A drowned river valley that was important to the Maori and European settlers.

New Zealand's oldest prison holds a dark history and the scars of a deadly earthquake.

Inside this faux cave, visitors can learn how some of their favorite fantasy characters were created.

A charmingly old-fashioned reminder of the historic building's former life.

Water-powered gadgets whirr to life in this quirky eco park.

A strange machine made to evaluate the world economy using water and lots of tubes.

This museum/fur store is devoted to educating guests on how awful opossums can be.

These two delightful animal-shaped buildings host a visitor center and wool shop.

Running since 1864, this clock has yet to be wound, one of the longest-running science experiments known.

Anyone wanting to know what a dwarven mine sounds like need only visit the tunnels of this New Zealand artillery compound.

Largest Kauri tree in New Zealand.

Watch the seas clash at the place where according to Maori tradition, the spirits depart for their journey to the afterlife.

Handcrafted thermal spa washes away each night with the tide.

The world's only complete colossal squid specimen is on display at the Te Papa Museum.

The once and future home of New Zealand's famed Pink and White Terraces.

Modern art meets modern convenience in possibly the world's most architecturally important public bathroom.

Deadly scalding and one of the largest hot springs in the world.

A galaxy of glowworms—larvae of a gnat—hides deep in the belly of these caves.

Major tourist destination known for its bubbling mud-pools and hot thermal springs.

A Maori village obliterated by an 1886 volcanic eruption.

One of the world's largest Tesla coils.

A gigantic sculpture garden is packed with innovative oddities.

This electric green sulphur lake in New Zealand looks like a cartoonish radioactive dump site.

One man's dream has turned into this naturally growing chapel made of almost nothing but trees.