Hamilton

An easy drive down the highway from Auckland, Hamilton has matured from farming centre to bona fide city with a lively sports and entertainment scene. Named for Prime Minister Richard 'King Dick' Seddon, Seddon Park is one of the few grounds in New Zealand purpose-built for cricket. South Africa meets Zimbabwe for an all-African showdown on 15 February; India plays Ireland on 10 March and New Zealand's Black Caps face rising stars Bangladesh on 13 March. Expect the party to continue afterwards with the CBD just a 5-minute stroll away. Take your pick of the surrounding holiday destinations. Laid back surf town Raglan is less than an hour to the west; Lake Taupo lies a short drive south; and Rotorua's geothermal wonderland and Coromandel's dreamy beaches are over to the east. Soak it up at extraordinary Hot Water Beach or one of the many thermal springs in the region—Miranda, Te Aroha, Matamata or Rotorua.

Wet and dry adventures await you at Waitomo's famous labyrinth of underground caves, complete with otherworldly glowworm populations—a spectacular sight for all ages. But the biggest draw for international visitors is Hobbiton, just 45 minutes’ drive east from Hamilton. Matamata's heartland proved the perfect place for Sir Peter Jackson to bring the home of Hobbits to life. Get amongst the movie magic and enjoy an ale in the Green Dragon pub with a guided Hobbiton movie set tour.