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Waikato

Best timeAny time of year works.
Getting thereHamilton is about one and a half hours' drive south of Auckland.
Main townsHamilton, Cambridge, Raglan, Matamata, Waitomo, Taupō

Green rolling farmland, glowworm caves and a surf town with a world-famous left-hand break: the Waikato is easy to reach from Auckland and makes a great first stop heading south.

Highlights

  • Waitomo Caves Boat rides under thousands of glowworms, or black-water rafting through the caves.
  • Hobbiton Movie Set The Shire film set on a working farm near Matamata. Book ahead.
  • Raglan A relaxed surf town with a long left-hand point break and good cafés.
  • Hamilton Gardens Themed gardens from around the world, free to enter.
  • Lake Taupō New Zealand’s largest lake, with Huka Falls, trout fishing and hot pools nearby.

Best time to go

Any time of year works. Summer is best for Raglan and Lake Taupō; the caves are the same temperature all year, so they are a good rainy-day plan.

Getting there

Hamilton is about one and a half hours’ drive south of Auckland. Taupō is about three and a half hours from Auckland. There are flights into Hamilton and Taupō.

Main towns

Hamilton, Cambridge, Raglan, Matamata, Waitomo, Taupō

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