Day Trips Around Hamilton, NZ
Sights and Attractions for Tourists in the Waikato
The Waikato region offers a number of activities within an hour of Hamilton, ranging from Lord of the Rings locations to extreme sports and quaint craft villages.
These tourist locations and activities are all an easy hour's drive from Hamilton, New Zealand. Many are free, and all provide unique glimpses into Kiwi culture and natural beauty.
Cambridge and Tirau
Cambridge: 20 minutes/24 km from Hamilton
Tirau: 45 minutes/55 km from Hamilton
Two beautiful little towns for craft and antiques lovers. Cambridge's most famous craft shop is a renovated church, which sells everything from handmade NZ jams to Kiwiana and native timber pieces. Tirau is packed with delightful local shops, including the Clock Peddler and the very Kiwi honey shop.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
1 hour/75 km from Hamilton
The eerie and beautiful Glowworm Caves are viewed by boat, on a 45-minute guided tour. The silence and peace of the experience can quickly be remedied, however, by the Waitomo Black-Water Rafting experiences. Black Labyrinth or the more energetic Black Abyss tours can include cave tubing, abeiling and rock-climbing.
Matamata and Hobbiton
50 minutes/60 km from Hamilton
Lord of the Rings devotees will have to travel further south to find most filming locations, but the ruins of Hobbiton are one of the most rewarding fan experiences. A bus takes groups from Matamata to the (officially) secret location, a hilly farm which still contains the remnants of hobbit-holes. A guide and signs showing stills from the movie help to reconstruct the scenes, and photo opportunities are permitted.
Woodlands Historic Homestead and Gardens
15 minutes from Hamilton
A beautiful colonial house built in 1872, Woodlands homestead is particularly delightful to visit in summer, when the gardens and walks are at their best and the house is decorated for Christmas. Woodlands' picturesque bridges and paths have featured in many a wedding photo, as have its famous NZ native trees—the gardens boast some of the largest and oldest trees in the country. Overlooking the Cricket Lawn, the Woodlands Cafe is a picturesque place to relax after exploring.
Taitua Arboretum
15 minutes from Hamilton
Particularly spectacular in autumn, the Arboretum boasts a short and longer trail walk through NZ flora and fauna. Meet cows, chickens, ducks, geese, pukeko and swans—a loaf of stale bread is an essential accessory! The Arboretum is another popular wedding and photograph location.
The Olde Creamery
12 minutes/16 km from Hamilton
Built in 1892, the Creamery buildings now house a lovely cafe, florist and gift shop. A worthwhile coffee stop on the way to Cambridge or Te Awamutu.
Raglan
40 minutes/48 km from Hamilton
Many NZ families view Raglan as an ideal place for a Sunday drive, to eat excellent fish and chips on the beach and enjoy the playground and safe sea swimming Raglan has to offer. For the more adventurous, Raglan is home to a number of watersports—the surf of Whale Bay, just north of the town, is world-famous. Visitors to NZ may be surprised to note that Raglan's sand is black—a common feature in NZ due to high levels of iron.
