Discover Te Kauwhata: Lake Waikare and local events

Te Kauwhata is located on the shore of Lake Waikare. There are several ways to plan a trip here: the lake, the Whangamarino Wetlands to the north, a golf course in town, and a calendar of markets and community events. If you’re looking for a hotel in Te Kauwhata, you can start by considering whether nature, golf or a specific event date will shape your stay.

Lake Waikare and the Whangamarino Wetlands

Lake Waikare is the second-largest shallow lake on New Zealand’s North Island. It feeds the Whangamarino Wetlands, located just north of Te Kauwhata. The wetland is the North Island’s second-largest peat bog and swamp complex, and has been a Ramsar site since 1989. The lake and wetlands are therefore two distinct but hydrologically connected features of the landscape around the town.

The Whangamarino Wetland can be reached by car via Island Block Road near Meremere or Falls Road from Te Kauwhata. As road conditions and access arrangements may change, check them before setting off. This allows you to plan a visit to the wetland as part of your trip without treating it as an outing directly to the lake.

Golf and events in town

The Waikare Golf Club in Te Kauwhata has an 18-hole course. If golf is part of your reason for travelling, you can include the course as a separate activity. Course details may change; check the latest information before visiting.

The Te Kauwhata Locals Market is held on the last Saturday of each month from 12 to 4 pm at St Andrews Church Hall on Scott Road. This regular monthly event is different from the individual festivals and community events scheduled throughout the year.

Splash’n Dash is a free family event for Children’s Day. It takes place on the first Sunday in March from 10 am to 2 pm at the Domain. SKATEfest is also a free family festival: it’s for skateboarders and scooter riders of all ages and their whānau, and is held at the Village Green skatepark.

Unity Hoops is another free family event, this time featuring street basketball at the Village Green half court. The programme includes art, music and basketball games for all ages and abilities. The different formats give a clear idea of how varied the town’s events are, without implying that every festival has the same date or programme.

The annual Te Kauwhata community photography competition is open to photographers of all ages and experience levels, including children, young people and adults. The Te Kauwhata A&P Show takes place every year on the second Saturday in December. On 25 April, Te Kauwhata Community Events holds a dawn memorial service and a civic ceremony at the Te Kauwhata War Memorial.

Event dates and programmes may change. Check the details for your travel dates, especially if you’re planning your visit around a particular market or festival.

Getting there and planning your stay

BUSIT! operates a bus route from Hamilton via Te Kauwhata and Meremere to Pukekohe. As route information may change, check the latest timetable before travelling. This does not indicate how often the route runs or on which days it operates.

When choosing a hotel, you can first plan your stay around what brings you to the area: for example, a visit to Lake Waikare, an outing to the wetlands, a round of golf or an event in town. Also consider whether your plans depend on a particular date or a bus connection. You can then check the details of the relevant hotel listing for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Te Akau, Ngāruawāhia, Taupiri, Miranda, Maramarua, Te Kowhai, Tamahere, Raglan.

For the broader travel overview: Waikato District.