Hamilton - North Island, New Zealand

Hamilton is a picturesque city along the banks of the Waikato River. The central place of activity in Hamilton is along or off Victoria St which runs along the west bank of the tree lined Waikato River.

What catches one's eye is the Wesley Chambers on Collingwood Street built in 1924. The place exudes a healthy prosperity brought about by trade and farming. Hamilton forms the heart of New Zealand's dairy industry.

At the corner of Bridge Street, the beautiful St Peter's Cathedral reflects old 15th century English architecture though it was built in 1915. Richard O'Brien, the creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show hails from Hamilton and there is a statue in his honour opposite the Wesley Chambers.

The Waikato Museum of Art and History is a repository of the history of Waikato and in particular the glory of the Tainui culture. It is a modern day building on the riverbank.

The Tainui culture is reflected in a rich collection of woven flax, ritual artefacts, tools and carvings. The Te Winika war canoe is a standout. Most of the other exhibition spaces are rotated on a regular basis.

The food and drink hub in Hamilton lies along Hood and Victoria Streets. There are a wide variety of cafes and restaurants which double up as bars as the day progresses. Casabella Lane is a leafy street and it is worth checking out the restaurants in this sylvan street.

Hamilton has a great library, a Skycity cinema village on Ward St, interesting bookshops and a post office on Bryce St. Shopping at the Tamahere and Frankton markets provides an interesting experience.

Hamilton Activities:

Across the Waikato River is the Memorial Park. You can go on a leisurely ride on the river in a paddle steamer that operates from the Memorial Park jetty.

Two kilometres south from here is the famous 58 hectare Hamilton Gardens on Cobham Drive. It has a marvelous collection of roses, rhododendrons, tropical plants and cacti.

The Paradise Gardens collection next door consists of 6 exotic enclosures each planted in a different style from around the world, including the zen stillness of the Japanese Garden, the English Garden, the Chinese Scholar's Garden, the Italian Renaissance Garden and the American Modernist Garden.

A riverside walk is a pleasant experience as is a visit to The Hamilton Zoo. Hamilton has a variety of festivals the notable ones being the Agricultural Field Days, the Parachute Music Festival and Balloons Over Waikato.

Hamilton is a lush green prosperous city; the agrarian simplicity warmth of its traditional Kiwi warmth and hospitality will charm its way into your heart.

Looknbook can provide you a fantastic Hamilton travel experience by taking care of your Hamilton accommodation and Hamilton activities to help you make the most of everything this wonderful city of Hamilton has to offer.