Waikato and Hamilton travel tips

New Zealand regions - Waikato and Hamilton travel tips

From the upcoming city of Hamilton to legendary Hobbiton and the best glowworm caves and surf beaches - our travel tips with highlights and information for the region between the Waitomo Caves, Raglan, Kawhia, Hamilton and Te Aroha - the best Waikato highlights, walks, best lookouts and the museums!

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Our Waikato travel tips:

Waikato - Hamilton Gardens

The well signposted Thermal Explorer Highway runs through the Waikato region and then continues further via Rotorua and Taupo, all the way to Napier.
Hamilton is one of the fast growing cities in New Zealand, stroll along the Waikato River and through the centre with its shops, galleries and museum. A visit to the Hamilton Gardens is free and they are right next to State Highway 1 - if you are passing by this is a great spot to stretch your legs.
Raglan is one of the trendiest surf spots in the country, a cool place not just for wave addicts.
Waitomo's karst landscape is the best area to explore spectacular caves and see glowworms.
Te Aroha pioneered New Zealand tourism before Rotorua, the sleepy village still offers beautiful buildings, plenty of walks and even its own geyser.
After the Hobbit film trilogy the original film location for Hobbiton has been much better preserved than after the Lord of the Rings films, the detour to Matamata and the Prancing Pony pub is certainly recommended for Tolkien fans.

The Waikato region has two spectacular landscapes - one above ground, the other below. In both cases, nature has been generous

Waikato is right in the heart of the North Island. The main city, Hamilton, is just 90 minutes from Auckland and Rotorua, with Coromandel and west coast beaches within easy reach as well.

On the lush surface, the scenery is green to the extreme. Fertile soils, reliable rainfall and kind temperatures have created a pastoral heaven.

Below the surface, miracles have been wrought with water and limestone. Vast cave systems, huge sink holes and underground streams provide huge scope for adventure.

Waikato was the scene of significant battles during the Maori Land Wars of the mid 19th century. Visit the monuments and museums and discover the fierce history of the region.

In the fast-growing city of Hamilton, the serpentine beauty of the Waikato River is maximised at every opportunity. You can discover parks, gardens and river walks where the forethought of the town planners is plain to see.

Waikato travel tips - Mangapohue Natural Bridge walk near Waitomo Caves The mighty Waikato River travels through the region. At 425 kilometres from end to end, it is the country’s longest river. As well as providing recreational opportunities, the river drives eight hydro dams.

The Waitomo Caves were formed over 30 million years ago, and drip by drip they’re still changing. The natural beauty of stalactites and stalagmites lit by the blue light of glow worms has to be seen to be believed.

On a Matamata sheep farm, you can visit the remnants of Hobbiton, the hobbit village created for the Lord of the Ring’s movie trilogy. View the hobbit holes and find out how the set was created on a guided tour.

Waikato region highlights

Hamilton: This booming city may be more attractive to newcomers and students than to travellers, but the Waikato Museum with its Maori collection (including a beautifully carved ancient Maori canoe) and the Hamilton Gardens just east of town are good reasons to stop. At the themed gardens, surprisingly you can step into landscapes and buildings from India, Italy and China, as well as study a pre-european Maori garden with lots of fantastic carvings and carved houses. If you like the Rocky Horror Picture Show then check out the Riff Raff sculpture in front of the museum, a dedication to local Richard O'Brien. Further north outside the city you may want to explore the homestead of Henry Chidley Reynolds, the home of New Zealand's famous Anchor butter brand ('Woodlands Historic Homestead and Gardens'). Follow the Waikato River walks, the best part of it is in the downtown area. Southwest of town there are walking trails in the old converted farm paddocks of Taitua Arboretum. Just a short drive away is the typical farming town Cambridge, famous for the rowing action on Lake Karapiro. 45 mins drive from Hamilton is one of the world's biggest fenced wildlife areas, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a mainland ecological island full of ancient trees and animals.
Waitomo Caves: South of Hamilton you'll find a real fairytale world of limestone caves and bush. Highly popular with travellers, these are not just any caves, but a huge variety of all sorts of activities are offered to explore those labyrinths, huge caverns, underwater rivers and stalactite wonders, complete with the starry magical ceilings full of glowworms. You don't have to spend 5 hours blackwater rafting in tubes, jumping down underground waterfalls or abseiling from cave ceilings, there are plenty of other options to enjoy the glowworms and rock formations! Anything from gliding on an underground lake in a boat to tough cave expeditions is possible. Even just going for a walk in the nearby bush is special, because the limestone formations are a general part of the magic landscape around here. Otorohanga nearby is the location of one of the leading Kiwi and wildlife parks in New Zealand.
Waitomo to Marokopa: If you have a bit of spare time check out the many highlights on the road to Marokopa beach! The amazing Mangapohue Natural Bridge is a gorge cut into farmland, with a double arch and fossilised oyster beds in rocks. Piripiri Cave is a half open crack in the earth with stairs underneath stalactites. Marokopa Falls are more impressive than the average New Zealand waterfall and definitely worth a visit. Continue along the twisting road to Awakino if you are headed for Taranaki, the reward is an 80 m walking tunnel through a cliff face onto a remote black sand beach at Waikawau, or continue further north towards Kawhia and Raglan.
Raglan: The long left-hand surf break - one of the world's longest - at Manu Bay is famous amongst surfers, no matter what weather you'll always see someone ready for the challenge. The vast beach and the nice lookouts all the way to Whale Bay are only part of the reason why Raglan is so popular. The town itself is a funky place to stroll around, hang out and soak in the holiday feeling.
Kawhia: Further south (via the Bridal Falls from Raglan) you'll find one of those timeless and peaceful New Zealand places where time stands still, the quiet harbour village of Kawhia with its important waterfront meeting house, fishing jetty and endless west coast beach nearby. Actually Kawhia also has a hot water beach, much less crowded than in the Coromandel, but only in a small area not far from the beach access.
Te Aroha with its hot springs, health spa and Geyser attracted overseas tourists since the 19th century, before Rotorua took the prime spot. The old bath house museum in the scenic Te Aroha domain is a great reminder of those 'good' old times. The Mokena geyser in the same domain erupts daily but is not very reliable, it is probably smaller than you'd expect... The ranges behind Te Aroha have countless walkways, some of them to historic mining sites. Nearby Paeroa is becoming famous for its second hand and antique shops. Te Kuiti is famous for its sheep shearing heroes and records, but it also features the beautiful Tatsuno Japanese Garden. If you like giant thingies then you will appreciate Mable the giant mega cow in Morrinsville… For Thames please refer to our separate Coromandel tips.

Best Waikato walks

Waikato River Walks - 11 km of walking tracks along the river, Hamilton
The Te Awa River Ride is a cycling and walking trail from Ngaruawahia to Lake Karapiro, a 65 km concrete track following the Waikato River
Hakarimata Scenic Reserve - a range of walking tracks, access from Brownlee Avenue or Parker Road, Ngaruawahia
Mount Te Aroha - many trails, including the Mokena Hou geyser and hot springs, Te Aroha Domain, Te Aroha
Waiorongomai Valley - walking tracks and historic sites, south of Te Aroha
Wairere Falls Track - a 153 m high waterfall (3-4 h return), Goodwin Road, further south of Te Aroha
Bridal Veil Falls - a 55 m high waterfall (20 min return), Kawhia Road between Raglan and Kawhia
Te Awamutu Rose Gardens - stroll between 2,500 rose bushes, Gorst Avenue, Te Awamutu
Te Waihou Walkway - with the crystal clear 'Blue Spring' lake (up to 3 h return), access from Whites Road or Leslie Road, Putaruru
Ruakuri Walk - gorge walk with arches and caves (45 min loop), Ruakuri Caves carpark, Waitomo
Mangapohue Natural Bridge - wonderful limestone gorge with an archway (20 min return), Te Anga Road, 25 km west of Waitomo
Piripiri Cave Walk - platform to view stalactites (5 min), Te Anga Road, 29 km west of Waitomo
Marokopa Falls Walk - 35 m high falls with bush walk (20 min), Te Anga Road, 31 km west of Waitomo
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - mainland island with bush walks, Tari Road, Pukeatua
Pirongia Forest Park - a range of walks, for example the Bell Track to the tallest Kahikatea tree (66,5 m, 6 h return), Kaniwhaniwha car park, Limeworks Loop Road, west of Pirongia

Best Waikato lookouts

Hakarimata Summit Track - with a viewing tower (3 h return), Brownlee Avenue, Ngaruawahia
Karioi Summit - spectacular views from top, fastest via the Wairake Track on Ruapuke Road (2-3 h one way), south of Raglan
Wharauroa and Mahaukura Lookouts in Pirongia Forest Park (2 h one way), access from O'Shea Road, west of Te Awamutu and Hamilton
Ruapane Lookout on Tirohanga Track, Pirongia Forest Park (1,5 h one way), Corcoran Road, northwest of Pirongia
Whakapipi Lookout, Mt Te Aroha - views of Te Aroha (45 mins one way), starting at Mokena Geyser

Best Waikato museums

Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, Grantham Street, Hamilton
Firth Tower Museum, altes Homestead with Turm, Tower Road, Matamata
Raglan and District Museum, Wainui Road, Raglan
Te Awamutu Museum, Roche Street, Te Awamutu
Te Aroha & Districts Museum - in an old bath house, Whitaker Street, Te Aroha
Waikato Coalfields Museum, Harlock Place, Huntly
Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre, Waitomo Caves