Lake in village of Hobbitville on Lord of the Rings film set.

Matt Munro

Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

Verdant rolling hills line New Zealand’s mighty Waikato River, and adrenaline junkies can surf at Raglan, or undertake extreme underground pursuits in the extraordinary Waitomo Caves.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Glow worms cast blue light from the rocky ceiling of Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

    Glowworm Cave

    Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

    The guided tour of the Glowworm Cave, which is behind the visitor centre, leads past impressive stalactites and stalagmites into a large cavern known as…

  • Gold Discovery Centre at Waihi, New Zealand.

    Gold Discovery Centre

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Waihi’s superb Gold Discovery Centre tells of the area’s gold-mining past, present and future through interactive displays, focusing on personal and…

  • Te Awamutu Museum

    Te Awamutu Museum

    Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

    Te Awamutu Museum has a superb collection of Māori taonga (treasures) and an excellent display on the Waikato War. The highlight is the revered Te Uenuku …

  • Goldmine Experience

    Goldmine Experience

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Walk through a mine tunnel, watch a stamper battery crush rock, learn about the history of the Cornish miners and try your hand at panning for gold…

  • Lost Spring

    Lost Spring

    Coromandel Peninsula

    This expensive but intriguing Disney-meets-Polynesia thermal complex comprises a series of hot pools in a lush jungle-like setting complete with an…

  • School of Mines & Mineralogical Museum

    School of Mines & Mineralogical Museum

    Coromandel Peninsula

    The Historic Places Trust runs tours of these buildings, which house an extensive collection of NZ rocks, minerals and fossils. The oldest section (1868)…

  • Cathedral Cove in Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand.

    Cathedral Cove

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Beautiful Cathedral Cove, with its famous gigantic stone arch and natural waterfall shower, is best enjoyed early or late in the day – avoiding the worst…

  • Rangiaowhia

    Rangiaowhia

    Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

    Before the Waikato invasion, Rangiaowhia (5km east of Te Awamutu on Rangiaowhia Rd; ask at the i-SITE for directions) was a thriving Māori farming town,…

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Film

It's going to be easier than ever to visit Hobbiton in New Zealand

Nov 29, 2019 • 1 min read

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Beyond Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula
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