Waikato and Waitomo

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

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 & Manawatu

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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