Otorohanga Overview

“The place of outstretched arms,” Otorohanga (OAR-to-ra-ha-nga; pop. 2650) has long been a rest stop for travelers. Legend has it that a great Maori chief once paused here to multiply his meager supply of fish, and with a few magical incantations turned the small catch into a proper feast. Today’s adventure travelers use Otorohanga as a gateway to nearby Waitomo Caves, while others stay for the first-rate bird house and Wiki, the town’s giant kiwi.

Transportation. The train station is on Wahanui Cres., behind the Otorohanga i-Site. TranzScenic goes to Auckland (2hr., 1 per day, $37-51) via Hamilton (1hr., $18-24) and to Wellington (8hr., 1 per day, $95-120) via Palmerston North (6hr., $64-87). The bus stop is at Wahanui Cres. and Maniapoto St., next to the visitors center. InterCity heads to Auckland (3hr., 2-3 per day, $22-48) via Hamilton (1hr., $23) and to Wellington (8hr., M-F and Su 12:05pm, $69-90) via Wanganui (5hr., $47). Dalroy Express runs service to Auckland (3hr., 1 per day, $33; www.dalroytours.co.nz) and to Hawera (3hr., 1 per day, $45) via New Plymouth (2hr.). To get to Waitomo, take Bill and Irene Millar’s Waitomo Shuttle from the Otorohanga i-Site or any accommodation. An informative history of the area is given during the 15min. ride. (☎0800 808 279. 5 per day, $10.) Bill also operates Otorohanga Taxis (☎0800 808 279). Although Let’s Go does not recommend it, hitchhiking is said to be best from the bypass road, Huiputea Dr., north of town.

Orientation And Practical Information. Maniapoto Street is the central road in town where most business takes place. While at the Otorohanga i-Site, 21 Maniapoto St., keep an eye out for Wiki, the giant kiwi who greets visitors. (☎873 8951; www.otorohanga.co.nz or www.kiwianatown.co.nz. Open M-F 9am-5:30pm, Sa-Su 10am-4pm.) Westpac Trust, 64 Maniapoto St. (☎873 6806; open M-Tu and Th-F 9am-4:30pm, W 9:30am-4:30pm), has a 24hr. ATM. Fill up at one of the gas stations in town, as there is no gas in Waitomo. Other services include: the police, 4 Ballance St. (☎873 7399); the 24hr. on-call doctor (☎873 8399); a pharmacy at the corner of Main and Maniapoto St. (☎873 7294; open M-F 8:30am-5pm, Sa 9:30am-1pm); Internet access at the Otorohanga i-Site ($2.50 per 15min.) or at the public library, on Maniapoto St. across from the ANZ (☎873 7175; $10 per hr.; open M-Th 10am-5pm, F 10am-6pm, Sa 10am-noon); the post office, inside King’s Paper Plus, 39 Maniapoto St. (☎873 8816. Open M-F 8:30am-5pm, Sa 9am-2pm.)

Accommodations And Food. A stone’s throw from the kiwi house, the Oto-Kiwi Lodge (BBH) , 1 Sangro Cres., provides rooms at the end of the suburban cul-de-sac. An excellent option for Waitomo cavers who seek civilization in addition to stalactites. Signs point the way from the north end of Maniapoto St. (☎873 6022; oto-kiwi@xtra.co.nz. 4-bed dorms $20; doubles and twins $44. Tent sites $10. $3-4 BBH discount. MC/V.) On the bypass road east of town lies Otorohanga Holiday Park , 12 Huiputea Dr., a well-groomed facility just across from the railroad tracks. With a lawn, a fitness center, and a sauna ($5), this place caters to a wide crowd. (☎873 7253; www.kiwiholidaypark.co.nz. Tent and caravan sites $12. 2-person cabins $50; 2-person self-contained units $85. $12 per extra person. MC/V.)

Residents are proud of their Woolworths, at the southern end of Maniapoto St. (☎873 7378. Open daily 7am-10pm.) The most reliable meal in town is at The Thirsty Weta , 57 Maniapoto St. Free Internet for patrons makes this a backpacker staple. Fresh mussels ($15) and savory breakfasts ($4-13) satisfy cold, hungry cavers. (☎873 6699. Open daily 10am-1am. Closes earlier during the week. MC/V.)

Sights. The residents of Otorohanga will no doubt remind adventure-hungry travelers to slow down and hang with the birds. The Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park, on Alex Telfer Dr., where two shifts of birds “perform” daily for 4hr., is the best bet to get up close to New Zealand’s elusive airborne population. The walk-through aviary also houses tuataras, geckos, and cave wetas, possibly the world’s oldest insects. (☎873 7391; www.kiwihouse.org.nz. Open daily 9am-5pm. June-Aug. 9am-4pm. Last entry 30min. before closing. Kiwi feeding daily 1:30, 3:30pm. $15, children $4. $1 BBH/YHA discount.) By prior arrangement, the Kiwi House operates a nightly Kiwi Watch; bookings before 4pm are essential. (Groups of 2-6 people. 1-2hr. $25. Call for times.)

The visitors center hopes to market Otorohanga as the “Kiwiana capital” of New Zealand; 24 posted explanations of Kiwi culture are spread throughout every third shop window along Maniapoto St. These informational posters explain such cultural staples as pavlova, “Ches ’n Dale,” gumboots, and the multifaceted word “kiwi.” Murals of popular Kiwi icons decorate the town; Pou Pou (wooden poles) carved to depict Maori legends stand in front of the library.