With some great road trip options in the surrounding area, renting a car makes good sense. Without one, it wouldn’t be half as easy to soak up everything that Auckland, 30 miles away, has to offer. Among the first stops you make here should be Auckland Ferry Terminal, Princes Wharf and Viaduct Harbour. Locals will also likely point you in the direction of Thames, 35 miles away. If you can only see one thing here, make sure it’s The Treasury. (But we’d also highly recommend Goldmine Experience and Goldfields Shopping Centre.)