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The green hills of Waitomo conceal an underground maze of caves, created by streams that shaped the limestone over millennia. There are around 300 identified caves all up, containing amazing rock columns, caverns, stalactites and stalagmites. Notably, they are also home to luminous native glow worms. The visual effect is striking: twinkling grottos, and the appearance of starry ceilings and walls within the caves.

Innovative locals have built on the natural offerings that Waitomo has to offer and devised no shortage of adventurous ways to explore these subterranean marvels. The most straightforward way to visit the caves is on a walking tour at Ruakuri Cave, on which you’ll hear about the myths and legends surrounding the area. Or take a gentle boat cruise through the caves, floating through the darkness while listening to commentary on the caves and their history.

Alternatively, the caves can be seen from an inflatable rubber tube on the water, via a blackwater rafting expedition. Feeling particularly daring? You can even zip line or abseil through the Waitomo Caves. These adrenaline-packed options can take up to a full day as you squeeze around corners and through narrow passages. These trips are actually surprisingly accessible, as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness and a game attitude!

There’s plenty to see above ground, too. The nearby Mangapohue Natural Bridge features an impressive 17-metre limestone arch; at night this track lights up with luminescent glow worms. A walkway near the Waitomo Museum of Caves leads you past a smattering of outlandish rock formations and outcrops.

Just an hour out of Hamilton via rental car, the Waitomo Caves are easily reachable for an adventurous day out.

Been itching to see a kiwi? Then head to the native bird park at Otorohanga’s Kiwi House. At the not-for-profit Kiwi House, you can see this nocturnal bird close up at any time of day within special enclosures. At the Night Zone, you’ll find great spotted kiwi and little spotted kiwi, which you won’t see anywhere else — complete with burrow cameras.

Kiwi have been bred at Kiwi House in 1971, and other endangered native birds are bred here too. It is run by the Otorohanga Zoological Society, which is wholly devoted to native wildlife conservation. All proceeds go back into the Kiwi House and its breeding programmes.

The Kiwi House also happens to be home to the biggest dome aviary in the country. Walk among the trees and keep your eyes peeled for wood pigeons and waterfowl, kea and kaka. Here you’ll find tuatara, a unique and ancient type of reptile, on display, plus geckos and skinks.

Along with the nocturnal kiwi houses, enclosures and walkthrough aviary, at this native park there are ponds and wetlands — a full gamut of environments. Bring the whole family and spend a few hours wandering around the grounds.

Entry includes keeper talks, as well as feeding displays at the hands of Kiwi House staff. There are several feeding times for kiwi, kea, kaka and kakariki at regular intervals throughout the days, as well as for eels and blue ducks. Keepers will dispense lots of fascinating facts about the animals and answer any questions from the audience. It’s a surprisingly intimate experience!

The Kiwi House is located in the town of Otorohanga, which is easily reached in your rental car in just under an hour from Hamilton.

Visiting the real-life Shire in Matamata is a must. Here, nestled within sprawling private farmland, is where you’ll find the Hobbiton Movie Set, which featured in the original The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and was then rebuilt for The Hobbit films.

The Hobbiton experience begins with a drive through a 1,250-acre sheep farm with views across to the Kaimai Ranges. You’ll see Bag End, where Frodo and Bilbo resided. Explore the hobbit holes, see the Party Tree, the mill, bridges, gardens and many other structures that were painstakingly constructed and then recreated for Peter Jackson’s movies. It’s not hard to imagine fantastic creatures frolicking through Middle earth in this slice of paradise.

Your Hobbiton experience then continues on. At the Green Dragon Inn — the favoured watering hole for hobbits — you are entitled to a complimentary beverage from the exclusive Southfarthing range. Feeling peckish? Traditional pub fare is available to order off the menu. Afterwards, stop in at the Shire Store. The atmosphere is lively and there’s an array of products you can buy and take away. Among these are handcrafted items from Weta Studios, as well as books, cloaks and other themed memorabilia.

Hobbiton Movie Set tours last for about 3 hours and depart throughout the day from the town of Matamata, which is just half an hour from Cambridge in your rental car.

And if you find that Hobbiton has completely captured your heart, you can book a rustic farm stay in Matamata and extend your time here.

New Zealand has only one tea plantation, and that is the unique Zealong Tea Estate, featuring beautiful views and lush gardens. This one-of-a-kind attraction encompasses a visitor centre, pavilion, and what’s known as the Camellia Tea House.

Zealong tea is organically farmed, with no chemicals or sprays involved during the process. The Waikato’s rich soil and pure air create the perfect combination of conditions, resulting in thick, flavourful and fragrant leaves that are hand picked by expert staff. They are then processed in the on-site factory. A single serving of Zealong tea can yield as many as half a dozen separate infusions. Each Zealong pack can be traced back to the block and the day of its picking.

Not surprisingly, it was a tea lover who decided to start the country’s sole tea plantation. It began with a few imported seedlings from Taiwan and has now swelled to a 40-hectare estate with thousands of sweet tea plants.

Zealong has enjoyed so much success locally that it has expanded to China, with a flagship store in Beijing. A Harrods deal has also been inked, so expect the Zealong estate to continue prospering and growing even bigger as export demand increases. Prominent figures such as Camilla Parker Bowles and the First Lady of Japan have all had the experience of sampling Zealong tea.

At the Zealong plantation, you can learn all about the history of tea and taste the freshest cups of oolong to be had for miles. Indulge in high tea, lunch, or book a traditional tea ceremony experience at the Camellia Teahouse (from Tuesday to Sunday).

The Zealong tea estate is an easy drive from Hamilton in your rental car — just 15 minutes away.