Town mascot: Timber mill saw blades, to acknowledge the town's strong timber and milling heritage.
Royal subjects: The Putaruru Hotel is a striking building. When it was being built in the 1950s, a rumour went around that the Queen might stay there during her visit to New Zealand in 1953. So, The Queen's Room was specially created - only she never stopped in and the closest her Royal Highness came was waving from the train as it tooted through town. Although HRH never slept there, commoners can be accommodated in the room to this day.
Famous locals: Grant Fox (rugby), Gareth Morgan (cat lover), Wayne Smith (rugby), Lorraine Moller (runner) Sir Henry van der Heyden (captain of industry), Penny Ainsley (NZ hairdresser of the year, 2011).
Legendary local: Roy Stuart creates stunning wooden surfboards - hang one (or 10) on your wall and call it art or surf on it, it's up to you. Check out roystuart.biz.
Best website: putaruru.co.nz.
Big business: Farming and agricultural suppliers, water bottling plants and world-class rest homes.
Source of pride: Putaruru is a genuinely warm community, friendly and welcoming.
Town fiestas: The A&P Show and Water Festival combine to make a great day of entertainment, competitions, food, woodchopping events, rides, displays and farm animals, and the pool stays open until 6pm so expect plenty of splashing about. The Generator Multi Sport event (April) is a well-attended race while The Taniwha (November) along the Waikato River Trails gets bigger every year.
Here for a short time: Visit Over the Moon Cheese and find out why they win so many local and international awards.
Best reason to stop: To fill your water bottle at the fountain in the centre of town. Talk about pure. Something like 70 per cent of New Zealand's bottled water comes from Putaruru.
Best place to take kids: The Jim Barnett Bush Reserve and Te Waihou Walkway both have plenty of pleasant tracks.
Best park: Putaruru Water Park - smack bang in the middle of town, this is the perfect spot for a break, with a cafe and a food court next door.
Best playground: At Overdale St, you'll find jungle gyms, swings and slides.
Best walk: Te Waihou and Blue Spring Walkway is enchanting. Originating in the Kaimai Ranges, the water is estimated to have been underground for over 100 years. Gushing out at 11C, it's crystal clear and crisply cold. Enjoy a 90-minute walk from Whites Rd or a 10-minute walk from Leslie Rd.
Best view: The viewing platform at The Blue Spring. You have to do this.
Best place to pull over: Stop for a picnic at Te Waihou Walkway entrance on Whites Rd.
Best swim: The waterhole at Te Waihou Stream - the water's what you'd call bracing but oh so flipping invigorating at the aforementioned 11C.
Best museums: Putaruru Timber Museum is genuinely interesting, with impressive old logging equipment and a handful of gorgeous relocated historic buildings. Tirau Museum, 6km down the road is also worth a look-see as much for its treasures as Geoff Earnest, the fellow who runs it, who is engaging and knowledgeable.
Nice arts: The region is bursting with talented souls. Courthouse Arts and Crafts sells local artisans' paintings, knitwear and carvings. Artistic Flair sells interesting goods. Putaruru Pavement Art is comprised of 32 mosaic tiles laid around the town - seek them out.
Top shop: Over the Moon Cheese. Not only can you buy cheese, you can do also cheese-making classes.
Bargain hunters: Putaruru has a handful of super second-hand shops, all of them bursting with treasures.
Cream of the coffee: The Crazy Cow (30 Tirau Street) and The Wooden Farmer are fab, while further down the road in Arapuni Village you'll find the delightful Rhubarb Cafe.
Baked: Bev's Delights for yummy pies and scones so big they've got their own postcode.
Best food: For fine dining, Te Waihou Bistro at Putaruru Hotel will have you raving about the food. The Wooden Farmer is more relaxed and serves generous portions. For something more casual the food court in the old Post Office serves Thai Indian, pizza and really good sushi.
Wet your whistle: Putaruru Hotel, with its beautiful front entrance and sweeping staircase, is a great spot for a beverage, plus you can stay the night.
Best mountain biking: Waikato River Trails is 100km of pedalling along the river, through forests, even over a swing bridge. Or go to Tokoroa to Cougar Mountain Biking Park, 35km of cross-country trails for beginners to intermediates.
Best adventure: Waikato River Trails, part of Nga Haerenga - the NZ Cycle Trail, has so much to recommend it. Graded 1-3, you can spread it out over four days if you're not in a hurry, or walk it.
Wildlife: Within 20km you'll find 20 rivers teeming with rainbow and brown trout. Drive 20 minutes to Maungatautari (Sanctuary Mountain) to wander through this predator-free bird sanctuary - 3400ha teeming with life. Jim Barnett Bush Reserve on Waotu South Rd is also fab for birds and bush.
Safety warnings: Do not attempt a U-turn on SH1.
Visitors say: "This water's amazing; if only you could bottle it."
Locals: "Oh, but we do."
Thanks to Glyn Wooller from the local i-Site and Waikato River Trails for being such an enthusiastic ambassador.
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