Things to do in Hamilton
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Hamilton Gardens
Stretching over 50 hectares of riverbank southeast of the centre, Hamilton Gardens incorporates a large park, cafe, restaurant and extravagantly themed enclosed gardens. The Paradise Garden Collection has separate Italian Renaissance, Chinese, Japanese, English, American and Indian gardens complete with colonnades, pagodas, dovecotes, raked sand and a mini Taj Mahal. Equally interesting is the Productive Garden Collection with its model family-sized sustainable garden, a fragrant herb garden and the precolonisation Maori Te Parapara garden. Look out for the impressive Nga Uri O Hinetuparimaunga (Earth Blanket) sculpture at the main roadside gates.
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Riff Raff
One of Hamilton’s more unusual public artworks is a life-size statue of Rocky Horror Picture Show writer Richard O’Brien in the guise of Riff Raff, the time-warping alien from the planet Transsexual. It looks over a small park on the site of the former Embassy Theatre where O’Brien worked as a hairdresser. The Embassy’s ‘late-night double-feature picture shows’ found a place in the ultimate cult classic – although it’s hard to imagine 1960s Hamilton inspired the tale of bisexual alien decadence.
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Waikato Museum
The excellent Waikato Museum has five main areas: an art gallery; interactive science galleries; Tainui galleries housing Maori treasures, including the magnificently carved waka taua (war canoe) Te Winika; a Hamilton history exhibition entitled ‘Never a Dull Moment’; and a Waikato River exhibition. The museum also runs a rigorous program of public events.
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Hamilton Zoo
Hamilton Zoo houses 500-plus species and takes part in conservation breeding projects. The rotating ‘Meet the Keeper’ program provides interesting information from the critters’ caregivers…and it has NZ’s only tapir! The zoo is 8km from the city centre: take Norton Rd off Tristram St, then SH23 west towards Raglan, turn right at Newcastle Rd and then left onto Brymer Rd.
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Singer HaBARdashery
A classy operator on the Hood St strip, Singer is a moody tapas and wine bar occupying the oldest stone building in Hamilton – a former haberdashery. Expect a dizzying selection of wines and beers, great coffee, satisfying brunches and zingy tapas (try the ‘Needle’: eye fillet, mushroom, scallop, chorizo, and haloumi skewered on a knitting needle).
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La Commune
La Commune Vegetarians and ecowarriors rejoice! Not only does this bohemian place deliver fresh, well-presented meals, it has a selection of vegan wines, good magazines, funky 1950s furniture and a commitment to recycling and ecofriendly products. Special treats are the Thursday buffet ($10) and live music on the weekends.
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Scott’s Epicurean
This gorgeous joint features swanky leather banquettes, pressed-tin ceilings, great coffee and an interesting and affordable menu: try the sweet orange breakfast couscous or the ever-popular spaghetti aglio e olio. Service is friendly, it’s fully licensed, and a charming outdoor area beckons in the warmer months.
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ArtsPost
ArtsPost, near the Waikato Museum, is a contemporary gallery and gift shop housed in the grand former post office. It focuses on the best of local art: paintings, glass, prints, textiles and photography. Check out the awesome floorboards.
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Hydro
On the east side of the river (you can walk here along the water’s edge), Hydro has converted an old block of neighbourhood shops into a fun cafe with tables spilling onto the pavement. Great for brunch and light meals with novel taste combinations.
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River Kitchen
Heralded as Waikato’s ‘Best New Cafe’ by Cafe magazine, hip River Kitchen does things with simple style: cakes, gourmet breakfasts and fresh seasonal lunches (angle for a slice of the Spanish duck pie), and a barista who knows his beans.
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Shine
It’s a measure of Hamilton’s increasing sophistication that its main gay-and-lesbian club is now visible to Victoria St’s passing parade. There’s a dance floor at the back and an intimate beer garden in front.
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Palate
Given this restaurant’s deserved status as the best in the central North Island, it’s surprisingly reasonably priced. Chef/owner Mat McLean delivers an innovative mod-NZ menu and free tasters between courses.
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Canvas
The restaurant in the Waikato Museum offers classy dining with a lovely outlook. If you're just taking a sightseeing break, the light meal options ($16 to $18) are delicious – try the pumpkin ravioli.
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Diggers Bar
This funky good-time bar has a wealth of liquid bread on tap and nightly live music in a huge room out the back. Wednesday night’s $25 ‘pizza, fries and two drinks’ is a damn good deal.
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Zephyr
With Che Guevara's noble face gazing from the wall you can expect great Cuban coffee. Settle in for tasty counter food ($6 to $8) or a mix of Cuban, South American and Mexican dishes.
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Cook
Rambling through a noble, burgundy-coloured timber hall (1874), this buzzy cafe-bar dishes up good pub grub (mains $13 to $24), plus live music, poker, comedy and quiz nights.
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Bank
Inside this snappily renovated 1878 heritage building are plenty of beers on tap, a good wine selection and lots of screens to catch the big games.
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Cubbyhole
Watch the parade on the street below with a cocktail in hand from the 1st-floor balcony. It attracts an older party crowd with its classic grooves.
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Founders Theatre
For live theatre and concerts (anything from Bee Gees tributes to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra), try Founders Theatre.
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Metropolis
A global and varied menu is offered at this casual and popular café, which covers all the bases and has a chirpy atmosphere.
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Rodeo Rodeo
This cheesy bar goes off on the weekend, with its free pink cowboy hats and Neil Diamond/Glen Campbell soundtrack.
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Browsers
A jazzy, musty, locally owned secondhand bookshop with a good NZ section, kids’ books and fiction.
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Waterworld
Waterworld has indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, a gym, spa and crèche.
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Meteor Theatre
Live theatre and concerts can be enjoyed at the Meteor Theatre .
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Skycity Cinemas
A seven-screen mainstream multiplex. Adults pay $10 on Tuesdays.
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