Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton: Central North Island Road Trip

Hamilton is perhaps the most underrated city in Aotearoa New Zealand to visit. Definitely not overcrowded with plenty of space to breathe deeply. Hamilton is New Zealand’s River City.

Visitors tend to scoot through Hamilton on their way to Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves. Hamilton’s trump card is the majestic Waikato River. A grand sweep of water, waterways and verdant green is the city’s calling card. The temptation to slip outdoors and explore the fabulous river walks makes Hamilton a great destination.

One minute at a cafe next weaving your way through the quiet of the Waikato River walks. Green spaces galore, water and waterways Hamilton and its pastoral economy provide a great foil for visitors to relax and enjoy a city where the countryside has been invited into the urban spaces.

Hamilton Travel Guide

From Port Waikato the road follows the west coast. It is 113 km to your next destination. Raglan is New Zealand’s original surf town, Raglan. Surfing culture in Raglan has embraced wanderlust as a town motto. Testing yourself against the surf is one of the top things to do in town.

Yet Raglan is more than a surf beach destination there is a thriving art scene supported by local weekend visitors, burgeoning food scene with locally sourced ingredients creating a culinary hit with visitors as well as stunning scenery.

Landscapes range from west coast surf beaches to inland spectacular waterfalls and quiet gravel roads leading to towns steeped in the history of New Zealand.

Raglan Travel Guide

Kawhia is quintessential coastal New Zealand with family owned fishing vessels tied up to the local wharf. Camp sites nestled under trees in sight of the sea and sand.

Make time for a special place where a remote iron sand beach yields natural hot pools at low tide. Ocean beach or hot water beach with its iron black sand dunes is an exercise in fortitude as you trudge over the soft hot iron sands exposed to the elements in search of warm bubbling geothermal water. It’s worth the effect.

The West Coast beach is all about drama. Thundering waves on an ocean beach and hardly a soul present. At low tide, spade in hand dig for the thermal Te Puia Springs to seep into your impromptu spa pool.

Kawhia Travel Guide

From Kawhia the route slips inland to the funky town Otorohanga. A town celebrating kiwiana is an amusing place for kids and all age groups. Hokey

Pokey ice cream is a favourite with dairy next door to sample the real thing. For lovers of native birds Otorohanga Kiwi House has guided daily tours to spot our elusive kiwis and detailed kids sheets to keep everyone entertained.

The town is pretty with a streetscape framed with floral hanging baskets.

What’s So Great about Otorohanga

Waitomo Caves is a bucket list destination for many overseas visitors. Tourism posters and visuals invariably have Waitomo Caves as a must go visitor attraction.

Here’s your chance to check out the action. Adrenaline fuelled underwater adventure or a leisurely cruise on an underground river Waitomo offers choices on how to experience the massive underground geological wonder.

Waitomo nearby offers visitors epic short walks, waterfalls found at the end of mossy fern gullies and extraordinary examples of ingenious ideas from tunnels to access a beach to a town celebrating all things kiwana.

Find out what makes the place one of New Zealand’s internationally renowned tourist attractions. Captivating Waitomo is not just a subterranean cave rather it’s a lush, natural world weaving holiday magic for over 150 years and counting.

More about Waitomo Caves

From the Waitomo Caves it is a short hop to the heart of the Waikato and Cambridge.

Cambridge, charming, picturesque and packed with choices for the most discerning visitor, quietly slumbers in the Waikato countryside. Cambridge is a great place to base yourself while exploring the best the Waikato has to offer. Cambridge is pretty, perhaps it’s the glorious mature deciduous trees or the glimmer of Lake Karapiro and the rolling hills.

There is the history of the place, 800 years and counting for historical buffs to wander through, natural wilderness areas where possums are defeated by the Great Wall of Sanctuary Mountain and enough energetic sports activities to tire out any kid.

Things to Do in Cambridge

Fans of Lord of the Rings, fantasy lovers and readers of Tolkien’ s Lord of the Rings series have Hobbiton, a film set for the hobbits and Peter Jackson’s imaginative interpretation of the classic novel Lord of Rings is less than an hour from Tauranga.

There is plenty to do and see nearby, enjoy planning the day and check out the small towns in the vicinity of Hobbiton.

More about Hobbiton Attraction