Top Things to do in Hamilton

As much as Kiwis like to take a friendly jab at Hamilton, this is not one of the places that should be struck off anyone’s travel list. It is the fourth largest city in the country, with its own unique flair and attractions to visit. Check in to an Affordable Accommodation in Hamilton for a budget friendly experience.

Hamilton Gardens

The Hamilton Gardens are loved and renowned by all for their exceptional concept. It focuses on the history of gardens and how it was embraced by different cultures – similar to that of a museum in which the culture and civilisations are given top priority. Some of its top attractions include the Victorian Flower Garden, the Chinoiserie Garden, the Italian Renaissance Garden, and the Indian Char Bagh Garden, all of which encapsulate the different styles of different regions, plant choices and architecture that is representative of their respective themes and countries. You can easily find good Accommodations in Hamilton around this region.

Hamilton Lake Domain

The Lake Domain in Hamilton should be an ideal place for a leisurely lakeside stroll. Its namesake lake, which is also called as Lake Rotoroa, stretches across 3.8 kilometres and mostly has a flat walkway contouring it throughout. This beautiful area is complemented by grassy parklands that are perfect as picnic spots, as well as a flourishing birdlife in and out of the water.

Waikato Museum

The current building of the museum, which was opened first in 1987, was designed by the architect late Ivan Mercep – the same architect who was tasked with designing Wellington’s Te Papa Museum. The museum includes some of its best known features including the magnificent Te Winika waka (a Maori war canoe), Waikato World War 1 Story exhibit, and a wide array of interactive science galleries for young children. This iconic Waikato Museum consists of 13 galleries that regularly host hundreds of events annually – which also includes the National Contemporary Art Award, which has been a regular feature of the museum since the year 2000.

The Waikato River

The city of Hamilton proves that even an inland city such as itself can be surrounded by large stretches of water. New Zealand’s longest river is The Waikato River, covering a solid 425 kilometres (264.1 miles).

Visit Hamilton

Below is a list of why we think Hamilton beats Wellington hands down.

The Hamilton Gardens: The Botanic Garden in Wellington is pretty but it can’t the scale of the Hamilton Gardens. Sprawling over 54 hectares, the Hamilton Gardens is twice the size of its counterpart in the capital and also brings in millions of visitors every year. Rather than just simply showing off a huge collection of plant life, The Hamilton Gardens will take you on a very unique botanical trip around the world which includes the extravagant gardens that will transport you to China, Japan, England, America, India and Renaissance Italy showcasing colonnades, pagoda and a mini Taj Mahal.

Waitomo Caves: Wellington has the Weta Cave, but no man-made attraction can parallel the natural wonder and grandeur of the Waitomo Caves. Cruising along an underground section of the Waitomo River beneath a starry ceiling of glowworms which is unique to New Zealand is pure magic. No special effects or CGI is needed.

A bike ride: The hills in Wellington are too tough and steep for anyone without through experience, but Hamilton is a dream for those who want to enjoy the exploration by bike. Hundreds of kilometres of trails to discover, offering the riders close-up views of the region's lush hills and rolling farmlands. Whether you're looking a relaxing ride along the river or a challenging backcountry adventure, Hamilton is sure to deliver. Try looking an accommodation in Hamilton to take night’s rest.

It is at the heart of North Island: Located at the end of North Island, Wellington might have the prettiest view across the strait but it doesn't have the ease that Hamilton has, including the of access to the island's top tourist spots. The capital of the Mighty Waikato is just a short drive away from the likes of Raglan, Rotorua, the Bay of Plenty and Auckland. Check in into the Best Accommodation in Hamilton for your perfect vacation.

The climate: Hamilton might not be able to beat Wellington on a good day but the problem is there are so few of them. In Hamilton, on the other hand, you can check out the sites without worrying about being knocked over by gale force winds. The city's also considerate enough to confine its fog to the winter. While Wellington has frequent earthquakes that can leave you wondering where you stand, Hamilton is all about going steady. It's so safe in fact that multiple large organisations have moved their computer servers there. 

For the Budget Traveller

Hamilton is the largest city in the Waikato Region, built along the mighty River Waikato. Although there are some great opportunities in and around the city, try not to spend your whole time in the city without checking out all of these free things to do in Hamilton. Whether culturing yourself at the Waikato museum or strolling in the award-winning Hamilton Gardens or hanging out with your traveller buddies at the end of the day, Hamilton has a piece for everyone, on every budget. If you need a place to stay check out affordable accommodation in Hamilton; you are sure to be flooded with choices. 

1.Visit the Waikato Museum- Lose yourself in the Maori culture at the Waikato Museum. The museum boasts of a good mix of historical and contemporary art. You will be needing at least an hour to make the most out of it. The entry to the museum is free if you were wondering.

2.Take a stroll in the Hamilton Gardens- Awarded the International Garden of the Year numerous times, the Hamilton Garden is considered as the pride of the city. Entry is free to this four themed garden.

3.Zealong Tea Plantation- The country’s one and only tea plantation is about 10 minutes’ drive from the Hamilton City Centre. Find the world’s purest oolong tea at the tea house or book a tour to include a tasting. The tour is very affordable of about NZ$25 per person (last time we checked).

4.Go park hopping in the City Centre- The city is packed with parks. Meet up with your crew or go watch the world from your very own space. Often the best accommodation in Hamilton can be found near the City Centre.

5.Watch the Balloons over Waikato river- The balloons over Waikato is an absolute must see if you are in Hamilton in the month of March. This festival lasts for four days every year (dates around 16th to 20th March). Watch as tons of creative hot air balloons are flown over the majestic Waikato River.

6.Crazy Golf- Have some fun with miniature golf or some may call it crazy golf in the Central Place shopping mall. It is time to challenge your fellow travellers. Ask your accommodation in Hamilton for a great deal. Usually, the price is around NZ$15 per person.

7.Go Bargain Shopping- Looking for some cheap supplies for your travel? Hamilton is the place to go. From affordable accommodations to second-hand shops, the city centre is packed with choices. The highest concentration of these shops can be found in Liverpool Street, Ulster Street, River Road and Te Aroha Street in Hamilton Central. 

8.A drink on Victoria Street- If you have a few dollars in your pocket for beer then Victoria Street is the best destination in the city. There are plenty of good restaurants and clubs too in this area.

9.Just a Walk- Walk in tranquillity along the Waikato River on the Riverside Walkways, which is 11km long and can be accessed from multiple points along the city centre. The walkway is also used for cycling.

Come to experience Hamilton like never before.

Some specific ways to select suitable accommodation places in Hamilton

There are many accommodation destinations in a location like Hamilton and the competition among all these accommodation places are so high that, the promotion policies of the hotels always does not go in the same direction.  Therefore, it becomes quite necessary to judge and verify the claims of those restaurants, before one would directly go and book a particular location for them. There are many restaurants, hotels, motels and accommodation places, who claim to become customer friendly but in reality they somewhere lack in the competition. But, one would definitely not become deceived to choose the Best Motel in Hamilton, if they would check the price of the hotels as well as the facilities they provide, through the online medium and websites of the restaurants. Nowadays, because of the advancement of the technologies, one would also be able to check out the rooms, of the hotels, so that they are not duped, for certain reasons or the other. The following portion emphasizes some of the ways, which would help you to pick up a best accommodation place, at a desirable price range. 

Follow up the feedback: 

Going through the feedback, of the customers who visit the Affordable Accommodation in Hamilton becomes as important as checking out the facilities, on online medium. In the feedback, you would be able to get a clear picture of the services, which have been offered to them, when they visited the hotel. Different customer, perceive the services, they have received, from different perspectives and it is for this reason, there are different types of opinions and feedbacks in the list. Your understanding of the services of the accommodation would become clear, after going through the feedback of the customers. You would get the chance to prepare from, beforehand, if you would know about some of the loopholes of the service from earlier.   A customer’s review would talk about all the loop holes of the services, so that you decision making process becomes easier. 

The website visit:

Net surfing and the website visit gives a lot of information, directly from the accommodation authority, and you would be able to relay on those fixed information. In the website you would also know about several types of discounts, which would be really customized for tour purpose.  The added advantage of the hotels, like its distance from the railway station, air port and other places, would also be mentioned in the websites of the particular accommodation places.