Hamilton is an inland city in the Waikato region of New Zealand North Island. The
Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river, flows through the middle of the city. This
effectively cuts the city in half, with Hamilton West containing the Central Business District
and main shopping areas. Hamilton East, among other things, is home to The University
of Waikato, resulting in a large student population.
The area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Maori villages,
including Kirikiriroa ("long stretch of gravel'), from which the city takes its Maori name. By
the time British settlers arrived, most of these villages, which sat beside the Waikato
River, were abandoned. Missionaries arrived in the area in the 1830s. At the end of the
Waikato Campaign in the New Zealand Wars the four regiments of the Waikato Militia
were setteled as a peace-keeping force across the region. The 1st Regiment was at
Tauranga, the 2nd at Pirongia, the 3rd at Cambridge and the 4th at Hamilton. The
settlement founded on 24 August, 1864 and named after Captain John Charles Fane
Hamilton, the popular Scottish commander of HMS Esk, who was killed in the battle of
Gate Pa, Tauranga.
The road from Auckland reached Hamilton in 1867 and the railway in December 1877 the
same month Hamilton became a borough. Hamilton was proclaimed a city in 1945.
The city is near the southernmost navigable reach of the Waikato River, amidst New
Zealand's richest and most fertile agricultural land. Initially an agricultural service centre, it
now has a growing and diverse economy. Community archives and historic photograph
collections are maintained and are available at Hamilton City Libraries.
The centre of the city, on the Waikato River, is a bustling retail precinct. The entertainment
area is quite vibrant due to the large student population. Hamilton has the second-largest
collection of cafés in the country—second only to Ponsonby Road in Auckland. However,
Hamilton still struggles with the arguably undeserved nickname of 'Cowtown' due to its
conservative rural background and relative lack of entertainment for a city its size. A more
common nickname of "Hamiltron: the city of the future" is a gently ironic epithet for the city.
PLACE TO VISIT
Hamilton Gardens - are a really nice place to go and see. In addition to 'normal'
gardens such as a rose garden and the Rhododendron Lawn, visitors can also go and
see 'themed' gardens, such as the Chinese Scholar Garden, or the American
Revolutionist Garden, among others. Entrance is free, although beware that some of the
themed gardens are inaccessible after 7:30pm (8pm in the summer).
Hamilton Zoo - is home to over 600 native New Zealand and exotic animals. Kids
especially enjoy it. To get there, simply enter Hamilton from the North or South on SH1,
and look for the signs, on the section of SH1 called Avalon Drive (Te Rapa area in the
North). Open Daily, 9-5pm, with the last admission at 3:30pm. Adults $12, Children $6.
Waikato Museum - General Art and Culture Displays and Exhibits about New
Zealand and International Cultures. Open Daily 10-4:30pm, General Entry is free, though
charges may apply for some exhibitions.
Hamilton New Zealand Temple - is the 13th constructed and 11th operating
temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located just outside the city of
Hamilton, New Zealand in the suburb of Temple View, it was built with a modern single-
spire design very similar to the Bern Switzerland Temple.
Church College of New Zealand - is a private secondary school in Hamilton,
New Zealand, that is operated by the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has been scheduled to be closed in 2009.
WHAT TO DO
The Waipa Delta - is a paddle steamer offering cruises down the Waikato River.
Choose from either the midday cruise with lunch provided (Mon-Sun 12-2pm) or the
evening cruise where dinner is provided (Mon-Sat 7-9pm, Sunday 6-8pm. Although a bit
expensive (for Hamilton) at $39 adults/$20 children, it is definitely worth it. Reservations
required.
The Parachute Music Festival - is one of the largest Christian Music Festivals
hosted outside of the United States, featuring both international and national acts. Occurs
late January, every year.
The Hot Air Balloon Festival - in April each year is also worth a look, especially
the night glow event.
Hamilton 400 V8 Supercars - is the annual V8 Street car race. The inaugural 2008
race brought an estimated 175 000 people to the city, so book your accommodation early.
The Agricultural Fieldays - which are hosted at Mystery Creek, bring thousands of
people (125 000 in 2007) every year to Hamilton.
ArtsPost Galleries - is an art gallery showcasing local work. Well worth a visit, and
also offers a range of items for sale, from paintings to glass blown paperweights. Open
Daily 10-4:30pm, Free Entry.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Hamilton International Airport hosts mostly domestic flights, with regular
direct flights from:
Auckland - fares begin at $65 one way for a journey of 30 minutes
Wellington - fares start at $70 one way for a 1 hour journey
Christchurch - fares start at $135 one way direct for a 1 hr, 40 minute journey (Fares start
at $70 if you stop in Wellington for half an hour)
There are also occassional direct flights from other cities.
There are often limited specials available to/from Hamilton available on Grab-a-seat, Air
New Zealand's website for its specials.
The airport is about 10km out of town, so allow plenty of time for airport transfers. A taxi or
shuttle bus service is available but a rental car might be cheaper. Passengers who arrive
on flights late in the evening on Fridays and Saturdays should arrange transport in
advance as taxis can be scarce. Also, be aware that fog can close the airport on winter
mornings.
By train - Rail New Zealand offer one daily service from Auckland to Hamilton (departs
7:25am, arrives 9:50am), at $49 per person, one way. The journey takes an hour and a
half, and isn't terribly exciting. There is also one daily service from Wellington to Hamilton
(departs 7:25am, arrives 5:00pm), which although costing a whopping $119, does
provide an opportunity to take in some beautiful New Zealand scenery.
By car - Because New Zealand's major highway (SH 1) cuts through the city, getting to
Hamilton is simple. Drive south down State Highway 1 (SH 1) from Auckland. Drive
northbound on SH 1 from Taupo, or connect to SH 1 from Rotorua or the Bay of Plenty.
By bus - Buses can be sometimes full, and sometimes empty, so it can pay to book a
few days in advance. Booking in advance (particularly on the internet) can also save
money - up to half the fare in some cases. In any case, travelling by bus is generally a
cheap option, albeit a bit slow at times.
* Newmans Coach Lines, +64 9 623 1503, operates a premium sightseeing tours
throughout the North Island.
* InterCity Coachlines, +64 9 583 5780, is New Zealand's national coach company and
operates over 150 services to more than 600 destinations nationwide.
As at May 2008 prices on these two coachlines cost:
* Buses to/from Auckland (City Centre) are slightly under $30 full price. The journey
takes approximately 2 hours.
* Buses to/from Tauranga are $30 at full price, with the journey taking just under 2
hours as well. However, buses from *Tauranga are often directed through Rotorua, in
which case the journey can take up to 3 hours.
* Buses to/from Rotorua are $33 at full price, with the journey taking approximately 90
mins (1.5 hours).
* Buses to/from Taupo are just over $40 at full price, for a 2.5 hour journey.
* Buses to/from Wellington (City Centre) are $80-100 at full price. The journey lasts
about 9-10 hours.
As mentioned though, by booking in advance or online, or buying a concession
(student/over 60 etc) ticket, the price can be reduced significantly - usually up to or even
more than 50%. This is particularly true for booking online, so use the internet if you have
it at your disposal.
However, Naked Bus is also another option, particularly for budget travellers. Similar to
discount airlines, Naked Bus fares start off low (at $1 for the first customer to buy a ticket
on a route) and then increase each time a new ticket is bought for that route. So, provided
you book early, Naked Bus can be a significant cost saving. They do, however, offer less
routes than Newmans and Intercity, and travel times can take a lot longer than on the
other coaches.
