Hamilton :: Waitomo & King Country
Things to Do in Waikato & Waitomo, New Zealand: Located to the west of the North Island the Waikato is easily accessible by road or air. Visit the region’s ancient caves millions of years in the making with their amazing stalactites and stalagmites. There’s walking, hiking, biking, and awesome water sports. Try your hand at kayaking or surfing, take a river cruise, or fish the local waters before relaxing in the natural hot springs.
Experience Waikato & Waitomo Region
- World class surfing
- Cool caves to crawl through
- Wine tasting
- Heritage Trails
- Stunning gardens
You´ll
these great things to see & do…
- Explore the Waitomo Caves with millions of glowworms
- Walk under trees dripping with autumn foliage at Taitua Arboretum
- Experience Hamilton’s stunning gardens
- Abseil deep into the magical underground world
- Visit the Hot Water Beach at Kawhia
- Go kayaking on Lake Karapiro
- Get away from it all in the beautiful Mangaotaki Scenic Reserve
- Take a sunset champagne cruise on the Waikato River
- See the white rhinos at Hamilton Zoo
Base yourself in Hamilton and you are within a short drive to the picturesque Coromandel Peninsula, the superb sandy beaches of Mount Maunganui, and the “Thermal Wonderland’ of Rotorua, If you like surfing, there are great surf beaches to the west, at Raglan, or northeast at ‘The Mount’.
During winter, enjoy a day in the snow at Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields, on the magnificent slopes of Mt Ruapehu, Hamilton is 1,5 hours drive from Auckland New Zealand’s largest city.
Useful Waikato & Waitomo Region New Zealand Resources
- Welcome to Hamilton. Haere Mai.
- Hamilton City Council
- Official tourism, destinations and events website for Waikato
If you are a fan of greenery during your holidays and vacations, Waikato is the perfect destination for you. The region is blessed with various forms and shades of green, showcasing Mother Nature’s beauty in every possible way. Additionally, the calm, cool, and beautiful blue waters are always inviting. The combination of blue and green in Waikato makes it an ideal spot for a vacation.
Hamilton – Waikato offers an abundance of adventurous sports, from surfing, rafting, and sailing to swimming, jet skiing, tandem diving, and hiking. There is no shortage of fun and enjoyment in this region. Moreover, its climate is pleasant throughout the year, making it an excellent vacation spot for any season.
All North Island Regions
Auckland Bay of Plenty Coromandel Peninsula Gisborne & Eastland Hawke’s Bay Northland & Bay of Islands Rotorua Ruapehu Taranaki Taupo Waikato & Waitomo Wellington & Wairarapa Whanganui & Manawatuhttps://youtu.be/9_E9Re-pdQI?si=_qCNMziIvRfRef2x
Find Your Perfect Activity
Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour and Lunch
Matamata, Waikato Home of Middle‑earth™ Active & Adventure
Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, including lunch
Price:Included in Your Tour Package
Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour and Lunch Step Inside the World of Middle-earth: Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour and Lunch. Few filming locations in the world have captured travellers’ imaginations quite like Hobbiton, the real movie set used in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, set among the rolling green hills of
Ruakuri Cave Guided Walking Tour – Waitomo
Waitomo Caves, King Country, New Zealand Active & Adventure Family & Kids
90 minutes
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Embark on a fascinating guided walking tour through Ruakuri Cave in Waitomo. Explore its stunning limestone formations, crystal-clear underground rivers, and unique glowworms that light up the cave’s interior. Learn about the cave’s geological and cultural significance from expert guides while marveling at the awe-inspiring natural beauty of one of New Zealand’s most famous cave
Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Explorer
Spellbound Glowworm Cave, Waitomo Active & Adventure
2 hours, 25 minutes
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Discover the Radiance of the Spellbound Glowworm Cave If you seek an intimate and breathtaking encounter with nature, you must visit the Spellbound Glowworm tour. You will find the starting point just 15 minutes south of Waitomo, tucked slightly off the beaten track. Over millions of years, water erosion carved these rocks into a true
Black Water Rafting – Black Abyss
Ruakuri Cave Active & Adventure
5 hours
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Conquer the Depths: The Ultimate Black Water Rafting Adventure If you are looking for a pulse-pounding way to explore the underworld, Black Water Rafting in the Ruakuri Cave is the ultimate choice. This five-hour expedition is perfect for thrill-seekers who want to see every hidden corner of a subterranean wonderland. Instead of a simple walking
Black Water Rafting – Black Labyrinth
Ruakuri Cave Active & Adventure
3 Hours
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Float down an underground river, slip into fast waters, jump off waterfalls, and take in the magic of the glowworm-studded Ruakuri Cave. Your friendly and passionate guides will gear you up and ensure you’re comfortable in your tube before entering the cave through a hole in the rock and into the underground waters. Weave around
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitor Centre Active & Adventure Family & Kids
1 hour
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour: More than 30 million years ago, the legend of Waitomo began with the creation of limestone at the bottom of the ocean. Discover this ancient world with your expert tour guide bringing the Waitomo Glowworm Cave to life through story-telling its history, features and legends. Walk past stunning, delicate cave
Zealong Discover Tea Experience
Zealong, Waikato Nature
1.5 hours
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
New Zealand provides the perfect environment to grow teas that excel in aroma and taste. Learn how tea came to New Zealand and enjoy a personalized and interactive experience with tea enthusiasts to discover tea’s rich history and culture. Your tour guide will take you along the tea trail explaining the history of tea as
Hamilton Gardens
Hungerford Crescent, Hamilton 3216 Nature City Tours Family & Kids
flexible
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Hamilton Gardens is a world-renowned botanical destination in Hamilton, New Zealand, offering a unique journey through time, culture, and design. Unlike traditional botanical gardens, Hamilton Gardens tells the story of gardens throughout history, featuring themed garden collections that transport visitors across different civilizations and landscapes. From the elegance of an Italian Renaissance Garden to the
Ancient Forest Guided Tour
Sanctuary Mountain, Maungatautari Active & Adventure Nature Wildlife & Beaches
flexible
Price:Included in your tour package
Step Into a Lost World: The Ancient Forest Guided Tour If you travel through the Hamilton or Waikato regions, the Ancient Forest Guided Tour at Sanctuary Mountain offers a rare glimpse into New Zealand’s prehistoric past. One of the longest pest-proof fences in the world surrounds this majestic ecological island. Consequently, this barrier creates a
Hobbiton Movie Set Self Drive Tour
501 Buckland Road, Matamata Active & Adventure Home of Middle‑earth™ Family & Kids
1 hour 45 minutes
Price:Included In Your Tour Package
Hobbiton Movie Set Self Drive Tour: Visit the Real Middle-earth Immerse yourself in the magic of the Shire with a Hobbiton Movie Set self drive tour. Located in the heart of the Waikato, this enchanting 12-acre site is the world-famous setting used in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Driving yourself to

