes reminiscent of New Zealand’s pioneer past have been transformed into business premises crammed with arts and crafts, jewelery, antiques and collectables and exquisite linen. Specialist shops sell quilting fabrics, teddy bears, honey, ice cream, clocks, silverware and designer clothing. Although Tirau is a small centre, there is a diverse assortment of eateries, from cafes and bars to fine dining and fast foods.

Tirau was a New Zealand Town on the Brink of Extinction

According to the Tirau Transformation page on the Tirau website, Tirau’s current prosperity owes itself to visionary and entrepeneur Henry Clothier, who recognized the potential of the town as a tourist centre. Like many of New Zealand’s provincial towns, by the late 1980s, most of Tirau’s core businesses including the BNZ bank, the Post Office and the general store had closed their doors. Tirau was a town on the verge of extinction. Henry Clothier purchased the old general store and opened up a large antique shop in the premises. He then persuaded other like-minded businesspeople to take advantage of the low rents and central location of the town, and before long the Tirau revival was underway.

Attractions near Tirau include Hobbiton from “Lord of the Rings”

Hobbiton is about a 20 minute-drive from Tirau. Seventeen hobbit holes and some of the structures from the “Lord of the Rings” film set are still tucked into the countryside, as well as the Party Tree and remnants of Bilbo Baggins’ Bag End home. Contact Ring Scenic Tours, 101 Arawa St, Matamata, ph: 64 7 888 9913.

The Castle Pamela – Collections of Royal Albert Plates, Toys, Dolls and Trains

Pam and Kelvin Baker built the Castle Pamela specifically to house their collections of Royal Albert plates (over 400 different patterns), toys, dolls and the model train display with its 25 metres of track. The Castle Pamela, at 10 Bridge Street, is open during school holidays from 9:30 until 3:30 daily. Group bookings can be arranged by telephoning 64 7 883 1112.

Take a trip back to early New Zealand at the Tirau Museum, 3.5km south of the township. The museum is open to the public every day 9:00am – 5:00pm except Monday and Friday mornings. Phone 64 7 883-1442. Tirau also boasts an 18 hole golf course suitable for both experienced golfers and beginners. The Tirau Golf Club , State Highway 27, Ph 64 7 1884 1423, lists its course as being an easy three hour walk, and invites visitors to enjoy full catering and restaurant facilities.

With its proximity to the two main centres of Rotorua and Hamilton, Tirau provides an interesting and refreshing outing or stopover for both domestic and international visitors.

The copyright of the article New Zealand Travel - Corrugated Capital, Tirau in Aus/NZ/Oceania Travel is owned by Lyn Rasmussen. Permission to republish New Zealand Travel - Corrugated Capital, Tirau in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

The Good Shepherd in Tirau	Tirau Shops Include Antiques and Collectables	Teddy Bears, Clocks and Silverware Shops
Tirau Information Centre is in the Corrugated Dog	Corrugated Signs are Tirau Landmarks