The northern Waikato may lack top destinations but it is an interesting rural landscape to drive through. The mighty Waikato River is often surrounded by wide valleys carved out over millennia. Then there are the hills around which the river has manoeuvred itself, many accessible on side roads.
Although most of the original lowland wetlands are long gone, you can drive through the significant Whangamarino Swamp between Whangamarino Redoubt and Te Kauwhata. Lake Waikare, the largest of the shallow wetlands lakes southeast of Te Kauwhata, is also accessible by car.
With so much flat land, the north Waikato can also provide some big sky moments, resulting in superb sunsets. In winter, watch out for the fog, which provides opportunities for moody early morning shots!
