If you’re not an avid surfer, Ocean Beach is a great place to go swimming, bodyboarding, or even take a surf lesson at Raglan Surf School (opens in new window). Lifeguards patrol the western part of the beach during the summer months – it’s safest to swim between the flags.

There are some great walks in the Raglan area. In just 10 minutes you can walk to the top of Bridal Veil Falls (55 meters). If you want a more challenging adventure, you can climb to the top of Mount Karioi – on a good day, you can see all the way to Taranaki Maunga, one of the highest mountains on the North Island. The Te Toto Gorge Trail is another option – it’s a route that was once widely used by the Maori, and in some places you can still see the remains of stone walls.

Cycle the Pipiwarauroa Trail, which takes you close to the 137-meter wind turbines at the Te Uku Wind Farm or Te Ara Kakariki, Raglan’s newest mountain bike trail. Other popular activities include kayaking, stand-up paddling, and harbor cruises, as well as rock climbing and canyoning.

Be sure to set aside a couple of hours for the town of Raglan. It’s an entertaining mix of cafes, bars, surf shops and galleries. This part of New Zealand has always attracted people who lead an environmentally friendly lifestyle, so the residents are full of character.

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This fantastic world of horticulture began humbly in 1960 when an empty landfill was handed over to Hamilton City Council for development.

In the early 1980s, Dr. Peter Sergel set a groundbreaking path for Hamilton Gardens . Instead of focusing on botany, he proposed to create a theatrical collection of gardens from around the world, describing the evolution of garden design and planting over the centuries of horticultural history.

Fifty years later, Hamilton Gardens now spans 54 hectares with more than twenty gardens and walks. These beautiful retreats include everything from the exquisite Italian, Tudor and Japanese gardens to the inventive Kitchen, Herb and Te Parapara production gardens.

A stroll through Hamilton Gardens is educational, entertaining and relaxing, and you’ll soon see why it won the prestigious Garden of the Year award at the International Garden Tourism Awards!

Museum of Classics

With beautiful roads, a strong import market, and a resourceful “fix it, don’t throw it away” attitude, it’s no wonder New Zealand is home to many of the world’s most desirable and defining classic cars.

Created from a personal collection of cars and automotive memorabilia, the Hamilton Classic Museum celebrates the history of the automobile and the spirit of freedom it brought, recreating those gloriously colorful days when cars brought liberation.

With more than 100 cars and an authentic 50s American diner serving classic dishes with great modern standards, the classic museum is a must-see in Hamilton for all ages.

Hamilton Zoo

The Hamilton Zoo has over 25 acres of lush, green and tranquil grounds to stroll through and 600 local and exotic animals to keep you entertained for the day.

The zoo is open daily from 9:30 to 16:30 and is located on the northeastern outskirts of the city, a couple of kilometers from the center.

Waikato Museum

At the award-winning Waikato Museum, you can get a detailed look at regional and international history and end up with science, art and culture where you can get a detailed look at the region and much more.

Waikato River Explorer

The 425km-long Waikato River is New Zealand’s longest and most important river. Starting on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, the river merges with the Tongariro River, flows into Lake Taupo, and descends to Huka Falls. It then flows into several more lakes, passing through King Country, before meandering through Cambridge and Hamilton and finally emptying into the Tasman Sea halfway between Hamilton and Auckland.

This incredible course has made the Waikato River very important in history, providing water transportation from the forest-rich interior of New Zealand to the sea for export. With so much history and many stories taking place on and around the river, there is no better way to learn about Hamilton and Waikato than by traveling on this mighty waterway.

Waikato River Explorer runs 90-minute cruises exploring the river. Departing from Hamilton Gardens, the Waikato River Explorer pairs perfectly with walks through Hamilton’s famous gardens.

Hiking and cycling in Hamilton

Hamilton has an extensive network of walking and cycling paths and trails that run along the river. There’s nothing easier than renting a bike or e-bike and exploring the city’s tranquil trails and riverside parks for a leisurely evening.

You won’t need a map, as the trails run along the river for the entire length of the city. On the west bank, the trail is continuous, and the trails on the east bank connect to Hamilton Gardens, Memorial Park and the Munroe Trail. The seven city bridges make it easy to zigzag from side to side and explore this entire beautiful bike network.

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Dine like a hobbit

Immerse yourself in an unparalleled evening of Middle Earth magic on the Hobbiton set in Matamata with an evening dinner tour. Discover Bag End, Party Tree and the Green Dragon Inn on your guided tour, then enjoy a banquet in the Green Dragon Dining Room. Standard tours are also available during the day.

Admire the twinkling fireflies in Waitomo

Beneath Waitomo’s verdant farmland lies an underground labyrinth of spectacular limestone caves. Take a guided tour to the heart of the Waitomo Caves and marvel at the limestone formations and the huge cave before taking a boat ride under thousands of flickering fireflies.

Learn to surf at Raglan

To the west of Hamilton lies Raglan, a beautifully scenic stretch of black sand coastline. Featured in the 1966 surf movie The Endless Summer, Raglan is a surfing mecca and home to one of the longest and most consistent left-handers in the world. See what all the fuss is about with a surf lesson from Raglan Surf School (opens in new window).

Take a stroll through Hamilton Gardens

Learn about the history of the gardens at one of the region’s most visited sites. Instead of focusing on a variety of plants, Hamilton Gardens showcases different types of garden design through themed collections. Step into another world in their Fantasy collection or explore different civilizations in their Paradise collection.

Enjoy afternoon tea at Zealong Tea Estate

Visit New Zealand’s only tea plantation, Zealong Tea Estate, and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. Created by passionate tea masters, Zealong tea is one of the purest teas in the world and is organically grown on the fertile land of the Waikato region.

Visit the Maungatautari Mountain Sanctuary

A refuge for many of New Zealand’s endangered bird species, the conservation mountain is a mainland “island” formed by a pest-proof fence. Get up close and personal with takahē, tuatara, giant wētā and kākā amidst the beauty of Mount Maungatautari, an ancient forested volcano.

Spend a day at the Waikato Museum and Hamilton Zoo

Immerse yourself in the rich art and culture of the Waikato region at the Waikato Museum. Highlights include a majestic military waka (Mā ori canoe), galleries with local artwork, and Waikato’s World War II history, For Us They Fell. If you want to spend the day outdoors and have fun, visit the Hamilton Zoo, home to over 600 native and exotic animals. With New Zealand’s largest walk-through enclosure and free zookeeper talks, there’s plenty to see and do with the family.

Ride one of Waikato’s cycling routes

In the Waikato region, you can find forest trails, Waikato River trails and the Hauraki Railroad. Go through the center of the North Island on the forest trail that winds through the Pureora forest. Try the Waikato River Trails for an adventurous walk along the mighty Waikato River. Or take a more leisurely ride through New Zealand’s pioneering history on the Hauraki Railway.

Take in the stunning views on a hot air balloon tour

There’s no better way to start the day than with a hot air balloon ride as the sun rises. This unique adventure will give you breathtaking views of the Mighty Waikato River, vast farmland and see the city of Hamilton waking up to a new day. If you’re in the region in March, be sure to check out Balloons Over Waikato (opens in new window), an annual festival that showcases the best hot air balloons.

Explore Waikato with Lake District Adventures

Whether you’re looking to kayak on Lake Karapiro, take a guided mountain bike ride along New Zealand’s longest river, or a little bit of both, Lake District Adventures offers a range of exciting outdoor experiences. With tours that offer insight into the local history, culture, flora and fauna of the region, it’s a great way to see what makes Waikato so special.

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