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WORLD ▫
OCEANIA ▫
NEW ZEALAND ▫
HAMILTON
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Hamilton
Hamilton (Kirikiriroa in Māori) is an inland city in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. The Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river, flows through the middle of the city.
Get in
By car
Drive south down State Highway 1 (SH 1) from Auckland. Drive northbound on SH 1 from Taupo, or connect to SH 1 from Rotorua or the Bay of Plenty.
By plane
Hamilton International Airport hosts mostly domestic flights, with regular flights from Auckland and Wellington as well as flights from other cities. Freedom Air (http://www.freedomair.co.nz/) flies here from Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane in Australia and from Nadi in Fiji. The airport is occasionally closed by fog on winter mornings.
The airport is about 10km out of town, so allow plenty of time for airport transfers. A taxi or shuttle bus service is available but a rental car might be cheaper. Passengers who arrive on flights late in the evening on Fridays and Saturdays should arrange transport in advance as taxis can be scarce.
See
The Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek. Hamilton Gardens is also a really nice place to go and see. It has many wonderful gardens and is a great wedding venue. Hamilton Zoo is another attractive place to visit. Kids love it. Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival , Worth a look, especially the night glow event.
Eat
Armadillo, Victoria StreetSohl, Victoria StreetHappy Days, Victoria Street
Sleep
Rydges Le Grand Hamilton, 237 Victoria Street, Hamilton ph: 1300 857 922 Located in the centre of Hamilton, New Zealand's largest inland city, Rydges Le Grand Hamilton is surrounded by the Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton Zoo, and the Waikato Museum of Art and History. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.
Geography
With the exceptions of low hills around the University of Waikato, Hamilton Lake and to the west of the city, and an extensive network of gullies, the terrain of the city is relatively flat.
Demographics
Hamilton is a rapidly growing city of over 130,000 people, with around 1.5 million people – 40% of New Zealand's total population – living within a 250-km radius.
The city is growing to be a very diverse society. Many immigrants also settle in this city, mostly from the Pacific Islands. Hamilton is still largely European, mostly of British origins, but there also people of Polish, Italian, and Yugoslav origins. According to Statistics New Zealand, Hamilton's population is 79.2% Pākehā/European, 15% Māori, and the remainder mainly Asian and Pacific Islander. A significant number of African and South-East Asian immigrants have settled in Hamilton in more recent times, adding to the diversity.
Government and politics
Local government
Hamilton is located in the administrative areas of the Hamilton City Council. The Council administers the seventh most populous territorial authority in the country. The council consists of thirteen councillors and a mayor (currently Bob Simcock), and last faced election in 2004. Council elections are held every three years. From July 2007, former mayor Michael Redman (New Zealand) will become the CEO of the Council.
The council has...
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Hotels in Hamilton
| Glowworm Caves |
At your leisure |
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An Ancient Labyrinth
Discover the ancient underground labyrinth of limestone caves and grottos that are the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Experience natural history in the making! Immediately, when you enter this mysterious underground world, you will marvel at the amazing 'decorations' created by Mother Nature.
Mother Nature's 'Decorations'
These natural 'decorations', stalactites, stalagmites and sculptures have formed as a result of water dripping from the roof of the cave or flowing over the exposed limestone walls. As the water flows down through the earth towards the cave roof and walls, it dissolves limestone in its path. This limestone is then left as a crystalline deposit within the cave. These spectacular formations have developed over thousands of years and must be treated with respect. They are very delicate and can be severely damaged simply by the touch of a human hand.
Your Guided Tour
Your guided tour will take you through over 250 meters ( 820 feet ) of stunning underground scenery including the magnificent 'Cathedral'. The acoustics in this particular cave are world-renowned. Acclaimed New Zealand Diva, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, has performed here and was delighted with the purity of the sound. The climax of your guided tour is the boat trip in the Glowworm Grotto. For more than 100 years, visitors from home and abroad have journeyed into this 'starry wonderland' and been fascinated and intrigued by the tiny insect that can perform such magic. The Grotto provides the perfect natural environment for the Glowworm to thrive and continue to enthrall visitors for many years to come.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Black Water Rafting, The Labyrinth at Waitomo in New Zealand |
3 hours |
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Wet, wild and fun! Exhilarating magic!
This popular tour takes approximately three hours with one hour underground and involves a combination of walking and floating on an inner tube through a unique underground river system.
As you prepare for your adventure your professional guide will ensure you are properly equipped and teach you some fun techniques before you climb down into nature's underground network for an enjoyable cave tubing experience of a lifetime!
Streams spill, twist, turn and join to build a river canyon. Glide with the water as it drops down the hidden waterfall and tumbles down rocky chutes before sliding through vaulted limestone galleries to finally emerge into the dazzling green Waitomo forest.
Prepare to be amazed at the naturally occurring decorations within the cave including stalactites and stalagmites, your enthusiastic guide will happily share their knowledge on all aspects concerning cave formations and cave life. This exhilarating journey also provides a spectacular visual display of glowworms.
Because Customer Safety is important to us, the Black Labyrinth adventure is available only to people aged 12 years or over. You must be at least 45kg in weight. Your tour includes the use of equipment such as tubes, wetsuits, boots and helmets, however each person will need to bring their swimwear, a towel and a sense of adventure!
At the end of your caving experience return to Black Water HQ for a complimentary hot shower, hearty soup and legendary Black Water bagel before visiting the internationally acclaimed Waitomo Cave Museum using the free ticket provided with your Black Labyrinth tour.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Hamilton Airport Arrival Transfer - To Hotels |
30 minutes |
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Let the drivers collect you from the Hamilton Airport and drop you off at your accommodation doorstep. They'll even help you with your luggage.
Super Shuttle keeps fares rock-bottom by picking up or dropping off other air travelers en route to or from the airport. They don't have meters, so even if the traffic is heavy, you won't have to worry about your fare going up. They only travel to and from the airport, so book now and lock in a affordable and convenient airport transfer.
With modern and spacious minivans capable of seating up to 11 passengers, and a huge trailer accommodating luggage of all shapes and sizes, you'll have a job filling up a Super Shuttle.
This transfer must be pre-booked at least 48 hours prior to arrival so get in early and book online today! When making a booking, you will need to advise your flight details and your Hamilton accommodation details. Your transfer will be confirmed instantaneously and you will be provided with a travel voucher to present to the driver. It's easy.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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