This was our last full day in New Zealand, and in some ways it felt a little unusual.
Every time I told a New Zealander that we were spending our final night in Hamilton, I got roughly the same reaction: "But why? There's nothing there... unless you're trying to be closer to the airport?"
And yes, that was exactly the reason.
I didn't want to finish the trip with a three- or four-hour drive back to Auckland Airport. Driving on the left side of the road had gone much better than I originally expected, but I still preferred to keep our final day's commute under two hours if possible. Hamilton wasn't the destination; it was part of the plan.
The day began with breakfast at Wairakei Resort Taupō. Like the night before, the dining room was full of families, couples, and groups enjoying their holidays. Breakfast was buffet-style with plenty of options, and it was a good start to what would be our final day of sightseeing.
Māori Carvings
We ate early because we had booked a morning cruise on the Ernest Kemp to visit the Māori rock carvings on Lake Taupō.
When we arrived at the marina, there were several tourist boats preparing to leave at roughly the same time. Most looked newer, faster, and probably more comfortable than the one we had chosen. But the Ernest Kemp had character.
Built to resemble a classic steam boat, it stood out immediately from the more modern vessels around it. And as it turned out, its charm wasn't limited to appearances.
The cruise lasted about two hours, and our guide was fantastic. Easily, my wife's favorite guide of the entire trip. She was knowledgeable, funny, and knew how to keep everyone engaged without turning the experience into a lecture.
The tour also included complimentary coffee and tea. And if you know me, you know they had me at "free coffee."
The carvings themselves were impressive, especially considering their scale and location. Seeing them emerge from the cliffs as the boat approached made for a memorable experience, and the guide explained both their cultural significance and the story behind their creation.
Lake Taupō is huge, and we only got to explore a little bit of it. After returning to shore, we headed toward the two attractions we had skipped the previous afternoon: Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon.
Huka Falls
Huka Falls was our first stop.
We parked and walked towards the main bridge. Then we spent some time walking around the viewpoints and trails surrounding the falls. The waterfall itself is not particularly tall, but the amount of water rushing down the mountain in the narrow channel is impressive.
One thing I may have mentioned already is how colorful New Zealand feels: the vegetation, the geothermal areas, the lakes... even the water seemed to change color constantly. Sometimes it was deep blue, sometimes turquoise, and other times it reflected the sky so perfectly that it seemed almost unreal.
Huka Falls was another example of that. Between the white water, the turquoise river, and the surrounding greenery, it was difficult not to stop every few minutes to take another photo.
The most difficult part of visiting Huka Falls was actually finding a parking space. Of all the places we visited in New Zealand, this was probably the busiest in that sense. It took us a while to find a spot, although that may simply have been the time of day. The area felt crowded when we arrived, but considerably quieter by the time we left.
Craters of the Moon
Next came Craters of the Moon. And here I have to admit something: it was probably one of my least favorite attractions of the trip.
Don't take me wrong, it wasn't bad. The walking trails were nice, the geothermal features were interesting, and the entrance fee was quite reasonable ($25 for the whole family).
But, after visiting Wai-O-Tapu, Te Puia, Whakarewarewa, and several other geothermal areas over the previous days, Craters of the Moon was a bit "meh" and underwhelming.
The geothermal activity felt more spread out and less dramatic. The Devil's Trumpet steam vent was interesting to see, but small. The whole park was less impressive than I had expected based on photos and recommendations from local people.
Maybe we visited on an off day. Maybe we had simply become spoiled by Rotorua and Wai-O-Tapu. Either way, I would still recommend it as a pleasant walk through a geothermal landscape, especially for travelers looking for a less expensive option. Just keep your expectations realistic.
With our sightseeing complete, it was finally time to begin the drive to Hamilton. Initially we were going to visit the Hamilton Gardens and make it part of our trip, but the stops at Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon took the time for that.
Hamilton and the English Cherry Tree Manor
The journey took a little over two hours and, like every other drive during the trip, was remarkably easy. The roads were well maintained, traffic was light, and the scenery never seemed to get old.
One thing that stood out to me throughout New Zealand was how colorful the countryside was. There was green, of course, but it was mixed with yellows, oranges, reds as the foliage changed with the season.
By the time we reached Hamilton, it was already dark. We were staying at English Cherry Tree Manor, a beautiful 1930s house that had originally been located in Auckland before being relocated to Hamilton.
The entrance to the English Cherry Tree Manor was a bit hidden and difficult to see in the dark. We ended up taking a wrong turn and arriving at a private property that wasn't the bed and breakfast (thanks, Google Maps!). A quick call and some instructions later, we made it to the house without further issues.
As I mentioned earlier, location was one of the main reasons we chose this accommodation. The other was the photographs we had seen online. We knew we wouldn't experience the gardens at their absolute best (winter is not peak blooming season), but even our brief first impression in the dark suggested we had made the right choice.
We would confirm that the following morning.
Kids' Verdict
- Score: 9/10
- Favorite Activity: Huka Falls
- Biggest Surprise: The water changing colors in the falls
- Complaint of the Day: We got lost in the way to the bed and breakfast
- Driving Time: We slept in the car
Day 6 was a calm and colorful finale. A gentle transition from adventure to farewell as we prepared for our last morning in New Zealand.
Continue to Day 7: Ka kite anō, New Zealand!
...Or read about Day 5: Geothermal Activity, Māori Culture, Kiwi Birds... and a real earthquake?
...Or return to the main guide.