Top things to do

Elvis lives! At least he does at Kevin D Wasley's astonishing museum, which houses more than 10,000 of the King’s records and a mind-blowing collection of Elvis memorabilia collected over nearly 60 years. 'Passion i…

In a town short on decent places to eat, you can almost hear Someday cafe sigh at its surroundings. Around 20 can fit on the mid-century chairs and at the industrial communal table, where locals chat over cake and t…

You can access Waihi Beach by turning into Denby Rd and descending the steep gravel track from the carpark. At low tide you can walk to Ohawe Beach (or do it in the reverse direction). All black sand, rock pools and…

The excellent Tawhiti Museum houses a collection of exhibits, dioramas and creepily lifelike human figures modelled on people from the region. A large collection of tractors pays homage to the area's rural heritage;…

Although staff can't tell you exactly who dubbed this NZ's best ice cream (albeit in 2013), it's a good sugar hit if you're driving through. The Zabel Gelato brand is made in Hawera using local milk, fruit and a few…

The austere, 55m Hawera Water Tower is one of few noteworthy attractions in quiet Hawera. Grab the key from the neighbouring i-SITE, ascend the 215 steps, then scan the horizon for signs of life (you can see the coa…

For a fine lunch or dinner, try this spicy-smelling, black-and-white diner, serving decent curries in upbeat surrounds. Love the lurid murals and the 'India 12,550km' street sign.