A towering stream, cascading down three giant leaps to end in a flourish of  misty fountain at the foot of the mountain.

The Sutherland falls, at 580 meters high  (1.3 times taller than the Empire State Building) may only be the fifth highest waterfall in the world and ranks second in New Zealand (after Browne Falls), but it may just be the most magnificent in the country. Near Milford Sound in the South Island, the falls was named after Scottish explorer Donald Sutherland . He was searching for a possible route between Milford Sound and  Lake Wakatipu back in 1880 when he came across the waterfalls. He and his wife then build in the area, anticipating tourists who would eventually come and admire the glorious sight of the falls.

When you get to the base of the falls, you can feel the strong force of the water while experiencing the deafening sounds of falls impact hitting the base. The vigor of the water casts a mist in the air, creating a mystical sight and adding to the Falls’ appeal.

The trek to witness this beauty is not the easiest. Visitors typically have to go on a 4-day walk on the Milford track to arrive at the falls.

Tip: If you are not a trekker, all is not lost, you can choose to take a scenic flight to the falls, although that might mean a hole in your pocket.

If you’re up for the trek, you need to make ample preparations, physically, as well as logistically- clothing, trekking gear and appropriate footwear must be ready before the trip. The Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s most thrilling trails, so you’d be rewarded with a visual feast for the physically challenging journey to the falls.  For better enjoyment of the falls, you can drop by the Quinton Hut Shelter, the Sutherland Falls base to deposit your belongings there and carry the bare necessities while you carry on to the Falls.

Tip: the must-take is a jacket that can keep you warm. The weather in this part of New Zealand can get pretty unpredictable. You wouldn’t want to be caught in rain in the middle of nowhere.

It can get quite claustrophobic initially, with you drifting in deafening silence and eerie darkness on a boat in the middle of nowhere. Then came the soft glow above that begins as a faint spot that mushroomed into an illuminated night sky that lit up the gentle ripples beneath you. Except that you’re not floating along a river under a blanket of stars but in a cave below a cover of glow worms, at the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves at Waitomo in the North Island of New Zealand, two hours south of Auckland.

The Caves earned its name ”Waitomo” from the Maori words Wai- water and tomo- hole or shaft, and are a result of over 30 million years of formation with the creation of limestone at the ocean bed. There are now three levels of caves to explore, and begins with the top level- the cave entrance with the Catacombs and its largest formation- the Pipe Organ. The second level, linked to the top by a 16 meter vertical limestone shaft called the Tomo, will lead you to the Banquet Chamber. It’s so named because the area was used by early visitors as a dining hall. The third level takes you down to The Cathedral, an 18-meter tall cavern with superb acoustics, thanks to its natural enclosed design and rough surface. The acoustics are so amazing that renowned singers and famous choirs have performed here.

Did you know: Native New Zealand songstress Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Katy Perry have performed at The Cathedral?

The highlight of the tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves is of course, witnessing the glow worms. A boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto will float visitors to the dark underground Waitomo River lit only by the glowworms. No photography is allowed at any point during the boat ride, so it’s best that you soak in the mesmerising sight instead of trying to sneak in a photo. All visitors are supposed to observe silence, so it’s pretty obvious if there’s a sudden clicking sound. Any sound might turn on the darkness and drive away the glowing ceiling.

Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and bring along a jacket. There are steps along the caves to negotiate and it might get colder as you get deeper into the caves.

Why go? If you’ve never explored any caves before that offers nature’s gift of gorgeous limestone formation, a trip to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves gives you a pretty stunning view of nature’s underground scenery. The icing on the cake is the pretty sight that the glowworms offer.

Price: Adult tickets are priced at $48 while kid tickets are priced at $21. There is also the Family package prices of $110 which consists of 2 adults and 2 kids.

It’s like you’ve become a hobbit, visiting your favourite pub at the end of the day for a pint and good time with your mates.

Any Lord of the Rings fan would be ecstatic to know that a Hobbit-style bar called the Green Dragon Pub has opened in Hobbiton, near Matamata, where the LOTR films were shot. Officially opened by New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key in November last year, the bar’s development was led by Brian Massey, Art Director of the movies. A team of 80 workers were roped in to theme the pub, as well as the area around it to up the immersive experience of entering Hobbiton.

For those new to the whole Middle-Earth mania, in the LOTR story, the Green Dragon Inn was a frequent haunt of our tiny Hobbit friends from both Bywater and Hobbiton. Frodo was a fan of the inn, as were his friends, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. Throughout the movie, the quartet often made references to the inn, recalling it in fond memory as a great place. Let’s hope the Green Dragon Pub can live up to its Middle-Earth reputation!

Where: Matamata, Waikato, New Zealand

Visit their Facebook page: Green Dragon Pub