Things to do in Huntly

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

Join us and experience the real Middle-earth™ at the Hobbiton Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.Fall in love with the Alexander family sheep farm, just as acclaimed director Sir Peter Jackson did, as you journey on a short bus ride through the unequivocal beauty of the land, with the mighty Kaimai Ranges towering in the distance. Your guide will escort you on a shared walking tour around the movie set, showcasing the intricate details, pointing out the most famous locations and explaining how movie magic was made here. △ Immerse yourself in the fairy tale town of The Hobbit △ Ejoy the fenced garden and the mirror lake △ Admire New Zealand's stunning scenery

Hakarimata Summit Hiking Track

Huntly Placemakers Speedway

2026 Global 50 - Cool Water Escapes

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are limestone caves in the western mountainous area of New Zealand's North Island and an attraction in New Zealand. In Māori, Waitomo means water flowing into a hole. On the cave walls, scattered green points of light layer upon layer, these green glows flicker on the pitch-black water surface, doubling the light and shadow—this is a wondrous world belonging to green sprites. 1.Glowworm caveMainly composed of three distinctive caves, Waitomo Glowworm Caves,Ruakuri cave and Ala Nuoyi cave. Waitomo Glowworm Caves is a limestone cave with a history of over 10,000 years. Originally, there was a small frozen lake on the mountain above the cave. After the ice and snow melted, the water flowed into the rock crevices below and gradually eroded to form the cave as it is today. The Cathedral Cave inside Waitomo Glowworm Caves is a massive rock chamber renowned for its spatial echoes.Ruakuri caveIt is a legendary underground karst cave where you can hear the sound of an underground waterfall.Ala Nuoyi caveThe entrance is the visitor center, and the arched canopy with a membrane structure is quite impressive. 2. To tour the cave with thousands of glowworms, you need to take a small boat into the depths of the cave. Once seated and settled on the boat, the guide will pull the overhead guide rope to propel the boat forward. The strange points of light in the cave are the glow emitted by thousands of glowworms. You will notice patches of greenish-white light on the rocks. Look closely, and beneath the glow are uneven, translucent threads hanging from the cave ceiling. On these threads are crystal-clear droplets like strings of crystal beads. These beautiful, mucus-coated threads are the glowworms' fishing lines, used to attract and prey on insects drawn to the light.

2026 Global 100 - Night Attractions

Sky Tower

As an iconic landmark of Auckland, the Sky Tower stands 328 m tall and is connected to other buildings, forming a massive city in the sky. The Sky Tower features three transparent elevators traveling at 18 km per hour, reaching the observation deck in just 40 seconds to overlook the entire Auckland cityscape. In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset and Auckland's night views. Beyond regular sightseeing, the tower also offers a range of high-altitude experiences. SkyWalk lets visitors walk on a handrail-free walkway around the tower exterior at 192 m high, led by a professional guide and secured with safety ropes, suitable for thrill-seekers. SkyJump involves jumping from 192 m along a guide cable, with descent speeds reaching approximately 85 km per hour. Group visitors can also join the Skyline climb activity, reaching about 300 m to overlook the city up close. Ascending the tower in the evening allows you to enjoy both the sunset and the city's night views in transition, with Auckland's skyline under changing light presenting a distinctive scene. △ Climb the 328 m Sky Tower △Overlooking the beautiful city night view △ Take on more exciting projects

No. 2 of Spring Outings in Waikato

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardensis situated on the banks of the Waikato River. It is not planned like a traditional botanical garden but is themed around "The story of gardens." It consists of five series—Paradise, Productive, Fantasy, Cultivar, and Landscape—linking nearly 20 independent themed gardens. From ancient Egyptian gardens 4,000 years ago to 21st-century conceptual gardens, it showcases how different civilizations have imagined and created their own paradise on earth. The Paradise series is a highlight of the garden: in the Chinese Scholar's Garden, a wisteria-covered bridge, Bird Island, and pavilions with red pillars and flying eaves are scattered and connected. Beside the pavilion stands a bronze turtle gifted by the city of Wuxi, China, and from the railing, you can see the Waikato River; the Japanese Garden of Meditation, Italian Renaissance Garden, English Flower Garden, and American Modernist Garden each recreate the gardening aesthetics of different eras; the Indian Char Bagh Garden uses symmetrical canals to divide the courtyard into four sections, with vibrant flower beds creating an effect like a Persian carpet. The Te Parapara Garden in the Productive series showcases the ancient agricultural practices of the Māori people in cultivating kūmara (sweet potato). Each garden is an enclosed, independent courtyard. Stepping through a gate often feels like entering a different world. It is best to slow down and explore them series by series. The garden also features a café, a souvenir shop, and a children's playground.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in North Island

Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland

Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland is located south of Rotorua. Wai-o-Tapu means "sacred waters" in Maori and is one of the area's well-known geothermal regions. The wonderland centers on the Taupo Volcanic Zone, where volcanic activity is frequent, and a walking trail of approx. 3 km guides visitors to various interesting attractions along the way. Hot springs, mud pools, and geysers of diverse forms are distributed throughout the area, and the signature views are the beautiful Champagne Pool and Lady Knox Geyser. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts in a water column up to 20 m high. In addition, the constantly churning and bubbling mud pools, the colorful Palette, and the fluorescent green Devil's Bath each have their own distinctive character, and information boards along the trail introduce how the various geothermal landforms were formed. During the visit, do not enter areas marked with warning signs; the geothermal ground surface is extremely hot, and straying from the route poses safety hazards.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in North Island

Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ

Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ is located in the geothermal valley of Rotorua, New Zealand, and is an attraction that combines Maori cultural displays with geothermal views. The park is home to the famous Pōhutu Geyser, which can erupt more than ten times a day, with water columns shooting up dozens of meters into the air, creating a spectacular sight. In the valley, mud pools bubble and hot springs gurgle, steam fills the entire area, and the air carries a sulfurous smell, making it feel as if you are walking among clouds and mist. Cultural displays are another major feature here. The New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute is located here, and visitors can observe up close the full process of apprentices studying traditional skills in woodcarving, weaving, and stone and bone carving in the workshops. The Maori meeting house in the village features an intricately carved assembly hall, with the facade and interior walls covered in elaborate traditional wood carvings, each carrying tribal stories and genealogies. The park also recreates an early Maori traditional building complex, including low dwellings built from reeds and palm and elevated storehouses on stilts, showing the appearance of traditional Maori living spaces. In addition, there is a kiwi conservation center here, where visitors can observe this bird unique to New Zealand up close. In terms of cultural experiences, Maori song and dance performances are staged daily in the village, including a traditional welcome ceremony, the haka war dance, songs, and the poi ball dance, with performances held in the carved meeting house, creating a solemn and impressive atmosphere. When visiting, it is recommended to follow the guide to gain a deeper understanding of the Maori legends and history behind the various views in the geothermal valley.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium is an aquarium converted from an abandoned underground sewage storage tank, completed by the New Zealand marine archaeologist Mr. Kelly Tarlton over approx. 10 months. SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium features 8 major exhibition themes, each with its own distinctive features. In the captivating winter wonderland, you can walk through the exhibition area into a viewing area at minus two degrees, to watch king penguins and gentoo penguins walking on artificial snow or diving underwater. You can also, inside the transparent acrylic view tunnel of SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium, feel the thrill of great sharks and devil rays swimming past you, and witness how the mighty large lobsters live in harmony with their neighbors. If you want to observe up close, you can put yourself in a cage and enter the shark viewing pool. △ Observe giant sharks up close △ Learn more about marine life in the Southern Hemisphere △ Watch the adorable feeding process of the king penguin and gentoo penguin flocks

Kauri Loop Track