Hamilton is set to be this month’s RV hotspot, as hundreds of motorhomes and caravans make their way to the city, in preparation for the upcoming NZMCA Hamilton Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show
The city is well known for its many public offerings, such as Hamilton Gardens, Waikato Museum, Hamilton Lake, and Waikato River cruises. However, there are many other attributes to explore and experience, so plan ahead, bring your bikes, and add some new discoveries to your must-do list. We’ve put together our recommended fast five must-dos to make this year’s adventure particularly memorable.
Waitakaruru Arboretum & Sculpture Park
This legacy of love is an astonishing display of intensive planting, which has taken place over the past 30 years. This once-barren quarry has been transformed into 17 hectares of native trees and shrubs, with a stunning arboretum, pond auditorium, and themed plantings. It’s the perfect place to create your own adventures, exploring kilometres of paths, with picnic spots and around 100 sculptures and works of art dotted around. Children’s interactive worksheets are available and there’s ample parking for RVs.
Te Awa River Ride
Enjoy fresh views of the Waikato River as part of the Te Awa River Ride, spanning 65km from Ngāruawāhia to Lake Karapiro. If you’re based at Mystery Creek for the NZMCA Hamilton Show, it’s just a short drive (or cycle) to Tamahere where you set off along new riverside boardwalks towards Cambridge.
Take a break along the way at The Bikery Café (check out the velodrome while you’re there, where many of our Olympic champions train). There are numerous points to hop on and off Te Awa River Ride and plenty of smooth flat stretches of concrete pathway to enjoy.
One of the most popular points to hop onto the trail is Hamilton Gardens (just 11.6km from Mystery Creek) with ample parking at the bottom of Hamilton Gardens Road (accessed via Gate 2).
Decadent dining
If there’s one thing Hamilton isn’t short on, it’s quality cafés and restaurants. Whether your preference is street food or fine dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice. It pays to book ahead though, as popular options such as Alpino (Cambridge), Sage (Hamilton East), ISO Café Bistro (Raglan), Hayes Common (Hamilton), Punnet Eatery, and Mixture (Tamahere) are often busy with tables in high demand.
If you’re after great coffee and a quick bite, there are several local favourites tucked away operating from trailers and containers. The best pies in town can be found at the unassuming café on wheels Jem & Co (Tamahere Drive). Made fresh on-site daily, these are snapped up quickly by locals in the know, so head along early for piping fresh pastry treats.
If you have children or grandchildren with you, but fancy quality coffee, Front Paddock container café on Matangi Road serves up the best barista Raglan roast around. Plus, there are local Volare treats, organic produce to buy, a well-stocked sharing library, and an awesome kids’ playground with animals to pat and feed.
Ross Bros Museum
If you have an appreciation for road travel, this little-known but hugely impressive museum is well worth a trip to Cambridge. Showcasing classic muscle cars, vintage trucks, motorcycles, engines, and machinery, the huge building houses around 100 different vehicles, so allow yourself some time to properly explore. Located on Hannon Road, it’s an unexpected delight.
Zealong Tea Estate
New Zealand’s most prestigious tea plantation, with more than a million Camellia sinensis bushes planted, this is surely the perfect destination for an authentic and luxurious high tea. The Zealong Tea Room offers a farm-to-dining experience with the wonders of tea at the heart. For dinner, Camellia Restaurant welcomes guests on Friday and Saturday evenings. There’s also an immersive modern retail boutique, which showcases rare and unique teapots, a tea-tasting experience, as well as everything you need to create your own elevated tea traditions at home.
