Totara accommodation from NZ$95

25 kilometres from the centre of Totara is the Westwind Homestay B & B. The Coastal Motor Lodge is situated 6 kilometres away. The Avalon Motel Thames, as well as the Tuscany on Thames, are two other recommended options in Totara.

You'd be a flamin' galah to leave Totara without exploring all the other fabulous attractions on offer in North Island. Check out the art museums, nature museums and history museums in North Island, or simply head off and admire the area's beaches, coastal plains, forests and rivers. In this part of New Zealand, tourists can also enjoy snowboarding, skiing and tobogganing.

Looking for things to do? Spend the day discovering the Goldfields Shopping Centre, Thames Historical Museum and Butterfly and Orchid Garden, which you'll find in Thames, 4 kilometres to the northeast of Totara. Thames hotels are the Nightingale Falls Farmstay Retreat and Rolleston Motel. Alternatively, you could stay in Pauanui, 30 kilometres to the northeast of Totara, where you'll find the Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort and Sunlover Retreat. If you're staying in Pauanui, be sure to explore the Pauanui Beach, Opoutere Beach and Mount Maungaruawahine.

If you are into sports and want to watch games, you might decide to head to Eden Park, which is 80 kilometres to the northwest of Totara. The Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour and the Quest on Beaumont are good options if you want to really get into your sport.

Auckland International Airport is the most practical airport for arriving in Totara and is 70 kilometres drive from the centre of town. If you plan to stay nearby, try the Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport or the Airport Gateway Hotel.