If you have ever wondered what the longest place name in the world is, the answer lies in the rolling green hills of New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region. The official name is 85 letters long, and most travelers simply call it Taumata Hill.
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
Near Porangahau in Hawke’s Bay is an unassuming hill known for being the place with the longest name ever.
Many visitors stop at this spot just to photograph the famous sign marking the Place With The Longest Name in the World.
Now I don’t know about you, but I have tried and I simply gave up halfway in. How do you pronounce it? Let us give you a link to a fun way to learn the name: Click here but remember to come back to this page to discover a bit more…
Pronouncing the Place With The Longest Name in the World is almost a challenge in itself, and locals are always happy to demonstrate.
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu – (in total 85 letters and known also as Te Taumata for short) – is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest place name.
Tau-mata | whaka-tangi-hanga | ko-au-au | o-Tamatea | turi-pukaka | piki-maunga | horo-nuku | pokai-whenua | ki-tana-tahu
HELPFUL HINT: Say it slowly, one chunk at a time. Māori is largely phonetic, so each vowel is pronounced clearly.
Country: New Zealand
“After a battle in which his brother was killed, Tamatea is said to have stayed on the hill for several days, playing a mournful tune on his kōauau each morning in remembrance.” If you think about it this way, the name suddenly becomes far more than a geography record — it becomes a place of memory, grief, and music.
Therefore please be respectful when you visit this site.
You are not standing in a crowded attraction; you are standing in a real landscape where a Māori story has been carried through generations and preserved in the name of the hill itself.
This hill is known as “Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu“, which translates into English as “the place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as ‘landeater’, played his flute to his loved one.” Locals simply call it Taumata Hill.
Most people do not drive to Pōrangahau just to look at a sign. They come for the delight of encountering something wonderfully unexpected: a quiet country road, rolling green hills, and a place name that seems to have no end. The sign is long enough that visitors often walk from one end to the other while reading it aloud, laughing as they lose their place halfway through.
On a clear day, the surrounding farmland stretches toward the Pacific Ocean, and the hill itself feels far removed from the usual tourist circuit. That contrast is what makes the stop memorable.
Despite its grand title, the Place With The Longest Name in the World sits quietly in open countryside.
To locate the hill, head south from Waipukurau for approximately 55 kilometers, then make a right turn onto Wimbledon Road. Look for a sign with the name about five kilometers along this road.
The sign offers a fantastic chance for photos.
Keep in mind that the actual site itself is on private property, so make sure to obtain permission before walking there.
TRAVEL TIP: Because this spot is located on private farmland in rural Hawke’s Bay, so don’t expect a big visitor centre or facilities.
Combine your stop with a scenic drive through the rolling hills or a visit to nearby wineries to make the journey truly worthwhile.
Pōrangahau, lies in the southernmost part of Hawke’s Bay, 45 kilometers south of Waipukurau, and close to the mouth of the Porangahau River.
The famous hill with the world’s longest place name is the main attraction, but the surrounding countryside is one of the loveliest parts of southern Hawke’s Bay. Rolling farmland, quiet rivers, vineyards, and dramatic coastal scenery make it easy to turn a quick photo stop into a full day of exploring.
Pōrangahau is the nearest settlement to Taumata Hill and sits close to the mouth of the Pōrangahau River. It is about 45 km south of Waipukurau and has a small-town rural atmosphere that feels far removed from the busier tourist routes.
Waipukurau is the nearest larger town and is the best place to find fuel, supermarkets, restaurants, and accommodation. Many travelers use it as a base for exploring southern Hawke’s Bay.
The wider Hawke’s Bay region is famous for its vineyards, orchards, and award-winning wineries. If you enjoy wine tasting, consider adding a stop at one of the cellar doors around Hastings or Havelock North after visiting Taumata Hill.
Te Mata Peak is about 1 hour 40 minutes by car from Taumata Hill. The summit offers sweeping views across vineyards, farmland, and the Pacific coastline, with several walking and hiking trails for different fitness levels.
A little farther north, Napier is well worth the drive. The city is internationally known for its Art Deco architecture, rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake, and has excellent cafés, galleries, and a scenic waterfront promenade.
Cape Kidnappers is famous for its large gannet colony and towering coastal cliffs. Guided tours by tractor or 4WD are popular and give access to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.
Standing beside the famous sign, with farmland stretching toward the horizon, it becomes clear that this is more than a world record. It is a place where language, legend, and landscape come together in a way that turns a simple roadside stop into a story you will be telling long after your New Zealand journey has ended.
Something more to read: Unique and Unusual places to stay in the world…