Located about halfway between Auckland and Rotorua, Hamilton is home to the Waikato Museum and Art Gallery (a good collection of Maori art) and Hamilton Gardens (100 different gardens, each with its own theme). The city's zoo boasts a large walk-through aviary and includes some of New Zealand's rarest indigenous species. You can unwind under the trees beside the mighty Waikato River or at the nearby Waingaro Hot Springs, which offers three thermal pools, private spas and a waterslide. Ngaruawahia, the country's Maori capital, lies just northwest of Hamilton. There you can visit King Tuheitia Paki's residence and a Maori cultural complex. 70 mi/115 km south of Auckland.
