Hamilton

This horticultural fantasy world began humbly in 1960 when a desolate rubbish dump was passed to Hamilton City Council for development.

During the early 1980s, Dr Peter Sergel set Hamilton Gardens on a pioneering new course. Rather than concentrating on botany, he suggested building a theatrical collection of gardens from around the world, charting the evolution of garden design and planting over centuries of horticultural history.

Fifty years on and Hamilton Gardens now covers 54 hectares with more than twenty gardens and walks to experience. These beautiful recreations include everything from ornate Italian, Tudor and Japanese gardens, to resourceful Kitchen, Herb and Te Parapara production gardens.

Walking around Hamilton Gardens is educational, entertaining and relaxing and you will soon see why it won the prestigious Garden of the Year award at the International Garden Tourism Awards!

With beautiful driving roads, a strong import market and a resourceful "number-eight wire" fix-it-don't-ditch-it attitude, it is unsurprising that New Zealand is home to many of the world's most desirable and defining classic cars.

Built up from a personal collection of cars and motoring memorabilia, the Classics Museum in Hamilton celebrates automobile history and the spirit of freedom it brought by recreating those glorious colourful days when cars brought liberation.

With over 100 cars and an authentic '50s American Diner serving classic food to excellent modern standards, the Classic Museum is a must-do activity in Hamilton for all ages.

With more than 25 hectares of lush, green, peaceful surroundings to roam and 600 native and exotic animals on show, Hamilton Zoo is a full day's fun.

For that extra-special day out, you can enjoy hands-on entertainment through the zoo's Meet the Keeper and Face2Face experiences. These encounters provide an in-depth look at how the animals are cared for at the zoo, with opportunities to feed and pet select animals.

The zoo is open from 9:30 to 16:30 every day of the week and is located on the northeastern boundary of the city, a couple of kilometres from the city centre.

Covering everything from regional and international history to science, art and culture, the award-winning Waikato Museum will give you detailed insights and background into the region and plenty more.

At 425km long, the Waikato River is New Zealand's longest and most important river. Starting on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, the river merges with the Tongariro River, feeds through Lake Taupo, descends Huka Falls, pools into several more lakes as it passes through King Country, then meanders through Cambridge and Hamilton before finally emptying into the Tasman Sea midway between Hamilton and Auckland.

This incredible course has made the Waikato River historically very important, providing waterborne transport from New Zealand's timber-rich interior to the sea for exportation. With so much history and so many stories taking place on and around the river, there is no better way to learn about Hamilton and Waikato than by travelling along this mighty waterway.

Waikato River Explorer runs 90-minute cruises exploring the river. Departing from Hamilton Gardens, the Waikato River Explorer combines perfectly with a wander around Hamilton's famous gardens.

Hamilton has an extensive network of walking and cycling paths and trails that follow the river. There is nothing easier than hiring a bike or a motorised e-Bike and exploring the city's tranquil riverside paths and parks for an afternoon of leisurely bliss.

You won't need a map, as the pathways run alongside the river throughout the length of the city. On the western bank, the path is continuous, while the trails on the eastern bank link with Hamilton Gardens, Memorial Park and Munro's Walkway. The city's seven bridges enable you to zigzag from side-to-side easily and explore the full extent of this beautiful cycle network.

Hobbiton is one of New Zealand's top attractions, drawing Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans from around the world. But you don't need to be a fan of the films to enjoy a tour around this charming film set. The effort invested in recreating an entire tiny village from the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien, complete with village inn and idyllic lake, is enormously impressive. Regardless of whether you have seen or enjoyed the films, the Hobbiton film set provides a fascinating insight into the incredible lengths film production companies undertake to create the perfect shot.

Hobbiton tours are guided and incredibly organised, allowing everyone to enjoy an authentic experience of The Shire's peace and tranquillity. As you walk around the perfect little world, it is easy to believe little Hobbits are sitting inside their tiny homes and may pop out any moment to say hello.

Your guide will fill you in on the canny techniques Peter Jackson and his crew used to create the illusion of Hobbits being tiny. The final destination of this fantastic tour is the magnificent Green Dragon Inn. This authentic old style pub even serves its own Southfarthing range of 'shire beers - it's a mightily refreshing end to a few hours spent roaming The Shire.

From Hamilton, you can catch a bus with InterCity straight to Matamata or take an organised tour all the way to Hobbiton. You can find out more on the Hobbiton website.

Travelling on the Northern Explorer takes you through many areas used in filming the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. In fact, much of Peter Jackson's inspiration came whilst travelling along the Northern Explorer's route, and he is quoted:

"Eighteen years old and reading J.R.R. Tolkien for the first time, I was sitting on a train as it left Wellington and rumbled up through the North Island. During the twelve-hour journey, I'd lift my eyes from the book at the familiar landscape - which all of a sudden looked like Middle-earth."

Famous for having one of the longest left-hand surf breaks, rolling into a picturesque sandy beach, Raglan is a buzzing little surfing town. If you are keen to try surfing out, then head to the Surf School on Ngarunui Beach. Alternatively, relax on the beach in the sun, watching the experts and enjoying this spectacular scene.

Buses depart from Hamilton Transport Centre and take approximately one hour - making Raglan a perfect day trip.