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Tokoroa Talking Poles: Tree Carving: Since 1998, Tokoroa has been "sprouting" Talking Poles, consisting mainly of carvings and sculptures representing the many cultures in the town. This one, photographed shortly after its unveiling in 2004, is a chainsaw carving of an old tree which had suffered extensive damage in a storm and died.  The carving is by Andy Handcock and is representative of the Greenman. It is located on State Highway 1, immediately adjacent to the town's information centre.
A view over Tokoroa, Region of Waikato, New Zealand from a hill overlooking the town in the northeast. Kinleith Mill can be seen in the distance to the far left (south-south-west of Tokoroa).
Tokoroa goods station in 1953
Photo by No machine-readable author provided. Rudizoon assumed (based on copyright claims).
Destinations
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OceaniaNew ZealandWaikato Region

Tokoroa

Waikato Region, New Zealand · Oceania

About Tokoroa

Tokoroa sits on the route: 25 minutes from Putaruru, 35km from Rotorua.

Tokoroa is in Waikato Region, New Zealand, with about 15,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Putaruru, about 22 km away.

Tokoroa is the fourth-largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and largest settlement in the South Waikato District. Located 30 km southwest of Rotorua and 20 km south of Putāruru, close to the foot of the Mamaku Ranges, it is midway between Taupō and Hamilton on State Highway 1.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Tokoroa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see near Tokoroa?

Within an hour or so of Tokoroa: Rainbow Springs Nature Park (34 km), Rotorua (35 km), Hobbiton Movie Set (43 km), Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata (43 km).

Are there any good drives near Tokoroa?

The nearest famous roads are Desert Road and Forgotten World Highway.

Where is Tokoroa?

Tokoroa is in Waikato Region, New Zealand, about 22 km from Putaruru.

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Quick Information

Population
14,500
Continent
Oceania
Country
New Zealand
Region
Waikato Region
Timezone
Pacific/Auckland
Coordinates
-38.2333, 175.8667

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in New Zealand

Police
111
Ambulance
111
Fire
111
Non-emergency police
105
Driving side
left

Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.

Full driving guide for New Zealand

Tags

OceaniaNew ZealandWaikato RegionTown

Worth the detour from Tokoroa

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Rainbow Springs Nature Park

Rotorua nature park showcasing New Zealand's unique wildlife including kiwi in a natural bush setting.

34 km · about 40 min drive

natural wonder

Rotorua

New Zealand's geothermal wonderland with erupting geysers, boiling mud pools, steaming lakes, and rich Māori cultural experiences.

35 km · about 40 min drive

landmark

Hobbiton Movie Set

The real-life Shire from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, with 44 hobbit holes set in rolling green Waikato farmland.

43 km · about 50 min drive

film location

Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata

The permanent Shire set with 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree and the Green Dragon Inn, built for The Lord of the Rings and rebuilt for The Hobbit.

43 km · about 50 min drive

natural wonder

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Surreal geothermal area with the vivid green Devil's Bath, the Champagne Pool, and the Lady Knox Geyser.

46 km · about 55 min drive

waterfall

Huka Falls

High-volume cataract where the Waikato River narrows to a 15 m channel, with a car park and footbridge just north of Taupō.

50 km · about 60 min drive

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Tokoroa.

Rotorua

🇳🇿 New Zealand

35 km awayPop. 65,901

Matamata

🇳🇿 New Zealand

48 km awayPop. 6,306

Te Awamutu

🇳🇿 New Zealand

53 km awayPop. 14,000

Cambridge

🇳🇿 New Zealand

54 km awayPop. 15,192

Te Puke

🇳🇿 New Zealand

65 km awayPop. 10,500

Tauranga

🇳🇿 New Zealand

66 km awayPop. 161,000

Mount Maunganui

🇳🇿 New Zealand

72 km awayPop. 7,250

Hamilton

🇳🇿 New Zealand

72 km awayPop. 192,100

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence