Waikato

If you ever read J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or watched the trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, you probably wished that the peaceful, bucolic land of the hobbits was a real place. As it turns, the Shire exists and you can go there! At the Hobbiton Movie Set, you can stroll up to Bag End, drink like a hobbit at the Green Dragon Inn, and walk past hobbit hole after colorful hobbit hole. ...Read more.

Kakepuku Track offers a farm-to-summit trek in Kakepuku Mountain Historic Reserve. The track to the summit of Kakepuku Mountain is 8 kilometers (5 miles) round trip with 407 meters (1,335 feet) of elevation change. A lookout tower atop the 449-meter summit garners round-the-compass views above the treetops. A wooden viewing platform and benches along the track provide spots to relax and look out over the mountain's current surroundings, while panels placed at pa sites around the summit allow visitors to appreciate the Māori past. ...Read more.

Tucked in between the land of hobbits and the land of glowworms, Matariki Motor Lodge offers well-kept accommodations in the quaint town of Te Awamutu on the North Island of New Zealand. The motor lodge is a 40-minute drive from Hobbiton in Matamata to the northeast and 40 minutes from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and other outdoor fun around Waitomo to the southwest. ...Read more.

Above Huka Falls, the Waikato River presses through a ravine of sheer rock cliffs, creating a churning canal of rapids. At the end of this ravine, the water surges out as Huka Falls, where it makes a powerful push into the river below. To see the waterfall and the ravine, visitors can simply walk 200 meters from a car park by Huka Falls. To add a walk along Waikato River to the itinerary, set out on Spa Thermal Park in Taupo. ...Read more.

With scenery that is more verdant than the volcanic landscapes at the center of Tongariro National Park, Lake Rotopounamu Track provides a peaceful walk to a small, forest-cradled lake with inviting beaches. Lake Rotopounamu, which is also know as Greenstone Lake, covers one square kilometer. Lake Rotopounamu Loop Track circles the lake for a hike that's 6. ...Read more.

If you're traveling to New Zealand, see if you can stay at Whakaipo Lodge. The lodge is located at the center of the North Island in a country setting near the shore of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, just outside the charming city of Taupo. This wonderful bed and breakfast-style lodge offers a perfect blend of comfort and luxury and has welcoming owners who can help you take advantage of the area's abundant outdoor opportunities. ...Read more.