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 The city of Hamilton on New Zealand's North Island is a young, passionate, ambitious city with a warm and welcoming spirit, rich history and vast range of natural wonders just waiting to be explored. There are a magnificent range of parks and gardens throughout the city, it has a thriving cultural precinct and the range of leisure activities is second to none.
Most of the north island's attractions can be reached by a short day trip from Hamilton.
And most of these attractions are accessible in one of our car rentals: beaches, lakes, hot pools, mountains and caves. It is a short half an hour drive west to the prized west coast surfing beach of Raglan. It is a 1.5 hour drive north to the sophisticated city of Auckland and to the spectacular beaches of the Coromandel peninsula.
If you plan on staying in Hamilton you will have a range of activities to keep you busy. The town is easy for visitors to navigate in one of our car hire vehicles and is full of fun activities to make your holiday an enjoyable one.
Waikato River
The river is a central feature of life in Hamilton. The river can be enjoyed in a number of ways. Hire a canoe and enjoy the beauty of New Zealand's largest river while you paddle your way along the scenic river banks. If you prefer to learn about Hamilton as you cruise then take a guided kayak tour where you will learn more about the River system from a trained professional kayak guide.
For something a little more leisurely in pace, take a stroll along one of the many walkways along the banks of the river. These provide a fantastic way to experience the beauty of the river without the threat of getting wet. Whether you walk, run or ride you will be impressed by the stunning natural beauty of the river.
For a more memorable experience take a horse trek along the banks of the beautiful Waikato river. This can be found after a short 15 minute drive in your car hire vehicle from the city centre and offers horse treks to all ages and abilities. Individuals, family groups and businesses are all welcome but bookings are essential.
Regular boat cruises are also available from Memorial park with both lunch time and afternoon general cruises available. More services will be added in future and will provide visitors with the chance to sit down and enjoy a meal while learning about the history of the area from a historical guide.
Hamilton Gardens
These public gardens see over 1 million visitors every year who come for the unique experience of immersing themselves in gardens from around the world. The gardens are connected by a series of paths and passageways that allow visitors to discover the story behind each garden at their own pace. There is plenty of parking for your car rental and admission is very modest fee.
Waikato Museum
This renowned museum showcases art works and cultural items from across the Waikato region. The building was designed by an award winning New Zealand architect who built the museum near the banks of the Waikato River over 5 levels with room for 12 galleries. The museum is home to a number of kid friendly activities that will educate as well as entertain the young and the young at heart. If you plan on spending any length of time in Hamilton with children, then do yourself a favour, steer your car hire vehicle towards the museum and scour the museum's program for ideas on how to entertain the kids.
Visit Riff Raff
Anyone old enough to remember the Rocky Horror Picture Show will be interested to learn that the man responsible for writing the story actually lived and worked in Hamilton next door to the site of the new demolished Embassy Theatre. A statue was commissioned and unveiled in 2004 and is now a proud reminder of the creative spirit of Hamilton's residents. Even if you do not stop for a closer look why not drive past in your car hire New Zealand vehicle?
Hamilton Zoo
Kids of all ages will be delighted at the over 600 native New Zealand and exotic animals housed on 25ha of tranquil surroundings. Guided tours are available by special request but the zoo offers a number of animal encounters that will help visitors learn more about the zoo animals and provide the chance to meet some real characters.
Arts & Culture
Hamilton has a growing collection of public art installations, art galleries, theatres and cinema complexes which is supported by the range of eclectic and talented local artists. The wide variety of artistic endeavours enriches the city with a sense of pride and cultural awareness that makes Hamilton unique. A casual drive around town in your car hire vehicle will provide plenty of examples of the creative and free spirit of the residents of Hamilton.
Visitors interested in learning more can visit one of the many public galleries or, for a more personal encounter why not follow the Hamilton Art Trail and visit some of the artists in their own studios. You will find a wide variety of artists working in a range of medium from painting to digital creations, from sculpting to photography.
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