Festival road trip: Auckland to WOMAD, Taranaki

Weekend magazine

23 Feb, 2018 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Len Lye Centre.

WOMAD is one big gluttonous feast for the ears and eyes.

With more than 30 performers in three days, from big to unfamiliar names, you might see Indian sutta players, Vietnamese DJs, Korean pop dancers, African tongue clickers and Brazilian flamenco bands. There's 80 foodstalls , and it's set in spectacular gardens where you can wander into workshops and a wellness zone.

It's a universally good time for all ages. Here are road trip suggestions from Auckland to the 'Naki.

1 Red Shed Palazzo

Get your coffee fix here. They won best rural cafe last year.

64 Jesmond Rd, Karaka. Open from 8.30am. Pull off SH1 exit 461 to Drury.

2 Ngaruawahia Hakarimata Rail Track Leg Stretch

The 40-minute walk follows the route of the old Massey railway, where in 1933, a train careered off the track into the stream and the driver sacrificed his life to save others.

Waingaro Road, off Hakarimata Rd.

3 Duck Island Ice Cream Parlour

Best thing out of The Tron. Duck Island make batches of icecream with 18 flavours and dairy-free options.

300a Grey St, Hamilton East.

4 Tree Church in Ohaupo

Yes it's a church made out of trees with a grass floor and marble altar! Turn up with $15 to marvel at it.

119 West Rd, Ohaupo.

5 Waitomo Glow Worms

What better way to get your head into a trippy festy state than seeing thousands of tiny creatures radiating luminescent light from their backsides? A 45-minute detour will give you good glow worm action.

39 Waitomo Village Rd, Otorohanga.

6 Mike's Tasting Room

Stop at Mike's and let his good range of ales and lagers soothe you. If it's sunny the vast lawn would rival Gatsby, in a 'Naki kind of way.

487 Mokau Rd.

7 Len Lye

Make time for the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Len Lye Centre. It's free and mind-blowing. If you don't, then head to Public Catering Company, grab a gelato, and wander 100m to the foreshore to see Lye's mighty Wind Wand, and the Waving Wands 1.5km along the walkway. On the way home, stop at Tongaporutu where you can marvel at the Three Sisters and Elephant Rocks.