Waikato: Central North Island road trip

Hamilton, 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.

The holiday spirit is alive and well in Port Waikato. Port Waikato is a seaside town from the establishment of a store in 1893 today the summer destination has a cafe, volunteer fire station, surf lifesaving club, yachting and fishing clubs. The holiday camp is a popular spot for Aucklanders looking for a summer beach break. Fishing, surf cast from the beach for kahawai, or run a long line from the dunes at the river mouth for trevally. Flounder and mullet are also plentiful using drag nets.

Decided to spend a few days in Port Waikato chilling out. Consider a detour to Pukekohe to check out the “city smart, country heart” atmosphere of the Saturday market.

TIP

Commercial growers offload export surplus making this the place for fresh veg and fruit. The thriving country town supports urban style cafes and restaurants with an extensive range of fresh produce at the Saturday morning market.

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. 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.

Kawhai 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.

From Kawhai 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.

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.

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.

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.