From the popular beaches of Tauranga, where Mount Maunganui towers over calm Bay of Plenty waters, travel to a wonderland of geothermal oddities and the center of Maori heritage in Rotorua. Walk among the dramatic geysers, bubbling mud and verdant native bush of Te Puia before visiting a re-creation of an early Maori village and a kiwi conservation center. Head south of Rotorua to hike through majestic redwoods in Whakarewarewa Forest or perhaps travel to the Waikato region, where the well-preserved Shire at the Hobbiton Movie Set is a dream come true for fans of Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of JRR Tolkien’s beloved novels.