Located 50km from Hamilton and 80 km from Otorohanga, Tirau is a small township with population under a thousand residents. Surprisingly, most shops in the town were designed with cast-off corrugated iron. Perhaps the most remarkable symbolic buildings we had seen at there are the gigantic dog shaped I-site and the wool outlet with huge sheep design. The distinctive feature is an attraction of the town to invite visitors. By the way, fans of arts and creativity shouldn’t miss a look in Tirau.
Furthermore, it’s notable for the Kiwi House as well as the Native Bird Park. We had a walk around the town including parks, shops and the district library.
Happily, we tried the ‘chicken n chips’ in a takeaway shop and I bought some iconic souvenirs before we left the lovely town.
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| Information centre created with corrugated iron in dog shape |
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| Another giant sheep building made with corrugated iron |
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| The Honey Shop also used the waste corrugated material to make a big bee sign |
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| Corrugated 'good shepherd' sculpture |
We drove about an hour from Tirau and we reached Otorohanga. It’s a fact that Otorohanga is known as the New Zealand's Kiwiana Town. Interestingly, the rural town was decorated with suspended kiwiana icons along the main street.
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| A recreational Rotary Park |
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| Statue of 2 sisters, Parehuia & Kahira, nearby the Kiwi House |
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| Otorohanga district library |
