Location Description

Putaruru is situated southeast of Hamilton on State Highway 1, between the towns of Tirau (10 kilometres away) and Tokoroa (23 kilometres away). An attractive town with an active community, its economy is based on the dairy and timber industries and their infrastructures.

Putaruru has all essential services, but is also within an hour of Taupo, Rotorua, Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Cambridge & Matamata.

Putaruru is situated where it is today for three reasons: farming, forestry and tourism. Along with forestry and pastoral farming, the largest cheese factory and new whey plant in the Southern Hemisphere is located halfway between Putaruru and Tokoroa at Lichfield. Putaruru also boasts the 'best drinking water in New Zealand'. It is bottled locally and sold all over the country and is exported.

Tirau is the 'Antiques Centre' of the Waikato offereing 14 cafes and food outlets.

Visitors Centre

Putaruru Information Centre
75 Tirau Street
Putaruru
Phone: (07) 883 7284
Fax: (07) 883 7284

Attractions

Water sports and trout fishing are available in nearby lakes and spring-fed streams. There is an attractive walkway along the Te Waihou River, which is also well known for its trout fishing.

Facilities

Putaruru's restaurants include:

• Putaruru Cafe
  (07) 883 7794

• The Pizza Barn
  (07) 883 3767

• Crazy Cow Cafe
  (07) 883 3241

• Canton Takeaways
  (07) 883 8736

• Night Owl Restaurant & Takeaway
  (07) 883 7202

Transport

There is no internal bus service in Putaruru.

• Intercity Coachlines provides an inter-city service.
  (07) 883 8115

• Guthreys
  Rotorua/Auckland daily and return to Tirau

The nearest taxi service is in Tokoroa.
Tokoroa Taxis
(07) 886 6099

Community

• Putaruru Toy Library
  (07) 883 3484

• Putaruru District Services Memorial Club
  (07) 883 8591

• Duke Street Medical Centre
  (07) 883 3965

Pre-Schools

Putaruru's early childhood facilities include:

• Charles Crescent Kindergarten
  (07) 883 7240

• Glenshea Street Kindergarten
  (07) 883 8503

• Abbeys Place
  (07) 883 3293

• In addition, there are about a dozen preschool facilities in Tokoroa, 23 kilometres away.

Primary Schools

Putaruru's primary schools are:

• Putaruru Primary School
  (07) 883 7166

• St Marys Catholic School
  (07) 883 7109

• Lichfield School
  (07) 883 6816

• Te Waotu School
  (07) 883 2815

Secondary Schools

The intermediate/secondary school in Putaruru is:

• Putaruru College
  (07) 883 8323

Tertiary Schools

The nearest tertiary institutions are:

• Waiariki Institute of Technology
  Tokoroa
  (07) 886 5469

• University of Waikato
  Hamilton
  (07) 856 2889

• Waikato Polytechnic
  Hamilton
  (07) 834 8888

• Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
  Tauranga
  (07) 544 0920

• Tauranga University College
  (07) 577 0620

Sport

• Putaruru Golf Club
  (07) 883 8231

• Putaruru Bowling Club
  (07) 883 8333

• Putaruru Rugby Football Club
  (07) 883 8020

• Putaruru Squash Rackets Club
  (07) 883 7691

• Putaruru also has gymnastics, junior touch, netball, pony, badminton, swimming and football clubs.

• Tokoroa has a YMCA (07) 886 8737 and a Skateworld (07) 886 9607.