Renowned for its speedway, agriculture and having a street so dangerous Dominos stopped delivering to it, Auckland's southernmost town is perhaps an unlikely contender for the title of Most Beautiful Large Town.

If you're into cars and horses, its attractions are clear - Pukekohe Park hosts the annual V8 Supercars event and other motor and horse racing events, including the popular Christmas Races, Family Day at the Races in April and Lindauer Ladies Day in June.

If racing's not your bag, it's still worth making a pit stop though. Catching a Counties Manukau Steelers game at Ecolight Stadium, blissing out at Pure Indulgence Wellness Spa and playing a game of R18 bingo at The Longkeeper are among the activities recommended by the local business association.

The town centre mightn't be as pretty as a tourism brochure picture right now but, with the population set to double to some 40,000 by 2040, it's in line for what Franklin Local Board deputy chair Andy Baker has described as a game-changing makeover. In the time being, your best bets for photo opps are Cape and Pukekohe hills and the cute old Pioneer Cottage.

Kill hunger pangs with a Nutella brownie at the Sugar Shed or hunk of meat at Bazza's Steakhouse (polish off a 1kg "Great Steak and you're rewarded with a free pint). If you're after liquid refreshment, the business association notes that cocktails at the Monarch Cafe are always a good idea. Alternatively head to Ed St in the old fire station for your poison of choice and hearty bar snacks and mains that include crispy buttermilk chicken, slow-roasted pork belly with coconut puree and veg and fancy fish and chips (tempura battered snapper with hand-cut chips, salad and house-made tartar sauce.

Best viewpoints and selfie spots: Cape and Pukekohe Hills and the Pioneer Cottage.

Best places for a bite or bevvie: Sugar Shed, Bazza's Steakhouse, Monarch Cafe and Ed St.

Cambridge

It's hard not to compare the Waikato town with its English namesake which can lead lovers of beautiful (properly) old buildings, quaint cobblestone streets and quintessential British pubs a tad disappointed, but such comparisons are really unfair. Aotearoa's Cambridge is its own town, quintessentially Kiwi and has much to offer in its own right. Still, it shares an easy gentility with the English university town, helped along by the thoroughbred racehorse-owning set.

Cambridge spokesperson Philip Coles wasn't at all surprised the town was named a finalist, saying residents already know it's the most beautiful town in the country – "We just need to make it official!"

Coles credits the community with going above and beyond to ensure its parks and other public spaces maintain their manicured air and its heritage buildings are preserved.

A lake hiding in plain sight in the town centre (Lake Te Koutu), constantly rejuvenated gardens, multiple walking and cycling trails and dedication to adding to its already impressive number of trees are among the things that make it so easy on the eye, Coles says. To their credit, the Cambridge Trees Trust plants up to 10,000 trees a year. If you can't make it to Japan for cherry blossom season, you could do far worse than head to Cambridge instead – it's as pretty as a travel influencer's Instagram picture at this time of year.

Need more convincing: The boutique shopping and art galleries, award-winning restaurants, friendly, welcoming people and that almost everything is within walking or biking distance are among the other major drawcards in Cole's view.

Best selfie spots: Lake Te Koutu (especially in spring with the cherry blossoms, and autumn), the main street (also especially when in blossom), the Town Hall, Clock Tower, St Andrews Church and the museum.

Best places for a bit or bevvie: Paddock, Suburban Kitchen, The Bikery and Absolute Cafe for brunch and lunch and St Kilda Bistro, Alpino, Alpha Street Kitchen and Good Union in the evenings.

Most beautiful city: Lower Hutt v Whanganui

Lower Hutt

Jackson St, Lower Hutt. Waste minimisation projects like litter auditing have put Hutt City in the running for the title of Most Beautiful City. Supplied image.

Long looked at as Wellington's scruffy little sister, Lower Hutt has, its nomination as a finalist would suggest, now surpassed the world's coolest little capital in the beauty stakes.

Lower Hutt spokesperson Sandy Beathcroft admits she was a little surprised at the nomination considering the city is still recovering from the effects of the Kaikōura earthquake, but reckons its diverse communities, extensive beachfront, "vibrant-yet-not-overcrowded" Jackson Street which draws foodies and shoppers from Wellington and "huge variety of walking and cycling tracks" are a winning combo. With some 60 restaurants, cafes and old-school tea rooms serving up food from around the world, Jackson St is a destination in its own right, helped along by the easy-on-the eye heritage buildings.

Known as Wellington's "big backyard", Lower Hutt also has plenty to offer those who like to get active outdoors, from an internationally renowned mountain bike trail to a three-day cycle track through the Wairarapa and Eastbourne full of "hidden gems", many developed by local volunteers.

The parks that once made the place "The Garden City" of the North Island are also a major drawcard, Beathcroft says, noting that they're a popular hangout for young skateboarders and basketballers along with tai chi practitioners. She recommends visiting during the Highlight light carnival over Labour Weekend if you can – expect immersive installations including walks among giant toadstools and trumpet flowers, performances, kids activities, karaoke love songs and a "time box" said to transport you through space and time.

Best selfie spot: Te Puna Wai Ora (Spring of Life) on Jackson St.

Best places for a bite or bevvie: The eclectic restaurants along Jackson St, Butcher and Brewer for English-style fare and pints, Zany Zeus for handmade cheeses, ice creams and sorbets, La Bella Italia, The Bellbird Cafe and the many craft breweries.

Whanganui

Whanganui's community spirit and civic pride are big ticks in its favour according to judges. Supplied image.

Dismiss this west coast city as another provincial backwater at your peril, Whanganui spokeswoman Marianne Cavanagh suggests – it's a strong contender for New Zealand's most cultured city as well as its most beautiful.

It's a common misconception, Cavanagh says, that city is a "sleepy hollow" when "the reality is that those who have not travelled to Whanganui before may not comprehend the sheer beauty of the place".

A strong creative vibe reflected in its opera house, galleries, artist studios and street art, prime position between the river and the sea, priceless views of mounts Ruapehu and Taranaki, under-the-radar attractions such as Cooks Gardens and Pukenamu Queens Park, and shared pathways with links to the Mountain to Sea cycle trail are among its many positive attributes, she says.

The town centre, with is multiple heritage buildings, has been given a facelift and community sustainability initiatives, such as the Resource Recovery Centre, also make it a great place to live and visit, she notes. Others seem to agree: The latest census figures showed the city is growing.

Best viewpoints: Gentle Annie Aramoana Lookout, Durie Hill Tower and Sarjeant Gallery for its stellar views of Ruapehu.

Best selfie spots: St Pauls Memorial Church in Putiki, the historic Watt fountain on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Ridgway St, riverbank art installations, street art including the Whanganui Walls and Castleciff Beach.

Best places for a bite or bevvie: Jolt, Article, Ambrosia or Brew Brothers for coffee, La Quatro for Mexican, Cuban Belle for – err – Cuban, Wa for Japanese and Honest Kitchen or Yellow House Cafe for healthy but hearty. On Saturdays, head to the Riverside Traders market for goodies such as homemade pasties, crepes, donuts and woodfired pizzas. After something stronger? Frank and Lucky Bar are great for live music, The Red Lion and Caroline's Boatshed have river views and the Rutland Arms in the heritage quarter has a particularly jovial vibe at weekends.

The winners will be announced at the Beautiful Awards Gala Dinner in Dunedin on October 24.

Stuff.