Kawakawa

Considered the gateway to the Bay of Islands this small town is known affectionately as 'train town' for the train line running through the centre of the town, the reason being Kawakawa was once a distribution hub for local coal mines.
A rather strange attraction to add to anyone's itinerary are the public toilets. This is the only building in the southern hemisphere designed by the famed Austrian artist Frederick Hundertwasser. About 5 km south are the Kawiti glow-worm caves at Waiomio.