Top Things to do in Hamilton & Waikato Region
Top Hotels in Hamilton & Waikato Region
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Things to do in Hamilton & Waikato Region, North Island: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Discover the best top things to do in Hamilton & Waikato Region, New Zealand including Rally Drive NZ, Adrian Worsley Historic Creations, Hampton Downs Go Karts, Alphra Lavenders, Waikato Stadium, Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk, Hamilton New Zealand Temple, Hampton Downs MotorSport Park, Waitomo Big Bird & Miniature Animal Petting Farm, Te Waihou Walkway.
Restaurants in Hamilton & Waikato Region
1. Rally Drive NZ
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By roadieboys - Auckland, New Zealand
Brilliantly run, fantastic adrenaline rush. From feeling confident, to quite apprehensive, to enjoying yourself at the edge of control and finishing off with an absolute stormed run with a pro, this experience takes you through a range of emotions! I've done a range of tarmac driving experiences over the years but the gravel is a whole new beast! Straight talking, clear communication, good sense of humour and full of yarns, Dale and the team really love what they do and it shows. Give it a hoon, you will love it!
2. Adrian Worsley Historic Creations
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Unique sculptures made form recycled, reused and reclaimed materials and scrap metal. Adrian's gallery is one where you can touch and explore, even traipsing the board walks through the artists workshop. Be prepared to be amazed.
Reviewed By shumonk - Abbotsford, Australia
Adrian Worsley’s gallery and shop is something that needs to just be experienced. The moment you step into the inventory of all the scrap metal it sets the tone of the story he tells through his sculptures. Totally worth it.
3. Hampton Downs Go Karts
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Acineto - Auckland Central, New Zealand
Came for a birthday event. We booked since we had a big party (around 15 people) but there were people there who just showed up on the day. Once you reach Hampton Downs just keep an eye out for the signs to the go karts. The driveway takes you past the cafe to the go kart near the bottom of the racing track. There is parking outside the go kart building. Once there you sign up and take a drive photo and then get inducted before being taken out for the karting. You get assigned karts before you head out. They also supply helmets but you can bring your own. It also looks like they can change the course. Riding around and racing the karts was so fun. There is a screen at the finish line to tell you who has the best laps in the group currently running. Bear in mind that not all the karts are created equal. After the racing we were able to cut the cake in the viewing area by the office, which had a few tables on it. A really nice way to spend a few hours just gassing down a race course.
4. Alphra Lavenders
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By NaliniG127
We enjoyed visiting this lavender farm. The owners were really friendly and even gave us a quick tour/info session. There are also a wide range of high quality lavender based products on sale at a very reasonable price. We were pleasantly surprised that there was no entry fee. It was worth the 40 minute drive from Hamilton.
5. Waikato Stadium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By mrscarolg - Ashby de la Zouch, United Kingdom
Visited for the GB lions rugby league tour arch against Tonga. Atmosphere fantastic, such a shame about the score! Food and drinks reasonably priced compared to many other stadiums. Also not too big so you feel more part of the action.
6. Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 345 reviews
Always check the website for changes that might affect your trip.
Reviewed By 6-world-travelers
If you're in the Waitomo area, this is a 35 minute drive from Waitomo village, and 5 minutes from the spectacular Marakopa waterfall. Coming from the village, parking is on the right hand side of the road; be careful turning in as it's on a curve and there might be traffic to cross. Easy walk through a gorge to the main attraction; crosses a bridge where you'll have to hold onto your kids' hands (lest they fall over the edge) and you're under the limestone arch in about 5-10 minutes. It's 57ft of wow, and hard to capture on camera. If you carry on through, you'll climb a couple of stiles, go through farmland (watch the cow pats) and up and around. Loop takes maybe 20 minutes, tops.
7. Hamilton New Zealand Temple
8. Hampton Downs MotorSport Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is a leading motorsport and corporate venue based in North Waikato/ South Auckland. With New Zealand's premier motorsport events and a huge range of daily activities, the venue has so much to offer. From corporate suites to Go Karts, the circuit caters for up to 100 people to family days out. Hampton Downs also offers an exclusive membership program in which you can get unprecedented access to the track. With the new 4.1km track complete, members can enjoy what the new track has to offer and be looked after in our GT Members lounge situated above pit lane.
Reviewed By 126loganh
Amazing complex, great circuit and great experiences! Did the V8 U Drive and the Lamborghini hot laps, friendly and extremely helpful staff, a must visit! Thank you to the team at Hampton Downs!
9. Waitomo Big Bird & Miniature Animal Petting Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Waitomo Big Birds (Ostrich & Emu & Giant Moa) and Miniature animals provide an hours petting experience for animal lovers with lots of photo opportunities with animals - miniature horses, donkeys, llama & alpacas, baby-doll & dwarf sheep, goats, miniature highland cows, mini-bulls, and small petting animals - mini-lop rabbits, tortoise, and mini-munchkin cats with kittens in season.
Reviewed By Traveler563763
Ann’s farm stay far exceeded our expectations and is a must see and do if you are planning a trip to Waitomo. My only regret is that we only stayed one night. The farm tour was a blast for both adults and kids. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many animals coexisting except when visiting a zoo! Ostriches, emus, donkeys, mini horses, guinea pigs, llamas, alpacas, Scottish highland cows, jersey cows, sheep, rams, kittens, a tortoise, goats, bulls, rabbits, and even a pig all integrated into one farm (and we mustn’t forget Betsy the dog, who would be highly offended if we didn’t note how much we loved her). We not only pet several of the animals but also had our 7 year old sit atop a few cows. It was really outrageous and awesome! My personal highlight was getting to collect ostrich eggs in the paddock and then enjoying a homemade ostrich egg omelet for breakfast. Please don’t stay anywhere else in Waitomo. This is the place if you enjoy animals and don’t mind a little dirt here and there!
10. Te Waihou Walkway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Reviewed By KYU153
Arrive early to avoid the crowds and for visibility. We met car loads of people around midday onwards from the Blu Springs end of the trail. The paths are narrow in places so it makes for a less than pleasant experience. We did the walk from end to end starting from the main carpark. When we started the walk at around 10am we could see the bottom of the river so clearly, right from start of the trail to the blue springs portion, the blues and greens were stark. But on our walk back after lunch the glare off the water made the river opaque in a lot places. The track towards the mid section, where the loop starts/ends also has bits where the path has been rubbed smooth and is under tree cover so is slippery even on a hot, dry day. Can’t imagine those sections will be fun to walk when there’s been rain. The best (only) place for a sit down lunch is at the blue springs end or about half an hour into the walk from the main carpark where there’s a small flat section by the river under a grove of trees. If you have 3 hours to spare, definitely recommend starting at the main carpark, the build up to the blue springs is amazing, it’s a cinematic experience.
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