Katikati Between Art, History and Nature

Katikati brings together art in town, local history and trails by the water. The Western Bay Museum, the Haiku and Murals walking trails, and a variety of hiking options offer ideas for planning your day. Depending on whether you’re interested in exhibitions, a walk around town or longer routes, you can shape your stay in different ways.

Museum, Art and Events

The Western Bay Museum is housed in the historic old fire station at 32 Main Road. Its collections, interactive experiences and carefully curated exhibitions tell the stories of tangata whenua and the settlers who built the Western Bay. Visitors can drop in without booking, and admission is free. It is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 11 am to 3 pm. Check opening hours before you travel.

You’ll also come across art outdoors: the Haiku Pathway & Katikati Murals Walk is an easy walking trail through Katikati. Haiku poems are carved into stones along the Uretara Stream. The town also hosts the NZ Mural Contest & Art Festival every two years. It lasts a week or a month and involves numerous art forms as well as community groups; specific festival dates vary.

The Junction Theatre at The Art Junction arts centre regularly hosts films, concerts and theatre performances. The small theatre space has sofas and theatre-style seating; individual event dates may change. For more information about the area, the Katikati Visitor Information Centre at Arts Junction provides maps, brochures and travel information.

Walks and Hikes

For a flat route by the water, try the Bird Walk, also known as the Yeoman Walkway. The trail along the Uretara Stream passes through a riverside and estuary area, with opportunities for birdwatching and views of the harbour along the way. The Sentinel Rock Lookout Track on Hot Springs Road is about 6 km long and passes through forest to a lookout.

The Te Rereatukahia Loop Track on Hot Springs Road takes more time. The loop connects the road with Te Rereatukahia Hut, is 14 km long, and is listed as taking about seven hours for the return trip. Also beginning on Hot Springs Road, the approximately 11 km Motutapere Hut Walk is described as a more challenging hike in the Kaimai Range. The different route lengths and walking times can help you gauge the scale of your hiking plans.

Nearby, Waitekohekohe Recreational Park is about 15 minutes south of Katikati. It has walking tracks, mountain bike trails graded 1 to 4, more than 6 km of horse-riding trails, and swimming spots along the Waitekohe Stream. About 5 km north of Katikati, Tuapiro Point Foreshore Walk has trails along the beach and through the forest. Just south of town, the Tuahu Kauri Track leads, on a 20-minute return walk, to a protective boardwalk around one of the largest mature kauri trees in the Bay of Plenty.

Local Produce and a Regional Perspective

On the Katikati Cuisine Trail, you can meet local artisan food producers and sample their products on site. It’s a way to combine your stay with insights into local food production.

In the wider Western Bay of Plenty District, the Orokawa Bay Walk starts at the northern end of Waihī Beach and crosses coastal headlands to Orokawa Bay; access depends on tides and swell. The walk takes about 45 minutes each way; access depends on tides and swell. The trail passes through dense bush with pōhutukawa, kauri and puriri trees, as well as native nīkau palms. Orokawa Bay is part of a 145-hectare scenic reserve.

Discover more destinations: Tahawai, Lower Kaimai, Te Puke, Paengaroa, Papamoa, Aongatete, Waihi Beach, Pukehina.

For the wider travel overview: Western Bay of Plenty District.