Things to do in Waikato & The King Country
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Solscape
Super-sustainable Solscape offers 2½-hour surfing lessons ($85), as well as board and wetsuit hire (per half-day $35).
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Owhango Hotel
The country pub doubles as the local store, and dishes up solid fare like lamb shanks and vegetarian pasta.
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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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Regent Theatre
Built in 1932, this art-deco cinema has five screens and fabulous movie memorabilia in the foyer. It's deathly serious about turning off your mobile phone.
reviewed
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Waterworld
Waterworld has indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, a gym, spa and crèche.
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Taumarunui Jet Tours
Taumarunui Jet Tours runs high-octane jet-boat trips on the Whanganui River.
reviewed
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Meteor Theatre
Live theatre and concerts can be enjoyed at the Meteor Theatre .
reviewed
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New World
Self caterers bound for Waitomo should stock up at New World.
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Skycity Cinemas
A seven-screen mainstream multiplex. Adults pay $10 on Tuesdays.
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Victoria Cinema
Watch art-house and international films while sipping on a fine wine or cold beer at 'Hamilton's home of fine movies'. Very bohemian. Tickets are $2 cheaper on weekdays.
reviewed
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Pak 'n Save
Just north of downtown Hamilton.
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Dymocks
Specialist books and maps.
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Wairere Falls
About 15km northeast of Matamata are the spectacular 153m-high Wairere Falls (the highest on the North Island). From the car park it’s a 45-minute walk through native bush to the lookout or a steep 90-minute climb to the summit.
reviewed
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Waikato River Trails
Winding east from Cambridge, the 100km Waikato River Trails track was ascribed ‘Quick Start’ status as part of the Nga Haerenga, New Zealand Cycle Trail (www.nzcycletrail.com) project, and opened in late 2011. You can either walk or cycle the five combined trails (or parts thereof), with lots of history and local landscape en route.
reviewed
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Waikato River
The strong-flowing Waikato River is well worth investigating. Bush-covered riverside walkways run along both sides of the river and provide the city’s green belt. Jogging paths continue to the boardwalk circling Lake Rotoroa, west of the centre. Memorial Park is closer to town, and has the remains of PS Rangiriri – an iron-clad, steam-powered gunboat from the Waikato War – embedded in the riverbank (under restoration when we visited).
See Activities for some more options for exploring the river.
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The Shack
Burgers, wraps, vegie fry-ups, curries, Middle Eastern plates, tapas... This shack ain't no hack when it comes to cafe fare. A longboard strapped to the wall, wobbly old floorboards, up-tempo tunes and international staff complete a very pretty picture.
reviewed
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Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro
Te Kuititanga-O-Nga-Whakaaro (the Gathering of Thoughts and Ideas) is a beautiful pavilion of etched-glass, tukutuku (woven flax panels) and wooden carvings that celebrates the town’s history.
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Rocket Coffee
Duck down Barton St for what some locals say is the coolest thing about Hamilton (other than perhaps the Riff Raff statue). Rocket Coffee is a warehouse-like bean barn, roasting on-site and enticing caffeine fiends to the communal table strewn with newspapers. Staff spin old-school vinyl (and take requests) in between playing barista and packaging up sacks of beans for shipment.
reviewed
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Raurimu Spiral
The Raurimu Spiral, 30km south of town, is a unique feat of railway engineering that was completed in 1908 after 10 years’ work. Rail buffs can experience the spiral by taking the Overlander train to National Park township (return $136).
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Rap, Raft ‘n’ Rock
These small-group expeditions (five hours, $160) start with abseil training, followed by a 27m descent into a natural cave, and then floating along a subterranean river on an inner tube with plenty of glowworms. After some caving, a belayed rock climb up a 20m cliff brings you to the surface.
reviewed
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Raglan Scenic Tours
These guys run an array of sightseeing tours, including one hour around Raglan (adult/child $30/10), 3½ to four hours around Mount Karioi including Bridal Veil Falls and Te Toto Gorge ($90/40), and three to four hours to Kawhia ($70/40).
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Raglan Roast
This hole-in-the-wall coffee roaster with a fold-up front wall does the best brew in town, and that's about all (there's not much room for anything else). Stop by for a cup, a cookie and a conversation.
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Raglan Bone Carving Studio
Carve your own bone pendant (now that's a souvenir!) with Rangi Wills, a reformed 'troubled teenager' who found out he was actually really good at carving things. Workshops run for three to four hours, or you can book a private lesson.
reviewed
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Ocean Beach
Four kilometres west of Kawhia is Ocean Beach and its high, black-sand dunes. Swimming can be dangerous, but one to two hours either side of low tide you can find the Te Puia Hot Springs in the sand – dig a hole for your own natural hot pool.
reviewed
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Nash
All white/grey/black paint and dapper, quick-moving staff, sexy Nash has transformed the old National Hotel, sinking the boot firmly into Ye Olde Cambridge. We hope it lasts: the braised lamb shoulder with roast-garlic mash and pea puree is sublime, and the streetside terrace is just made for quaffing Kiwi wine.
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