What to Do in Morrinsville: The “Cream of the Country”
Surrounded by lush green dairy paddocks as far as the eye can see, Morrinsville adds a splash of colour in the Waikato region. Located 30km (19 miles) east of Hamilton, Morrinsville is brimming with creativity from a contemporary art gallery to colourful cow sculptures seen around the town. The town has unique stories to tell through its art and museum, as well as quirky cafes making it an essential pitstop on your road trip around the North Island. Find out more in this list of things to do in Morrinsville, New Zealand!
While you’re here, you might also be interested in 11 Free or Cheap Things to Do in Hamilton and 20 Places Off the Beaten Track in the North Island.
1. Find All of the Colourful Cows!
Herd of Cows? is an open-air exhibition of colourful cows scattered across the town of Morrinsville! As you’re wandering around, you’ll most likely notice the life-size cow sculptures, each showcasing part of the dairy industry heritage of the town. Pop into the local i-SITE get your Herd of Cows? trail map or even book yourself a personalised tour around the sculptures. It’s sure to be one of the most unique (and hilarious) things you do in New Zealand!
Location: Morrinsville town centre
© GPS 56 on Wikipedia2. Check Out the Art at the Wallace Gallery
Another display of Morrinsville’s creative side is showcased in The Wallace Gallery. The contemporary gallery has five large display areas showing works from local New Zealand artists. Check out the museum Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Location: 167 Thames Street
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Visit the Morrinsville Museum
Learn more about that dairy industry history that the town holds so dearly to at the fantastic Morrinsville Museum. Not only will you learn about one of New Zealand’s largest industries through a short film and dairy farming machinery through the ages, but you’ll also get the chance to learn about life in Morrinsville as a soldier settlement, and through education and medical displays. The 1873 McDonald Cottage is also a highlight giving you an insight into early settler life.
Location: 41 Canada Street
© pxhere4. Stop by One of the Quirky Cafes
If you’re looking for a place to stop for a bite to eat while road tripping around the North Island, then make it Morrinsville! You won’t regret it once you see the array of characterful cafes. Try the American-style Malibu Diner, The Crazee Cow Cafe behind one of the town’s cows, or Cafe Frock – a boutique meets cafe run by a local fashion designer.
Location: Thames Street
© Pexels5. Take a Trip to Te Aroha or Matamata
The great thing about Morrinsville is that it’s located in the middle of more of Waikato towns, each with their own charms. Try the nearby Edwardian spa town of Te Aroha or “real Middle Earth” at Matamata, where The Lord of the Rings was filmed. Get more inspiration from our 11 Things to Do in Matamata (That Doesn’t Involve Hobbits) and 6 Fun Things to Do in Te Aroha.
Location: Te Aroha is 21km (13 miles) from Morrinsville. Matamata is 33km (20.5 miles) from Morrinsville.
© NZPocketGuide.comMore Things to Do Near Morrinsville
- 6 Hauraki Rail Trail Towns You Can’t Miss
- 5 Fun Things to Do in Paeroa
- North Island in Two Weeks: New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary
That’s it for the best things to do in Morrinsville. Find more activities for your travels in the 51 Best Things to Do on the North Island.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Hamilton (Regional tourism website)
- Hamilton City Council (Local council website)
- Hamilton & Waikato Visitor Information (Regional tourism website)
- Waikato Regional Council (Local council website)
- Waikato District Council (Local council website)
- Matamata NZ (Regional tourism website)
- Matamata-Piako District Council (Local council website)
- South Waikato District Council (Local council website)
- Waipā District Council (Local council website)
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