Katikati

Plan a refreshment stop in Katikati to see the murals – giant works of art painted on various buildings around the town. It’s an open air gallery.

The rural town of Katikati was founded by settlers from Ulster in Ireland, but the district was populated by Maori long before Europeans arrived. The volcanic soils and sunny climate were as suitable then for kumara as they are today for kiwifruit and avocados. In recent years, Katikati has called itself the ‘mural town’. You can pick up a mural guide map from the information centre, then stroll the streets to inspect the hand painted works. The local museum documents the growth of the town with photographs and displays of artefacts. In the harvest season, roadside shops and stalls are overflowing with fresh produce.

Functional facts: Approx. population 3,600, information centre, cafés, limited accommodation.