| |
New Zealand > Waikato
>
Te Awamutu
By Jessica Lloyd
Te Awamutu is
very picturesque 9,000 strong town, with elegant rose gardens, parks and
walks situated on the banks of the Mangapiko River,
which is part of the Waipa River, 30km south of Hamilton.
Te Awamutu’s sole
claim to fame is the famous Finn Brothers (Crowded House and Split Enz, plus
many solo albums) who are from this small town.
"Crowded House the rock band did come from Te Awamutu, but the lead singer
and songwriter of the Four Fours in the sixties also came from Te Awamutu.
The Four Fours became the Human Instinct, which was the first NZ band to
England. The Human Instinct is still doing fine in Auckland. I left the band
in England late 60's and formed by accident the largest sound company in the
world by far with 22 sound systems out per day, doing Led Zeppelin ELP The
Who etc." David Hartstone.
Things to do in Te Awamutu
Bushwalking and outdoor recreation are normally the order of the day, like
the rest of the Waikato region. With a few lakes and rivers to choose from,
trout fishing is always a good option. The Waipa Networks Rose and Cultural
Festival runs for about two weeks annually, and the Lifestyles Craft Fair is
held in November. The Lions Club of Te Awamutu Food and Wine Festival perks
the place up annually in March, and each year Pride of Te Awamutu Awards
recognise those who achieve. There is also a museum which has a large range
of artefacts from the area.
Getting There
Rail - Bus - Self Drive - Tour
Twenty minutes drive south of hamilton, three
hours north from New Plymouth, and an
hour and a quarter from Taumaranui.
|
|
|
|