Katikati

KATIKATI ACTIVITIES AND TRAVEL | Katikati Information | Katikati Restaurants

Katikati is a town located on the Uretara Stream in the Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand, 40 kilmetres south-east of Tauranga.

There's always something interesting and exciting to do in and around Katikati such as: sea and safe harbour fishing, harbour sailing, water skiing, jet boating, swimming, beach picnicking, shellfish gathering, bush walking, golf and bird watching.

People love to visit Katikati for the arts and crafts culture because many artists use natural resources the area has to offer such as: timber; flax, and mohair wool. Katikati is known as 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 on walls all around the town. The local museum is great place to visit and shows the growth of the town with photographs and displays of artefacts. In the harvest season, roadside shops and stalls are overflowing with fresh and tasty produce.

Whether it's the tastes of the area's renowned horticultural products or spending time strolling the many unique walking tracks, the Katikati area offers something for everyone.

History

Katikati was settled in 1875 by settlers from County Tyrone in Ireland through the Orange Institution. The settlement was established by the Irishman George Vesey Stewart, who led two groups of settlers there aboard the ships Carisbrook Castle (1875) and Lady Jocelyn (1878). The land upon which the town was built was bought from local Maori and was given to the settlers by the Central Government.

The settlement was formed from two distinct groups "the settlers useful and the settlers ornamental" referring to the tenant farmers and those with wealth. The settlement managed to withstand early economic problems and developed into a healthy town, based around farming and agriculture.

Main Towns in the Bay of Plenty Region

Other Towns in the Bay of Plenty Region