Two kilometres off SH5, this was a spectacular part of the Waikato River until the government plonked a hydroelectric dam across the waterway, shutting off the flow. The spectacle hasn’t disappeared completely, with the floodgates opening from October to March at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm and April to September at 10am, noon and 2pm. You can see the water surge through the dam from two good vantage points. Drive here or leisurely cycle along the river from town (four-hour return; 30km).
