Perched on the serpentine banks of the famous Waikato River, 129 km south of Auckland, Hamilton is the main service centre for the rich fertile agricultural region of the Waikato. Being so close to the major tourist destinations of Auckland and Rotorua, the city struggles to attract visitors for any length of time as it has few major attractions. It is, however, ideally located for explorations around the Waikato Region and can be used as base for exploring the North Island. Hamilton is also a university town and plays host to some major national events including the annual National Agricultural Field Days in June and the colourful Balloon over Waikato in April. Visitors stopping briefly in the city can enjoy a ride down the Waikato on the MV Waipa Delta paddleboat and visit the celebrated museum, gardens and ‘Free-flight Aviary’ of Hamilton Zoo.
Get tips from your friends! or register to see the favorite places of your friends in Hamilton and Waikato North
Hamilton and Waikato North information
Sources:
Background
Background
The earliest recorded settlers in the Hamilton area were Maori from the Tainui waka (canoe) that settled on the banks of the river. At that time, the Waikato River was the major means of communication, transportation and trade with other settled areas. In the 1860s the first Europeans began to settle, during the Land Wars and the notorious ‘raupatu’ or land confiscations. A military outpost was established in Hamilton East and existed for a number of years before communications and relations improved and agriculture developed. In 1867 the road was opened to Auckland, followed 10 years later by the railway. From that point on settlement began in earnest and the city developed as a major agricultural service centre. The town was named in honour of Captain John Charles Fane Hamilton, the commander of HMS Esk, who was killed while leading the naval brigade at the Battle of Gate pa near Tauranga in 1864.
Both SH1 and the main Auckland to Wellington trunk rail line run through the heart of the Waikato. An alternative route south is SH27, which branches off SH1 just south of Auckland at the Bombay Hills and also accesses Waikato East. SH27 passes through Matamata before rejoining SH1 again at Tirau. The principal signposted touring route is called the ‘Thermal Explorer Highway’, from Auckland via Hamilton, Rotorua and Taupo to Napier. A free touring map is available from all major VICs, http://www.thermalnz.co.nz.
Train
Hamilton is on the main trunk ‘Overlander’ rail line with services daily to Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua and Tauranga, T0800-872467, http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz. The train station is on Fraser Street, in Frankton.
1Create your personal travel guide:
Give a title and description about where you plan to go and what you plan to see throughout your trip!
2Plan and organize your trip:
Browse tripwolf and click the (+ add to my trip) button next to any location that you find appealing. Add sights, restaurants, bars, hotels - whatever you like! Arrange the location in any order by dragging and dropping them.
3Print and share your guide:
Finish planning and download your personal printable PDF guide for your trip and share it with your friends. (Soon you will also be able to download your trips to your tripwolf iPhone application!)
more Hamilton and Waikato North photos
