Discover Tirau: Animal Shapes, Art and Golf

Tirau surprises visitors with architecture that brings animal shapes into the townscape: the information centre is housed in a dog-shaped building, while sheep-shaped buildings house a wool and craft shop. There is also a corrugated iron sculpture of a pūkeko, a golf course and a café on the main street. The range of experiences extends from striking architecture and art to a round of golf or a café break.

Unusual Buildings and Their Functions

The information centre is at the northern end of town on State Highway 1 and has plenty of parking. The Dog is an iconic building and a major landmark on Tirau’s main street. The sheep-shaped buildings also catch the eye; they house a wool and craft shop. The townscape thus brings together different animal shapes that are also associated with specific offerings: the information centre provides orientation, while the sheep-shaped building is where you can find wool and crafts.

The architecture offers a concrete starting point for exploring the town. Notice the differences between the dog shape, the sheep shapes and the well-known landmark on the main street: the buildings not only create an unusual motif, but also point to different uses in Tirau.

Corrugated Iron Art and a Striking Bird Motif

A corrugated iron sculpture of a pūkeko adds its own artistic motif to the striking building shapes. The material clearly connects the sculpture to corrugated iron art, while the bird provides a different visual motif from the dog and sheep shapes. If you are interested in public art, the work offers a reason to take in this local art form as well as the architecture.

Golf and a Place to Stop in Tirau

Tirau Golf Club offers a parkland-style 18-hole course with a par of 65. It caters to experienced golfers, beginners and social groups. This adds a sporting activity to the striking motifs in the townscape. Whether the course shapes your visit or architecture and art take centre stage depends on the kind of day you have planned.

Poppys Café on the main street serves coffee, smoothies, homemade food from the display cabinet and brunch. If you plan to visit the café, check its current offerings in advance. This lets you plan the café stop as a distinct part of your visit, without treating it as the same kind of experience as the others.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

When looking for a holiday rental in Tirau, you can start by considering what you want your stay to focus on: unusual buildings and corrugated iron art, an active day of golf, or a break at the café. These interests give your day different highlights, although they are all part of Tirau.

More to Explore in the South Waikato District

The wider South Waikato District offers other themes that provide a different focus from Tirau’s animal shapes and art. Arapuni Suspension Bridge is downstream from Arapuni Power Station on the Waikato River. The NZ Timber Museum is just south of Putāruru on State Highway 1. It was established in 1927 to celebrate, document and preserve the history of New Zealand’s timber industry, particularly in the South Waikato District.

In Tokoroa, carved Talking Poles represent the town’s different cultures, clubs and organisations. The sculptures are located in the town centre and were created for locals and visitors. The South Waikato District thus offers everything from a river bridge and the history of the timber industry to cultural representation in Tokoroa. These examples complement Tirau’s own themes without conflating them with the district’s attractions.

Discover more destinations: Okoroire, Tokoroa, Piarere, Putaruru.

Go to the wider travel overview: South Waikato District.