Te Puke Giant Kiwifruit

Te Puke proudly holds the title of the kiwifruit capital of New Zealand, and standing as a testament to that agricultural legacy is the Giant Kiwifruit. Located at the Kiwi 360 complex, this oversized concrete-and-fibreglass monument pays homage to the fuzzy green fruit that transformed the region's economy and put New Zealand on the global horticultural map.

The structure was built to celebrate the booming kiwifruit industry and serve as an unmissable beacon for travelers navigating the Bay of Plenty. It captures the distinct oval shape and hairy texture of the Hayward kiwifruit variety, albeit scaled up to monstrous proportions, making it one of the country's most beloved 'Big Things' and a quintessential Kiwi road trip photo stop.

Visitors arriving at the site encounter the massive fruit stationed amidst working orchards. Beyond the novelty of posing next to the giant sculpture, the destination offers orchard tours via a trundling 'kiwimobile' that takes guests through the surrounding vines. There is also a retail shop and cafe offering everything from fresh kiwifruit to kiwifruit-infused ice cream and wine, providing a comprehensive immersion into the local crop.

While the attraction leans heavily into roadside kitsch, it also functions as an educational hub detailing the history of the fruit's introduction from China and its subsequent domestication and commercial explosion in New Zealand during the mid-to-late twentieth century.