Just over an hour south of Auckland you enter the Hamilton & Waikato region; a land of lush verdant pasture where the fertile soils and reliable rainfall have made this the centre of the dairy industry.
New Zealands fourth largest city of Hamilton, boasts stunning parks, gardens and river walks. The Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, winds its way through the city and with abundant
accommodation, and a popular nightlife and restaurant scene. Hamilton provides a perfect base for exploring the wider region too.
If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, drive east to Matamata and visit Hobbiton Movie Set , the village created for the movies, or if surfing is more your style, then Raglan is the perfect spot for you with one of the longest left hand breaks in the world. For a different underground experience, drive south to the Waitomo Caves where the natural beauty of stalactites and stalagmites lit by the blue light of glowworms will take your breath away; or for those seeking more of an adrenalin rush, the blackwater rafting and abseiling are not to be missed.
Hamilton & Waikato is also a place of fierce and proud history where the Maori Land Wars were fought and the Kingitanga (Maori King) movement was formed. Visit the historic places and museums and you will see the stories first hand.
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