Whangārei Falls near the city of Whangārei, North Island, New Zealand

Pretty as a picnic. Whangārei Falls in New Zealand

This lush, Eden-esque location on New Zealand's North Island has been a popular spot to bring a blanket and picnic basket for generations of Kiwis. Whangārei Falls is part of the Hātea River. At the falls, the river drops 85 feet over a basalt lava flow. The surrounding park provides a loop trail ideal for a hike along the edge of the river.

English horology enthusiast Archibald Clapham purchased the land here, including the falls, during the 1920s to save the landscape from commercial exploitation. The North Island preserve was later purchased by the Whangārei Businessmen's Association, which turned the space into a public park. Thanks to their preservation work, this island paradise provides respite for visitors from nearby towns and around the globe.