Attractions

To learn about activities in the smaller rural towns of Morrinsville, Matamata, Ngaruawahia, Te Aroha, and Te Awamutu, pick up brochures from the Hamilton visitor center.

In Hamilton

Hamilton Gardens, Cobham Drive (tel. 07/838-6782; www.hamiltongardens.co.nz), is the region's most popular visitor destination. It consists of 58 hectares (143 acres) of specialty gardens along the banks of the Waikato River. You don't have to be a gardener to appreciate the serenity of the Japanese Garden or the beauty of the herb garden. The Gardens Terrace restaurant and the Gardens Café are both open daily from 10am to 5pm in summer and until 4pm in winter. The gardens themselves are open 6am to 7pm in summer, and to 6pm in winter. Hamilton Lake and its 56-hectare (138-acre) reserve is also a pleasant place for a quiet wander. It's just outside the central business district.

The Waikato Museum, Victoria and Grantham streets (tel. 07/838-6606; www.waikatomuseum.co.nz), and Exscite (tel. 07/838-6553; fax 07/838-6571) are especially good value and fun experiences for children. The museum has a fine display of Maori art and carving from the area's Tainui people. Exscite is a madhouse of colorful fun designed as a learning environment for children. Museum admission is by donation (some exhibitions are charged); Exscite costs NZ$5 for adults, NZ$3 for children, and NZ$15 for a family. Both are open daily from 10am to 4:30pm (closed Dec 25).

Hamilton Zoo and the FreeFlight Sanctuary, Brymer Road (tel. 07/838-6720; www.hamiltonzoo.co.nz), is a 21-hectare (52-acre) retreat for birds and animals; it's 5 minutes off State Highway 1, west of Hamilton. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm. They also have late night openings (until 8pm) on Wednesdays and Saturdays in January and on Saturdays in February. And if you're at this end of town, you might consider going a bit farther to Waingaro Hot Springs (tel./fax 07/825-4761; waingaro.hot.springs@clear.net.nz); it's 23km (14 miles) west of Ngaruawahia (about 30 min. from Hamilton). Big waterslides, thermal mineral pools, bumper boats, and barbecues make this a terrific family outing. It's open daily from 9am to 10pm.

When it turns dark, you might like to try your luck in Hamilton's new casino complex, SKYCITY Hamilton, 346 Victoria St. (tel. 07/834-4900; www.skycityhamilton.co.nz), which has 20 gaming tables, 300 gaming machines, plus bar and restaurant facilities. It's open daily 9am to 3am.

In Cambridge

This pretty oak-filled town of 11,000 is the bright star of the Australasian bloodstock industry -- sort of a miniature Kentucky, if you like. Its old homes and rolling green fields make it a delightful spot for a day visit from Hamilton, or a stopover on your journey south. In the last 2 years it has become more lively, and it deserves at least a 1-night stopover.

The Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge, on State Highway 1, 6km (3 3/4 miles) south of Cambridge (tel. 07/827-8118; www.cambridgethoroughbredlodge.co.nz), is home to the NZ Horse Magic Show. The 1-hour shows are given Tuesday through Sunday at 10:30am; reservations are essential. The cost of NZ$12 for adults, NZ$5 for children ages 3 to 14 includes a tour and horse ride. If you fancy "A Night at the Trots," head to the Cambridge Raceway, Taylor Street (tel. 07/827-5506; www.cambridgeraceway.co.nz), for the thrill and excitement of live harness and greyhound racing.

The Cambridge Country Store, 92 Victoria St. (tel. 07/827-8715; www.cambridgecountrystore.co.nz), is a wonderful place to loosen your purse strings. You'll find a wide range of top New Zealand arts and crafts in this old converted church. It's open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm, and Sunday 9am to 5pm. All Saints Café (tel. 07/827-7100), upstairs, is the perfect place to contemplate your purchases. It's open Monday through Saturday 8:30am to 4:30pm, and Sunday 9am to 5pm.

The town is also a treasure-trove of antiques. Antiques fairs are in September and April and the Cambridge Information Centre has a good brochure that lists the best antiques dealers in Hamilton and Cambridge. If you're in the mood for a stroll, pick up the Heritage Trail brochure, which details heritage sites in town.

Nearby Lake Karapiro -- 8km (5 miles) from town -- is also a pleasant outing for boating, sailing, water-skiing, swimming, and rowing. If you're lucky, you might even spy one of New Zealand's Olympic rowing champions in training. Cambridge is home to the gold medal-winning Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina and Caroline.

In Waitomo: Experiencing the Caves

The busy little pocket of tourist activity that is Waitomo is the exception in the otherwise quiet, cow-filled south Waikato pasture. The tiny village owes its existence to the remarkable limestone caves 70km (43 miles) south of Hamilton.

You can get to the area via the Waitomo Shuttle (tel. 0800/808-279 in NZ, or 07/873-8214), which connects to InterCity and Newmans coach services and Tranz Scenic trains in nearby Otorohanga. Waitomo Wanderer Scenic Shuttle (tel. 0508/926-337 in NZ, or 07/873-6108; www.waitomotours.co.nz) offers daily service between the caves and Rotorua. Kiwi Experience and Magic Travellers also run to the area. If you're driving from the north, take State Highway 1 south to State Highway 3, just south of Otorohanga, and turn west at the signpost for Waitomo Caves.

The Museum of Caves & i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, 21 Waitomo Caves Rd., Waitomo (tel. 07/878-7640; www.waitomo-museum.co.nz), is open daily. Admission to the museum is NZ$5 for adults and free for children.

The caves are what make Waitomo a visitor destination, and the best among them are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 39 Waitomo Caves Rd. (tel. 0800/456-922 in NZ, or 07/878-8227; www.waitomo.com), which opens daily at 9am. The caves' most impressive feature is "The Cathedral", which rises 14m (46 ft.) and is an acoustically perfect auditorium that has been the site of performances by the Vienna Boys' Choir and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Your tour takes you through 250m (820 ft.) of stunning underground scenery, culminating in the glowworm caves. A cafe and shop complex are also on-site.

If you have time, include Aranui Cave -- 15 minutes down the road -- which doesn't have glowworms, but does have the most spectacular natural formations; you're allowed to take photographs here. Tickets for both are sold at the Waitomo Glowworm Cave ticket office.

Tours in the Glowworm Cave include a magical boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. These leave daily every half-hour from 9am to 5pm, and hourly in the Aranui Cave from 10am to 3pm. A two-cave combination ticket costs NZ$59 adults, NZ$25 children ages 4 to 14, and NZ$149 for a family. The best time to visit the Glowworm Grotto is mid- to late afternoon, when the crowds are smaller. Bring a sweater because it's cooler underground, and wear strong footwear for walking. The caves are easily accessible to those with reasonable mobility and there are good handrails and pathways.

After being closed to the public for 15 years, Ruakuri reopened in June 2005. Laced with myth and legend, Ruakuri ("den of dogs") was first discovered by Maori almost 500 years ago. It takes its name from the pack of wild dogs that lived in the cave entrance. Tours of the cave now depart from the Ruakuri Information Centre, at the Legendary Black Water Rafting Company, 585 Waitomo Caves Rd. (tel. 0800/782-5874; www.ruakuri.co.nz), daily (except Dec 25) at 9am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, and 3:30pm. Admission is NZ$58 adults, NZ$22 children ages 5 to 14. You can get a two-cave combo pass for Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves for NZ$78 for adults and NZ$29 for children.

If you'd rather stay aboveground, consider tackling the new Dundle Hill Walk (tel. 0800/924-866 in NZ, or 07/878-7788; fax 07/878-6266; www.waitomowalk.com). During this 2-day, clearly marked, self-guided walk through native bush, forest, and farmland, you'll walk about 12km (7 1/2 miles) a day and stay at Dundle Hill hut. It requires moderate fitness and costs around NZ$75 adults, NZ$35 children 15 and under.

The Sweet Stuff -- At Chocolate Expo, Donovans Chocolates, 137 Maui St. (tel. 07/847-5771; www.donovanschocolates.co.nz), you can buy from the factory store or linger in the cafe. On the other side of town, Candyland, 75 Henry Rd., Taupiri (tel. 07/824-6818; www.candyland.co.nz), is New Zealand's largest candy shop. Visit the Candy Museum, watch chocolates being made, or create your own lollipop at the candy-making show. The show costs NZ$10 for adults and NZ$5 for children 11 and under. Candy demonstrations are at 10:30am and 1pm on weekends and holidays.