Diana’s guidebook
Event Centres
Mystery Creek Events Centre is one of New Zealand's biggest event centres. Located 1.8 km's from our gate, it is home to many events, the largest being the National Agricultural Fieldays which is held annually in June. https://mysterycreek.co.nz/
25 locals recommend
Mystery Creek Events Centre
125 Mystery Creek RdMystery Creek Events Centre is one of New Zealand's biggest event centres. Located 1.8 km's from our gate, it is home to many events, the largest being the National Agricultural Fieldays which is held annually in June. https://mysterycreek.co.nz/
Lake Karapiro is an artificial reservoir lake on the Waikato River, 30 kilometres south-east of the city of Hamilton in New Zealand's North Island. The lake was formed in 1947 by damming the Waikato River to store water for the 96-megawatt Karapiro hydroelectric power station. There are a number of access points open to the public on the banks of Lake Karāpiro but the most well know is Mighty River Domain, an iconic Waipa District Council site and one of New Zealand's premier event venues. Every year it showcases a variety of sporting and cultural events and has been the stage for a number of memorable international sporting occasions. https://www.lakekarapiro.co.nz/
55 locals recommend
Lake Karapiro
Lake Karapiro is an artificial reservoir lake on the Waikato River, 30 kilometres south-east of the city of Hamilton in New Zealand's North Island. The lake was formed in 1947 by damming the Waikato River to store water for the 96-megawatt Karapiro hydroelectric power station. There are a number of access points open to the public on the banks of Lake Karāpiro but the most well know is Mighty River Domain, an iconic Waipa District Council site and one of New Zealand's premier event venues. Every year it showcases a variety of sporting and cultural events and has been the stage for a number of memorable international sporting occasions. https://www.lakekarapiro.co.nz/
The Avantidrome is located in Cambridge and is the Waikato’s newest sports and leisure facility. This world-class facility is centred around the purpose built 250m wooden cycling velodrome, and is host to a range of other high performance sport and community facilities. There’s lots to do and see at the Avantidrome, and there’s something for everyone; from beginners to New Zealand’s medal winning track cyclists, even non cyclists. https://www.avantidrome.co.nz/
50 locals recommend
Avantidrome
15 Hanlin RdThe Avantidrome is located in Cambridge and is the Waikato’s newest sports and leisure facility. This world-class facility is centred around the purpose built 250m wooden cycling velodrome, and is host to a range of other high performance sport and community facilities. There’s lots to do and see at the Avantidrome, and there’s something for everyone; from beginners to New Zealand’s medal winning track cyclists, even non cyclists. https://www.avantidrome.co.nz/
Cafe's
Cafe Irresistiblue is a lovely cafe with an interesting back story and is located next to Monavale organic blueberries orchard is 8.3 km or 9 minutes by car from our location. They are open 7 days from 9am-4.30pm. https://www.cafeirresistiblue.co.nz/
9 locals recommend
Cafe Irresistiblue
156 Turkington RdCafe Irresistiblue is a lovely cafe with an interesting back story and is located next to Monavale organic blueberries orchard is 8.3 km or 9 minutes by car from our location. They are open 7 days from 9am-4.30pm. https://www.cafeirresistiblue.co.nz/
The Lily Pad Café is a 'destination', with the Garden Art Studio located adjacent, it creates a perfect location for a place to take some time out and enjoy a great coffee and some delicious food. https://www.thelilypadcafe.co.nz/. https://www.thegardenartstudio.co.nz/
15 locals recommend
Lily Pad Cafe
1234 Kaipaki RdThe Lily Pad Café is a 'destination', with the Garden Art Studio located adjacent, it creates a perfect location for a place to take some time out and enjoy a great coffee and some delicious food. https://www.thelilypadcafe.co.nz/. https://www.thegardenartstudio.co.nz/
Quaint cafe with a vintage feel offering elevated light fare & high tea in the countryside . https://www.oldecreamery.co.nz/
The Olde Creamery Cafe
317 Kaipaki RdQuaint cafe with a vintage feel offering elevated light fare & high tea in the countryside . https://www.oldecreamery.co.nz/
Punnet Eatery is a proud, family-run business. You can pick your own fresh berries during the summer, and let the kids run free in a specially-designed playground. Punnet has a real character of its own and is a favourite of people all over the Waikato. Adjacent to the cafe is The Country Providore and is the place to go for chic homewares and gifts, as well as specialty and everyday foods from local providers. https://punnet.co.nz/
29 locals recommend
Punnet Eatery
337 Newell RdPunnet Eatery is a proud, family-run business. You can pick your own fresh berries during the summer, and let the kids run free in a specially-designed playground. Punnet has a real character of its own and is a favourite of people all over the Waikato. Adjacent to the cafe is The Country Providore and is the place to go for chic homewares and gifts, as well as specialty and everyday foods from local providers. https://punnet.co.nz/
A touch of Italy in the heart of Cambridge. Echoes of Italian tradition are intertwined with modern culture. This is an immersive dining experience created to delight, indulge and inspire your curiosity. From the kitchen to your plate there is nothing but passion, flavour and really good wine. https://www.alpino.co.nz/page/cambridge/
52 locals recommend
Alpino Cucina e Vino
43 Victoria StA touch of Italy in the heart of Cambridge. Echoes of Italian tradition are intertwined with modern culture. This is an immersive dining experience created to delight, indulge and inspire your curiosity. From the kitchen to your plate there is nothing but passion, flavour and really good wine. https://www.alpino.co.nz/page/cambridge/
Great food, coffee and smoothies in the heart of Cambridge. https://www.paddockcambridge.co.nz/
34 locals recommend
Paddock
46 Victoria StGreat food, coffee and smoothies in the heart of Cambridge. https://www.paddockcambridge.co.nz/
Onyx Cambridge
70 Alpha StGreat food and service. https://www.onyxcambridge.co.nz/
Alpha Street Kitchen and Baris a modern eatery in the heart of Cambridge offering great food throughout the day. https://www.alphast.co.nz/
28 locals recommend
Alpha Street Kitchen & Bar
47 Alpha StAlpha Street Kitchen and Baris a modern eatery in the heart of Cambridge offering great food throughout the day. https://www.alphast.co.nz/
Camarosa
11 Davison RdNeighbourhoods
Cambridge is 'the town of trees and champions'. It's memorable for its leafy streets, heritage buildings, antique shops and thoroughbred horse studs. Every third Saturday of the month Cambridge holds its market day where many an hour or three can be whiled away chatting to stall holders and looking at their wares. https://www.cambridge.co.nz/.
8 locals recommend
Cambridge
Cambridge is 'the town of trees and champions'. It's memorable for its leafy streets, heritage buildings, antique shops and thoroughbred horse studs. Every third Saturday of the month Cambridge holds its market day where many an hour or three can be whiled away chatting to stall holders and looking at their wares. https://www.cambridge.co.nz/.
The heart of Hamilton is a city, Victoria Street, is located 18.6 km's (19ish minutes) from 587 Kaipaki Road. The street is lined with restaurants, cafes and bars with Sky City Hamilton Casino located right in the middle, along with Centre Place shopping mall.
Hamilton Gardens, a sprawling public park, features elaborate themed gardens ranging from Italian Renaissance to Japanese and traditional Maori styles. The Waikato Museum displays Maori art and artefacts. Next door, ArtsPost gallery focuses on local art. Hamilton Lake Domain has a long history as one of Hamilton’s premiere parks. It is a significant recreational facility for residents of Hamilton City and beyond within walking distance from the CBD. Hamilton Lake Domain provides a focal point for a variety of water and land based activities as well as offering a unique ecological environment in the heart of Hamilton City. The Base is New Zealand's largest shopping centre - based in Te Rapa, 7 km North of Hamilton CBD. One of 4 movie complexes can be found here, with the remaining three found in Chartwell and the CBD.
https://www.waikatonz.com/eat-and-drink/waikato-markets/
Hamilton City
The heart of Hamilton is a city, Victoria Street, is located 18.6 km's (19ish minutes) from 587 Kaipaki Road. The street is lined with restaurants, cafes and bars with Sky City Hamilton Casino located right in the middle, along with Centre Place shopping mall.
Hamilton Gardens, a sprawling public park, features elaborate themed gardens ranging from Italian Renaissance to Japanese and traditional Maori styles. The Waikato Museum displays Maori art and artefacts. Next door, ArtsPost gallery focuses on local art. Hamilton Lake Domain has a long history as one of Hamilton’s premiere parks. It is a significant recreational facility for residents of Hamilton City and beyond within walking distance from the CBD. Hamilton Lake Domain provides a focal point for a variety of water and land based activities as well as offering a unique ecological environment in the heart of Hamilton City. The Base is New Zealand's largest shopping centre - based in Te Rapa, 7 km North of Hamilton CBD. One of 4 movie complexes can be found here, with the remaining three found in Chartwell and the CBD.
https://www.waikatonz.com/eat-and-drink/waikato-markets/
Sightseeing
Waitomo is a village on the North Island of New Zealand. It’s known for its extensive underground cave systems. Thousands of glow-worms light up the Glowworm Caves. The vast Ruakuri Cave features waterfalls and limestone formations. West, Mangapohue Natural Bridge is a high limestone arch over Mangapohue Stream.
https://www.waitomo.com/
142 locals recommend
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
39 Waitomo Village RdWaitomo is a village on the North Island of New Zealand. It’s known for its extensive underground cave systems. Thousands of glow-worms light up the Glowworm Caves. The vast Ruakuri Cave features waterfalls and limestone formations. West, Mangapohue Natural Bridge is a high limestone arch over Mangapohue Stream.
https://www.waitomo.com/
Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake on New Zealand's North Island, is renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. In Te Puia’s Whakarewarewa Valley, there are bubbling mud pools and the 30m-tall Pohutu Geyser, which erupts many times daily. It’s also home to a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, with traditional wood carving and weaving schools. https://www.rotoruanz.com/
107 locals recommend
Rotorua
Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake on New Zealand's North Island, is renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. In Te Puia’s Whakarewarewa Valley, there are bubbling mud pools and the 30m-tall Pohutu Geyser, which erupts many times daily. It’s also home to a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, with traditional wood carving and weaving schools. https://www.rotoruanz.com/
Taupo, a town near the centre of New Zealand's North Island, is distinguished by its lakefront setting and outdoor sports ranging from fishing to jet-boating. The vast waters of Lake Taupo, a volcanic caldera, drain into the Huka Falls, dramatic, crystal-blue cascades reachable by hiking and biking trails. Surrounding Taupo are hot springs like those filling the Craters of the Moon reserve.
https://www.lovetaupo.com/
34 locals recommend
Taupo
Taupo, a town near the centre of New Zealand's North Island, is distinguished by its lakefront setting and outdoor sports ranging from fishing to jet-boating. The vast waters of Lake Taupo, a volcanic caldera, drain into the Huka Falls, dramatic, crystal-blue cascades reachable by hiking and biking trails. Surrounding Taupo are hot springs like those filling the Craters of the Moon reserve.
https://www.lovetaupo.com/
Mount Ruapehu is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 23 km southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major ski resorts and only glaciers are on its slopes.
https://www.mtruapehu.com/
67 locals recommend
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 23 km southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major ski resorts and only glaciers are on its slopes.
https://www.mtruapehu.com/
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a must do when visiting New Zealand. The enormity of the project, at 3400 hectares, makes it one of the largest pest-proof fenced projects in the world. This pest-proof fence is 47km long and offers a safe haven for many of New Zealand’s most endangered species - from birds to bats, frogs to reptiles, tuatara to giant weta. Its location in the central North Island of New Zealand makes it an accessible destination for visitors. https://www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz/
41 locals recommend
Sanctuary Mountain
99 Tari RdSanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is a must do when visiting New Zealand. The enormity of the project, at 3400 hectares, makes it one of the largest pest-proof fenced projects in the world. This pest-proof fence is 47km long and offers a safe haven for many of New Zealand’s most endangered species - from birds to bats, frogs to reptiles, tuatara to giant weta. Its location in the central North Island of New Zealand makes it an accessible destination for visitors. https://www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz/
The green slopes of Mt Pirongia can be found 25km south of Hamilton. With a range of easy to more challenging options, the Pirongia walks provide a rejuvenating experience amongst lush native forest and clear mountain streams.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/waikato/pirongiabrochure.pdf
32 locals recommend
Pirongia Mountain
The green slopes of Mt Pirongia can be found 25km south of Hamilton. With a range of easy to more challenging options, the Pirongia walks provide a rejuvenating experience amongst lush native forest and clear mountain streams.
https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/waikato/pirongiabrochure.pdf
City/town information
Between November and April, it's time to stop and smell the roses in Te Awamutu. This rural town has the ideal climate for fabulous blooms. https://www.teawamutu.nz/
17 locals recommend
Te Awamutu
Between November and April, it's time to stop and smell the roses in Te Awamutu. This rural town has the ideal climate for fabulous blooms. https://www.teawamutu.nz/