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Paeroa is "World Famous in New Zealand" for the 7 metre high L&P bottle situated at the southern end of town. But this is not
all that this rural town has going for it.
Originally mapped out in the 1870's, Paeroa started its life as a thriving port as it is located along the Waihou and Ohinemuri
Rivers. Because of its location by the rivers, which were the only access inland, Paeroa quickly grew into a well-known port
settlement and supply centre. Gold was discovered in Ohinemuri in the early 1870's, drawing hundreds of gold miners to the town.
With railway lines been opened Auckland in 1895 and Thames in 1898, the town became a distribution centre for the surrounding area.
Paeroa is home to therapeutic spring water discovered around the 1900's, and with the addition of lemon it became known as Lemon
and Paeroa, New Zealand's first soft drink. The soft drink was made in Paeroa until 1980, when the Innes Scheppes factory closed
down.
Paeroa is now a junction of three State Highways, connecting the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the Waikato. It has also become
a service centre for the surrounding farming area and is known as the antique town of New Zealand. February is known as FebFest,
with lots of events been held in Paeroa during the month, including the Battle of the Streets.
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