Putaruru: Water Park and Mosaic Art

Putaruru brings together several themes to consider when planning your trip: the design of Putāruru Waterpark, the Mosaic Art Project, and local cheese production. Nearby, you’ll also find Sanctuary Mountain – Maungatautari, 26 km from Putaruru. Guided tours are available there during the day and at night.

Water Park and Mosaic Art in Putaruru

Putāruru Waterpark was officially opened on 20 April 2002. Its blue colours echo those of the Te Waihou spring, and it also features two large mosaics. This connects the water park’s colour scheme to the spring in a tangible way.

The Mosaic Art Project began in February 1998 to encourage pedestrian traffic in Putaruru. It connects the town’s two business districts, which are separated by railway tracks. By contrast, the Waterpark’s design foregrounds colours inspired by Te Waihou, while the Mosaic Art Project connects the business districts. Together, these themes show different ways art and design relate to the town.

Cheese from Putaruru

Food production is another local theme: Over the Moon Dairy makes New Zealand’s widest range of speciality cheeses in Putaruru. It uses locally sourced goat, cow, sheep, and buffalo milk. These four types of milk offer a tangible insight into the variety of ingredients behind the cheese range. For travellers interested in local products, this offers a different focus from the town’s art.

Guided tours nearby

Sanctuary Mountain – Maungatautari is 26 km from Putaruru and offers guided tours by day and at night. These two times of day offer different options for planning your trip. When choosing activities, you can distinguish between a local attraction in Putaruru and a guided experience nearby without treating them as the same destination.

More destinations in the South Waikato District

The NZ Timber Museum is just south of Putāruru on State Highway 1. It offers the chance to see and experience the history of New Zealand’s timber industry. The museum was founded in 1927 to celebrate, document, and preserve this history, particularly in the South Waikato District. A visit to the museum therefore connects with a regional history theme that reaches beyond Putaruru.

In the centre of Tokoroa are the Talking Poles, unique sculptures created for locals and visitors. The collection of carved poles represents Tokoroa’s various cultures, clubs, and organisations. Another geographical landmark in the South Waikato District is the Arapuni Suspension Bridge, located downstream from Arapuni Power Station on the Waikato River.

The Tīrau Information Centre is on State Highway 1 at the northern edge of Tīrau and has extensive parking. Lake Moananui is another regional point of interest: it surrounds an artificial lake built by the Matamata County Council in 1974/75. Alongside the museum, Talking Poles, and bridge, these sites offer different ways to explore the South Waikato District—from timber industry history and cultural representation to the location and creation of an artificial lake.

Discover more destinations: Okoroire, Tirau, Piarere, Tokoroa.

For the wider travel overview: South Waikato District.