Hamilton is an exciting city; located on the banks of the magnificent Waikato River, it’s a scenic place that is the perfect base for a brilliant west coast holiday in New Zealand.
Landing at Hamilton Airport will be exciting, with many activities waiting for your arrival. With the towns of Raglan and Matama and the larger Raglan region also nearby, you’ll find there’s something for everyone in this city.
With a Hertz rental car, you can get anywhere you need to quickly. It’ll make your holiday that much smoother, with incredible destinations just a car ride away. Pop over to our Hertz Hamilton Airport rental desk when you land, and we’ll get you all set up with your rental car.
Hamilton City and Hertz
Hamilton is a lovely city with a pleasant atmosphere throughout.
You’ll easily find yourself wandering through the city, thanks to the central precinct being relatively simple to understand. It’s busy with plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars, and more - so head here for a morning coffee, a bite to eat, and perhaps later for an evening meal where you can dine, wine, and dance the day away.
Pay a visit to the Hamilton Gardens while in the city. It’s a beautiful way to spend the morning; the themed gallery of gardens plays homage to different corners of the globe, with European and Asian influences throughout. Perhaps after a morning in the gardens, you could spend the afternoon at Hamilton Zoo. It’s a fun and informative day out, with over 600 native and exotic animals calling this zoo their home. The zoo is set in tranquil surroundings, with the largest free-flight aviary in New Zealand.
Explore Waikato in your Rental Car
The Waikato region features lush green rolling hills, expansive beauty, black sanded beaches, and an underground wonderland. It’s mesmerising to anyone who visits, so no wonder this area of New Zealand was chosen to play ‘The Shire’ in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
You can visit the ‘Hobbiton’ set from Hamilton in your rental car. It’s a short drive from the city to the shire, so drive 36 kilometres and experience Middle Earth in all its glory. Hobbiton is a fascinating and fun day out, and the set is impressive. The attention to detail that went into every element of its construction cannot be overstated. Go along for a guided tour and see the magic of ‘The Shire’.
Raglan is a 45-minute drive from Hamilton. Here you can experience a typical lively New Zealand surf town in all its glory. With a creative culture in every aspect of the town, the beautiful black sanded beaches provide dramatic scenery to locals and visitors. Manu Bay has the most consistent left-hand break in the world, so it’s a great place to ride the waves. If the surf isn’t your favourite type of water, you can swim in much calmer waters at Ocean Beach before heading back into town for a replenishing lunch and a coffee.
Finally, Waitomo is known for its underground wonderland. The Waitomo Caves are an exciting day out for all visitors, and they’re just a one hour drive from Hamilton city centre. Go to new depths underground and experience the myriad of cave tunnels and exciting glow worms that light up the otherwise pitch-black darkness below the earth’s surface. Witness the beauty of the glow worms lighting up the stalagmites and stalactites either by water cruise, or take part in an adrenaline-fueled black water rafting session. It’ll be a day you won’t forget.
Hamilton is a wonderful city located in one of the most uniquely beautiful regions in New Zealand. With sights to be seen both above and underground, you’ll never wonder what to do while you’re on holiday here. All locations are a quick drive away, so hiring a rental car from Hertz Hamilton Airport is a bright idea indeed.
