Tourist attraction in Hamilton

“I have just come home from a great day with Earth Scientist Dr Megan Balks on one of Greta's fabulous tours. We started in Hamilton with a brief explanation of New Zealand geological history, the Waikato Basin, the Waikato River and the impacts of the Taupo 132AD eruptions. We then drove through the Waikato and were shown many examples of evidence of this history, ending in Raglan. Once again, Greta has provided an exceptional day trip with her usual care and attention to detail. Thank you Greta and Megan. Anne D”

“What a great walk. Was a bit more difficult than I thought it would be, but my 6 and 10 year old made it to the top with a couple stops along the way. Beautiful views and great to get outdoors. Loved all the little quotes along the way to keep you motivated too.”

“The only thing bad about Raglan Boat Charters is that eventually it'll end and you'll have to go home - and that will be a sad time. Raglan Boat Charters is a great experience. The staff are amazing, friendly, informative, helpful, will bend over backwards to help you out or get you on a tour. We did the sunset tour on a perfect night and it was a blast. In a truly Kiwi experince, Fish and Chips were delivered before we left - the perfect entree to what was to come. We took a tikitour around the Raglan harbour where the sights were enjoyed and the history of the harbour explained. Birdlife was plentiful, as were the stingray! The Captain gave us a few of his secret fishing spots - but you have to do the tour if you want to find out more about that. As we cruised around, a wicked soundtrack of sing-along party hits played and created a really fun atmosphere. The cruise was more than 90 minutes - incredible value for money and an experience you'll be wanting to repeat quickly! 10 stars.”

“Easy 1500 odd steps or so. It's a great cardio but does have a few lookouts and waterfalls. Good fun but it's all stairs. Legs will get an workout. Summit views are amazing.”

“Nature Short drive out of Raglan and totally worth the detour... Parking is tiny (like 5–6 cars max) so either come early or rock up late like a ninja... The walk from the carpark is super easy around 10 minutes and you’ll follow a peaceful little river that leads straight to this massive waterfall drop... The falls really live up to the name… long,straight,smooth stream dropping like a bridal veil in slow motion... You get multiple viewpoints too top,middle,bottom so choose your angle and snap your shot like a pro... There is a toilet there… not the greatest but if nature calls,it’ll save your life... Overall: quick walk,big payoff absolute must stop for the Raglan trip... Smoothest Drop in Raglan.. Logan was here... Came without expectation and left Happier than i tought i would..”

“We had a fantastic day here, stayed for about two and a half hours. There is so much to do we could have easily stayed longer!! Will definitely be back, thanks Dave for sharing all your knowledge with us!!”

“We finally got around to visiting Hobbiton this week and it was well worth the wait and we were very lucky that we had a perfect weather day for it. We were blown away by the whole experience. from arrival in the carpark which is so well laid out, to our departure with Ice Creams in hand, we had a fabulous time. We arrived early, unusual for us, and I'm so glad we did. Check in was easy, no queue. We could relax and enjoy a fabulous meal in the cafe, very generous portions of ingredients in our burger and toastie, while taking in the views of the farmland beyond and soaking up the general happy vibe. We were first in line for our tour, but ended up going on the tour before ours as they had a few spare seats. The tour was fantastic, we enjoyed the video introduction and info about the farm and partnership, while enjoying seeing the rolling green pasture and farm animals outside. Our tour guide was fun and informative, and we progressed at a comfortable pace past the hobbit holes, with plenty of time for photographs and questions. We enjoyed a ginger beer and cider at the Green Dragon Inn before re-joining our guide for the return bus ride. Hobbiton is a magical place, the attention to detail is incredible and we are now inspired to watch the trilogies again.”

“Amazing experience!! I went there with my family and we all felt we stepped into another world! The place is exactly like the movie scenes from Lord of the Rings and we all felt like we were the movie characters, moving through the place. It really is like walking into a fantasy realm, the houses are all so small and looks like only dwarf or smurf can live inside. But surprisingly, they let us visit inside one of the houses and all the movie props were preserved so well! Everything was so lifelike and some of the props such as the cooking pot was shaking and even had steam blowing out. The fire place was real too, with real wood and real fire. At first i thought it was a fake fire made of paper but when i walked over and felt the heat, o realised it was a real fire!! It's definitely a must visit tourist spot, highly recommend!!”

“Amazing place! The team here is so passionate about protecting NZ’s native wildlife, and the guided walks are first class. A must-visit if you want to see the beauty of our forests and learn how we can help protect them. I will be back in late spring for sure.”

“Good experience - Reception lady was nice and helpful, We did the dairy room, had a great time - good interaction level.”

“Obviously very beautiful place. Only experienced surfers can surf here. Really cool to watch surfers shredding the waves”

“This journey was a profoundly enriching experience, a symphony of nature's finest offerings. The breathtaking panorama at the summit. Along the ascent, delightful companions in the form of cheerful fantail birds and other feathered friends flitted about, lending their joyful melodies to the journey.”

“Nice place to visit… Always Quiet. Good hiking experience, cool waterfalls. Birds chirping, and a good place to relax and think”

“Never heard about this waterfall before and just spotted it on the way from Tauranga to Auckland. Really cool waterfall. Not huge but still decent size. Went here in winter on a lightly raining day, so there it was not busy at all.”

“This hike is definitely not for the unfit. Within a few minutes of the hike you encounter many flights of stairs. Fortunately within 15 minutes of the hike you encounter some kauri trees. You may keep going and do the loop.”

“Great two hour stop. We did the windows walk. This included approximately 100 man made steps. Dark and wet mining tunnels ( bring a light and waterproof shoes). Part of the lower track is closed, so to make it a loop take the Battery track back. We didn't and got to do the 100 steps all over again! Two suspension bridges to cross to get there. One has a lot of bounce! Easy parking with a toilet. Probably a 3 out of 10 on strenuous ( only because of the stairs). Not handicap friendly. Bad knees; beware.”

“Such a unique place at the heart of Hamilton! I initially thought this would like any other botanical gardens but I was wrong. The concept of having different themed gardens (Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Indian) was quite refreshing to see and that made the whole experience unique and engaging throughout the visit. Highly recommend if you’re looking to take professional photos as the garden has a lot of color and diverse options.”

“This is a great nature walk for people of all ages and great for dog owners except those who don't adhere to the rules by letting there dogs of the leash which I saw today while walking my dog it only takes one incident of an attack of any kind and legislation will bank dogs from entering the park there are plenty of signs informing dog owners that dogs must be on a leash at all times while in the park and for those few who ignore this simple rule jeopardize the park for the rest of us dog owners who use the place to exercise our pets thanks lady you know who you are”

“Very well maintained with a good variety of flowers. Built for the aristocracy to escape the harsh environment.”

“A beautifully laid out garden, it appears to be a very authentic representation of an Italian Renaissance Garden.”

“A wonderful place to visit!! We couldn't believe that it was free to visit. A lovely place to stay for either a short or long time. As well as seeing the animals there are many places to sit and have a picnic as well as a lovely childrens' play area. Highly recommend.”

“Wonderful story of Arboretums history. Lovely walk around - about 2 hrs with kids. Plenty art installations to see. Lovely Cafe with cake & ice cream. There's also Ruru Retreat - a cottage on site you can book through booking .com ( recommended).”

“Loveeeee the food here very much!! In our 2 weeks here in north NZ, we visited this outlet several times! The food really authentic. Our personal favourite : butter chicken, the beriyani ( chicken and lamb, both are excellent!) and of course the masala tea! Hats off to the chef!!!! Highly recommended for lunch and dinner!”

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had such a great time at Confinement Escape Room! We did the Haunted House room and it was such a fun and exciting experience. A special shout-out to Luca — he was absolutely amazing! He was so kind, welcoming, and lovely, which made the whole experience even better. I’d highly recommend this escape room to anyone looking for a fun challenge — we’ll definitely be back!”

“It is with a heavy heart that we learned of Cornerstone Alpaca Stud’s upcoming closure next month. From Singapore, we extend our deepest gratitude for the unforgettable experience and warm hospitality we received during our visit. The story of how Dave and Sonja transformed a simple piece of land into a haven for alpacas & llamas, guided by their faith and the Almighty’s vision, is truly inspiring and a testament to their dedication. Our time at Cornerstone was nothing short of magical. Interacting with the friendly, and occasionally shy, alpacas and llamas was a joy that warmed our hearts especially the little one. A special shout-out to Sam and (I believe) Gunther—please forgive me if I’ve gotten the name wrong—Their enthusiasm for educating us of these friendly alpacas made our visit truly memorable. The Cornerstone Kitchen was not open but thanks for the lovely recommendation to try Woodlands Estate which is a few minutes away. We also loved browsing the Alpaca Shop, where the hand-felted scarves and other alpaca products showcased the care and artistry behind this unique farm. Thank you, Cornerstone Alpaca Stud, for creating such a beautiful space and sharing it with the world. Your legacy will live on in the hearts of all who visited. We wish Dave, Sonja, and the entire team all the best in their future endeavors. Hope the beautiful alpacas, llamas are in good hands. Please visit Cornerstone if you want to be a shepherd to the friendly alpacas.”

“Aaron was a wonderful boat driver and tour guide, an overall super nice guy with a good sense of humour and lots of local and historic knowledge. Highly recommend! Thanks for the fab tour and the crazy spins Aaron, it was super fun and exciting and you really made the ride a memorable and awesome experience. Thank you!! Trish and Chris Ps - sorry for the excited/scared screaming, I couldn't help it!!!”

“Great smooth and wide paths, ideal for skating and scooter Large unmowed areas full of beautiful wildflowers, good for biodiversity”

“Such an awesome spot to check out! The bridge has amazing views over the gorge and the Waikato River definitely worth the stop if you’re in the area. It’s a bit of a hidden gem and not too crowded, which makes it even better. The walk across can be a little wobbly but that just adds to the fun. There’s also a nice short track nearby and a café close by for a coffee after. Great place for photos and a bit of adventure!”

“Our first time here! Definitely going back soon. Green. Peaceful. Relaxing. There's a gorgeous children's garden with a park and some water features to take a small dip and cool down. Lovely picnic area. Lots to see and great for getting those steps in. Great place!!”

“A magical place! I climb up carrying my toddler in my hiking carrier. There are quite a few steps but it's not difficult. Hour round trip with a snack and a break to soak in the 360 view up the top. Well worth it. 30 mins drive from central Hamilton. Will return again soon ❤️”