January Road Trip, 2011 | Tirau - a lovely little town with huge character

I reckon one of the fun parts of a road trip is the drive itself.  Driving through Tirau en route to the Bay of Plenty, and with no pressing time constraints, we decided to stop to smell the roses.  It's such a lovely little town with huge character.

Tirau may already be imprinted in your mind with images of the huge corrugated iron Sheep and Sheepdog buildings at one end of town.  But it doesn't stop there. 

If take a stroll down the street, you'll find corrugated signs everywhere - from the local 4 Square, to the local florist, clock maker, cafes etc. It has obviously taken a town with vision and collaboration to make happen, and the result is magical.





On the southern outskirts of Tirau is The Castle, an eclectic toy museum created by locals Pamela and Kelvin Baker.  Housed literally in a castle, thousands of old toys and toys spanning decades line glass cabinets. 

From now-banned Golliwogs, to Wombles and Smurfs...it 's a real "launch back into childhood" type moment to walk the corridors.





There was a funny display of some "un-PC" teddy bears playing pool.

Time in right and check out the Tirau Markets held each one Sunday each month.  Or, just several kms out of Tirau stroll around the Tirau Museum - a world of eclectic collections "all things early NZ" from coins, tobacco tins, jars etc. 

They're on the list for next trip!

Tirau is a lovely little town. The coffee is great too!