The Waikato area is full of activities, unfortunately paying. As we are not especially fond of these particularly expensive tourist attractions we will not talk here about surf lessons at Raglan (the beaches of Auckland are also beautiful), glow worms of the Waitomo Caves (it is possible to see many caves for free), the Otorohanga Bird House or the Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain.
On the other hand, we admit we have been succumbing, despite everything, to the tourist attraction ⇒ Hobbiton ⇐ in Matamata but we will not miss to make you discover our itinerary as we lived it on the roads course.

Hamilton

We were not necessarily thrilled by this big city that doesn’t seem particularly interesting, but since it was on our way, it cost nothing to stop there.

Waikato museum

We particularly enjoyed the free and unexpected visit of the Waikato museum, located on the shores of the same named river, which offers a mix of ancient and contemporary collections around the local culture. Between interactions, sounds and lights and ephemeral exhibitions we were pleasantly surprised by the space and the richness of the place. In addition, we had the chance to attend an event, a concert of one hour of acoustic guitar on the Hungarian culture, we had a very pleasant time here.
Right next door, don’t hesitate to visit ArtsPost Maori Contemporary Art Gallery, just for eyes pleasure.

Rotoroa lake

For nature and walks, we first stopped on the perfectly setted surroundings of Rotoroa lake. Here, nothing very memorable, but the walk is easy and pleasant, all the way is perfectly accessible to all, so it’s possible to go around the lake observing the many birds. There is also a recreation area, a café and many picnic tables.

Hamilton gardens

Finally, we ended with the discovery of botanical gardens. There, hidden on the shores of the Waikato River, stands the small jewel of the city. In a green setting, the visit takes us into a mix of art and fantasy subtly disseminated through the staging of different spaces. From the Japanese garden, to the Italian style, through India and the vegetable garden, it’s a magnificent work that has been realized and remains proudly maintained. A free visit that is well worth a look, certainly the must of the city.

Te waihou blue springs

South of Matamata, we made a small detour to see the famous blue water springs of Waihou River. To go there we chose to take the hiking path along the river, but it’s possible to reach it faster by the “leslie road”. It’s a pretty, wide and clean walk that crosses pastures and bush, without difficulty, to reach the underground spring cradle. It’s at this point that the eyes are attracted by the clear blue of this limpid water contrasting perfectly with the green algae and the external environment. For sure a nice and peaceful time.

Wairere falls

At the Bay of Plenty border, the Waierere falls are as imposing by their height as by the power of the water which falls heavily over a vertiginous distance. It takes 45 minutes walk from the car park to reach the first viewpoint which is about halfway up the falls and which, unfortunately, only gives a distant glimpse of their immensity.

For 45 minutes more, take the effort to reach the top of the waterfall at 153m high, by a steep path, sometimes equipped with stairs, to achieve a breathtaking view of the entire plain down below.

A discovery that we appreciated, even if we regret the fact of not seeing the falls in itself more closely. This remains a beautiful spot and a hike punctuated with bridges and trails quite pleasant.

Kerosene Creek

South of Rotorua, on the road to Taupo, give yourself a dip at Kerozene Creek in its free hot pools! You have to take a gravel track for a few kilometers and reach the end to find the parking. From here, you are about 5 minutes walk from the first hot water pools then, you can slip into the troubled water and enjoy a bath with the smell of sulfur. It’s good for the skin, health, and it’s 100% natural.

However, remember to avoid putting your head under water. Bacterias that grow in this hot water can become infectious in contact with mucous membranes, so avoid diving.

Mud pool

A few miles after Kerozen Creek, it’s possible to go to New Zealand’s largest bubbling mud pool. A well-appointed place where it’s nice to stop few minutes to appreciate the sounds, smells and the sight of these small explosive and clay bubbles. We recommend the 5 minutes photo break, just for the pleasure of observing the phenomenon.

Huka falls

To the north of Taupo, don’t miss the visit of the Huka Falls, right next to the parking area these falls are really worth to stop there. They represent a perfect harmony of beauty and power that can only force admiration. The river flows in a narrow gorge between two rocks before falling from a low height, but the speed that the water takes in this passage and its flow makes the phenomenon spectacularly powerful. Added to this the rapid and deep oxygenation of this water which makes it a light blue almost turquoise. A very nice spot where you can also take the start of two walks from 40 minutes to 2 hours.

Taupo

The city of Taupo and its beautiful environment make it a tourism hot spot in the North Island. Privileged destination of the locals, there is a multitude of activities with varied interests, enough to satisfy all tastes and the whole family from young to old. Swimming or boating on the beautiful natural lake, rafting, hiking, skiing, skydiving, spa, brewery, restaurant …This is the nerve center of this area and where we find the daily supply points and shops. It’s also from here that some excursions start and where you can book many activities including  on the Tongariro national park located 1:15 away.

 Tongariro Naional Park

Alpine crossing

No one can leave Taupo area without hiking on Mount Tongariro treck. We made this walk before the car parks were limited to 4 hours of parking, so we chose to make the round trip without taking a shuttle service.

This restriction makes the use of official shuttles mandatory, it will take 30$ * per person to embark on this wonderful hike.

Between landscapes of lava stones, waterfall, red crater, snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes and deserted plains, this hike is a must on the North Island. A breathtaking landscape that is well worth all the efforts of the ascent.
We first go through Mount Ngauruhoe, better known as the Lord of the Rings’s Mount Doom , beautiful and often snow-capped, then we find ourselves at the top of Mount Tongariro with its red crater and the emerald lakes that appear on its other side base. Finally we arrive at the blue lake so pure and so peaceful, it is on its banks, sheltered from the wind, that we took our picnic before turning back to join our vehicle.
We started this hike at 8am and enjoyed perfect weather without any clouds on the horizon which allowed us to enjoy the view on Taupo and its lake as much as Mount Taranaki, also snowy, located on the west coast.

Count between 6h30 and 8h to overcome this beautiful hike with magical landscapes. In addition, check the weather and DOC information regarding these two volcanoes that, let’s not forget, are still active !

 Tama lakes

In addition to the fabulous Tongariro hike, we chose to start the Tama Lakes hike during an other day. This one goes through desert expanses, by the waterfall of Taranaki and its river to finish on the high and low Tama lakes.The path can sometimes seem long in this indolent scenery but it passes between Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom), and the majestic Mount Ruapehu which offers magnificent views of these summits. In addition to the environment, the Lord of the Rings fans will appreciate to be on the shooting place of all the Mordor‘s scenes. Real hobbits seeking for adventure !