Kawakawa

New Zealand

Kawakawa is a very small town in the north of the North Island. It only has a population of around 1400 people, so why would you want to stop here? Basically to visit the public toilets. No, I am not kidding, you seriously will thank you for my recommendation of visiting the public toilets of Kawakawa.

Kawakawa Toilets

The Kawakawa toilet block with its ceramic columns, garden roof and curving, colourful exuberance has put the Northland town on the international tourist route.

It was designed by Friedrick Hundertwasser, an internationally renowned architect and ecologist born in Austria in 1928, who settled in Kawakawa in 1975. He encouraged the use of local labour and skills in its construction. Tiles were made by students from local schools, bricks came from local buildings and windows were constructed using old bottles from around the district. It was completed on December 10, 1999.

Where is Kawakawa?

Kawakawa is in the Bay of Island (Northland Region) on State Highway 1. It is just south of Paihia (17km) and Opua (12km) and 55km north of Whangarei.

Just 5km south of Kawakawa you will find the Kawiti glow-worm caves at Waiomio.

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