Hamilton
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Built on the banks of the Waikato River, Hamilton is New Zealand’s largest inland City and also the Agricultural centre of the Waikato. Among the many beautiful parks and gardens are a variety of walking tracks and cycle paths including the Lake Rotoroa river walk and the Taitua Arboretum which are tranquil and rich in flora and fauna. Hamilton Gardens has five themed gardens from all corners of the world to explore. Beautifully presented, it is the most popular tourist attraction in Hamilton. The place comes alive for two weeks from mid February to early March when the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival is held. Hamilton City is home to a large population of students and as a result offers a lively mix of cafes, restaurants and nightclubs. Accommodation is a mixture of self contained apartments, hotels and motels and has a good backpacker and camping ground selection. Out of the City there are some lovely farm stays. The MV Waipa Delta paddle steamer runs regular lunch or dinner river cruises along the Waikato River. You can also hire Jet skis and canoes. Visit the Waikato Museum of Contemporary Art to check out the latest exhibitions and activities and browse through Arts Pats next door for displays by local artists. The shopping in Hamilton is very good and should include a walk down Cassabella Lane with its European style cafes and boutique shops.
Markets are held on a regular weekly, monthly and yearly basis and feature many locally made oils, crafts and produce. Hamilton Zoo has a large array of animals within its huge enclosure. The main attraction here is the large aviary through which you can wander amongst the birds flying overhead. The V8 Super cars in action roar into action in April for the final round of the BNT v8s Championship. Waikato Stadium hosts both national and international games of rugby, soccer and rugby league. There are some great wineries in the region and many have stunning views to match. The beautiful misty sunrises make the pastures of the outlying farms the perfect setting for Hot air ballooning and in late March, early April Hamilton hosts Balloons over Waikato. Hamilton is the perfect base from which to travel to attractions away from the City. Discover the glow worms by boat or try Black water rafting at Waitomo Caves. Nearby places to visit include the surfing hamlet of Raglan on the west coast and the Te Aroha Mineral pools. Lord of the Rings fans will enjoy the Hobbiton film set and farm tours at Matamata.
North Island's, Hamilton also has walking maps available from the information centre for both a historical and art walk which meanders trough the City and passes by some stunning architecture.