Hamilton

With summer on the horizon, there's never been a better time for us to explore our beautiful country. We've put together a list of well-known (and a few more secret) spots around the North Island you need to check out to make the most of the season.

Load up the roadie snacks and delve into the best camping spots within driving distance from Auckland to add your hit list this summer and beyond. 

So if you don’t know your drop kick from your dropout, don’t worry, you can still get some skin in the game.

Hamilton’s cafe scene is growing, with plenty of great coffee, local produce and quirky spots.

There’s nothing better than strolling through a buzzing market with a coffee in-hand and a basket jam-packed with fresh produce and quirky finds. Total bliss, right?

The FIFA Women’s World Cup has kicked off in New Zealand. Held every four years, the event showcases talent from 32 countries—making it the largest women’s sporting event in the world. 

Dine and drink like a local, from bistros and cafes to takeaways and food trucks, tipples enjoyed at home to beverages on tap.

Destination Hamilton? You’re in for a treat. Despite the Auckland-wide glee of hating on Hamiltron, erh, Hamilton, this long stretch of gravel really is worth a visit. 

We might be biased, but one thing is for sure; Aotearoa punches above its weight with our homegrown music talent. 

Haters be damned, we've done the hard yards and found the best airbnbs to make your stay in Hamilton truly unforgettable.

Roadies are practically a rite of passage in Tāmaki Makaurau and Kirikiriroa Hamilton, being just over an hour’s drive away, makes for a great option.

Double double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. The most frightful night of the year approaches—it’s time to get spooky with these actually good Halloween costume ideas. 

Dubbed The Tron, Hamilton is a vibrant city with countless experiences to uncover. From adventurous activities and epic eats to natural wonders and zen retreats, there’s something for locals and visitors alike. Here are all the best things to do in Hamilton.

Stay up to date with our live list of the latest updates of restrictions around Auckland and New Zealand.

From live yoga and pilates-inspired workouts, to world-renowned Les Mills classes, getting fit at home has never been easier (or more accessible). So chuck on your trainers, clear a space in your living room or head to the driveway, and get moving. 

There are many interesting and unique cafes scattered around Hamilton, hidden down side alleys, plonked amidst industrial zones, and nestled in quiet neighbourhoods. The cafes slinging the best coffee in Hamilton are often the hidden gems.

Adventure enthusiasts, unite! Banff Mountain Film Festival is just around the corner and it’s packed with enough jaw-dropping moments to set even the most adrenaline junkie of hearts a flutter. 

Located a stone’s throw from Auckland, the Mighty Waikato is a vibrant region brimming with countless experiences to uncover. From natural wonders and adventurous activities to zen retreats and epic eats, there’s something special for each and every Aucklander.

Time to let op-shop fever set in. Whether you could easily lose a day browsing pre-loved goodies, or you’ve come across some of the harrowing stats about the clothing industry, there’s no denying the demand for second-hand clothes is growing.

Get ready to get the drinks and your creative juices flowing at this boozy painting in the park.

Whether it’s the reflection lakes of Wanaka or the emerald green waters that crater the Tongariro Crossing, Aotearoa is home to some amazing bodies of water. 

Us Aucklanders love lacing up our hiking shoes and climbing things. And, let’s be honest, it’d be rude not to in a country as beautiful as ours #blessed. 

Round up your exercise crew because our friends over at Snap fitness are throwing open their doors this week to let you work up a sweat for free.

After 102 days clear of community transmission and a sudden lockdown, it's been announced that Auckland will join the rest of New Zealand at Alert Level 1 from midnight on Wednesday October 7.  We've rounded up the info on everything you can and can't do at this alert level so bone up, and proceed with caution.

Darkfield, famous for their FLIGHT multi-sensory shipping container experience, have crafted a new experience specifically tailored to the socially distanced era.

If you’ve spent lockdown mourning the loss of live music and having a damn good boogie fear not. The Good Vibes winter tour is locked and loaded and will be hitting major cities around New Zealand from July until August.

Hello, Alert Level 3. We’re beyond stoked to reach this milestone and welcome takeaways into our lives. While brunch with your bestie is off the cards, you can still enjoy some of your favourite Hamilton eateries from the comfort of your living room. 

We all know that moving your body and breathing in fresh air is good for your soul—especially when times are tough.

We reached out to some of Hamilton's coolest business owners to find out what they've been up to in lockdown.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that the country is being moved up to alert level 4 as of midnight on the 25 March 2020 as we battle to contain the virus that has swept over the globe.

It’s been a long, hot summer in Hamilton and we’re pretty stoked for autumn’s promise of cooler weather. And while the weather might be cooling down, the festivities are only getting hotter.

Things are heating up in Hamilton—and we’re not just talking about the weather. Summer dates are all about spending time in the great outdoors, embracing your sense of adventure, and making the most of the glorious sunshine. 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. Well, scream no more, Hamilton. Delicious ice cream is abundant in our fine city and beyond. 

​Lacing up your walking shoes is one of the best ways to explore Hamilton and the Mighty Waikato. The region features an abundance of breathtaking vistas with staggering mountains, lush bush, tranquil springs and—of course—the iconic Waikato River.

​In an age of online shopping, shifting through a beautiful boutique is more special than ever. Lucky for you, Hamilton is home to a delectable selection of fashion boutiques stocking your favourite New Zealand and international designers.

Thrift store, op-shop, charity store… whatever you know it by, Hamilton is home to a plethora of second-hand stores. There’s nothing more satisfying than scouring through racks of pre-loved clothing to discover, like, the coolest vintage jacket, ever—just ask Macklemore.

​August marks the last month of a chilly winter in Hamilton. We’re officially on the home stretch to spring and it’s time to emerge from your hibernation of Netflix and Uber Eats.

If we know one thing to be true, it’s that selecting a hairdresser to entrust with your precious locks is a big freakin’ deal.

​Just because the sun has set doesn’t mean the party’s over. Nope, Hamilton’s just getting started. When day turns to night, the city offers an epic range of things to see and do.

Sometimes occasions call for a romantic gesture for that special someone. And no, we don’t just mean a swipe to the right. It might be a simple date, an anniversary, a birthday, or time to pop a question. Whatever it is, we’ve got you covered with a round-up of the most romantic things to do in Hamilton.

The bus will be a truly interactive experience that showcases an exclusive selection of products that will be available to swatch, try and play at the custom-built makeups stations.

​Hamilton, we can’t help but love you. While we might be at the brunt of all chlamydia jokes and endlessly mocked by Aucklanders, we know this city is—indeed—the city of the future.

We get it, sometimes the finances are just a smidge too tight to be spending those extra dollars on anything except the necessities–you know food, rent, your Netflix membership and so on. If you are local to Hamilton or just visiting, there are many ways to see the area and enjoy all it has to offer without spending a cent.