After the Taupō Marathon: Hobbiton, Waitomo and Auckland

The Route: Taupō → Matamata (Hobbiton) → Waitomo → Auckland → Auckland Airport Logistics: A hire car is essential. Taupō to Matamata is about 1 hour 45 minutes, Matamata to Waitomo about 1 hour 20 minutes, and Waitomo to Auckland about 2 hours 30 minutes. Check winter road conditions and daylight before each drive. Marathon Month: August Duration: 3 nights

Taupō ──(about 1 hr 45 mins)──> Matamata (Hobbiton) ──(about 1 hr 20 mins)──> Waitomo ──(about 2 hrs 30 mins)──> Auckland
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Auckland Airport (AKL) <──(about 30 to 45 mins by road)───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The Taupō Marathon is run on a Saturday in early August. A car and three unhurried days give you the central North Island at its slowest, with almost all the walking on flat, sealed paths. Take the first day easy, because the marathon is fresh in the legs.

August on the route: winter. Days are typically in the low teens Celsius, nights are cold, and rain is frequent, so daylight is short and the roads can be wet. Caves are unaffected by the weather, and film-set tours run all year.

Night One: Matamata and Hobbiton

Hobbiton Movie Set at Matamata is a working farm that hosts guided tours of the film set, with the paths, hills and gardens of the Shire. The tour lasts about two hours on paths that are gently sloping and mostly paved or compacted, and there are steps at a few points, so tell the guide if the legs are sore. Check the current prices and book ahead, because tours are timed. Winter gardens are less colourful than in spring, so keep expectations to the set and not the flowers.

For a bed, Matamata has motels and small guesthouses, and some accommodation on nearby farms. Book early. For a meal, the town's cafés and pubs serve hearty food, and check winter hours, because some places close early.

Night Two: Waitomo

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a guided boat and walking experience, in which visitors float in a boat through a cave under a ceiling of glow-worms. The walk to the boat is short and sloping, and there are steps, so check the details with the operator. The Ruakuri Cave and other tours are more physical, so choose the easiest option after a marathon. Tours run all year, and check prices and book ahead.

For a bed, the Waitomo Caves Hotel is a historic hotel in the village, and there are motels and lodges nearby. For a meal, the village has a few cafés, and dinner options are limited in winter, so book ahead or arrange your own.

Night Three: Auckland

Auckland is about two and a half hours from Waitomo by road. The city centre has some hills, but the waterfront at Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter is flat, paved and lined with restaurants and cafés, and the walk from one to the other is about a kilometre. The Sky Tower has a lift to the observation deck and views over the harbour on a clear day. Check the price and the weather.

The ferry to Devonport takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the ferry building and gives a view of the harbour with little walking. Check the timetable and fare.

For a bed, the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour is on the waterfront, and the SkyCity Hotel is in the centre. Both are close to restaurants. For a meal, Depot, on Federal Street, serves shared plates and seafood, and it is popular, so book ahead.

Extra Time in Waitomo

The Waitomo Caves are a limestone system with glowworm grottoes, and boat trips into the caves are among the main attractions. The paths from the visitor centre to the cave entrances are mostly level, but there are stairs inside some caves, so check the tour descriptions and the number of steps. Tours run at set times, and in winter they may be less frequent, so book ahead. Wear warm clothes, since the caves stay cool all year.

Above ground, the village is small and the walking is gentle. The Ruakuri Bush Walk near the visitor area has boardwalks and steps, so read the track description before deciding whether to go.

A Slow Evening in Auckland

Auckland's waterfront, around Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, is flat and paved and has plenty of cafés and restaurants. A slow walk of a kilometre or so is enough. The Auckland Art Gallery is a short walk from Queen Street and has a good collection of New Zealand and Māori art, so check the opening hours and any charges. If you prefer the water, the ferry to Devonport takes about 12 minutes from the Ferry Building and offers a fine view of the skyline. Check the timetable before you set out.

Getting Home

Auckland Airport (AKL) is about 30 to 45 minutes from the city centre by road, depending on traffic, and there is an airport bus. Allow a generous buffer for an international flight, return the hire car with fuel in the tank, and check the road conditions if you leave early in winter.