Hamilton, in the Waikato Region of New Zealand, is a fantastic place to visit for your next holiday. Hamilton is situated in the central North Island area, making it the perfect spot to pick up your rental car and head off on some epic adventures across New Zealand.
While in the area, expect some incredible sights, plenty of nature-based tourism, and wild adventures - both above and under the ground. From the wild black sanded beaches of Raglan to the magical mountains, and underground wonderlands, it’s a magical place. Bring your sense of fun and plenty of excitement - you’ll not forget Hamilton for a long time after you’ve visited.
Explore Hamilton with Hertz
Before any road trips get underway, you’ll likely want to explore what Hamilton city has to offer.
Hamilton is the fourth largest city in New Zealand and is a thriving metropolitan hub with plenty to offer both tourists and locals alike. There’s plenty of history, culture, thriving arts and food scene, and so much more. Perhaps take a walk through the Hamilton Gardens, an award-winning natural mecca that is filled with native flora.
If it’s a cloudy day, why not head to Waikato Museum? This history-filled museum will teach you about the stories of the region, as well as display art, science, culture, and so much more. It’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area.
See the city from above and by the sea - it’ll definitely make the trip all the more memorable. Pay a visit to the Balloons Over Waikato annual festival, which is an incredibly beautiful hot air balloon event that thousands of people enjoy each year. Make sure to take your camera if you attend!
Explore the Waikato Region with Hertz
Once you’ve explored all that Hamilton has to offer, it’s time to explore the wider Waikato region.
There are plenty of epic road trips throughout the area, all of which will take you to some pretty incredible destinations. Experience one of the highlights of New Zealand tourism and pay a visit to the Waitomo Caves. It’s an hour’s drive from Hamilton city centre to the caves itself, but it is well worth the trip. The wonders here are over a million years in the making, with beautiful limestone adventures and glistening glow worms throughout. You can enjoy the glowworms and caves on one of the boat tours available, or for the more adventurous traveller, head on one of the more daring tours. You’ll abseil, climb, swim, and zipline through the intricate network of cave tunnels!
Just a half-hour drive from the city is the stunning black sanded beach of Raglan. Home to one of the longest left-hand surf breaks in the world, it’s a great spot for both local and international surf enthusiasts. Head here for beautiful beaches, great swims, and a break from the city.
There’s simply so much to see, do, and discover while staying in Hamilton. Explore the city itself, or head off to one of the many highlights of the Waikato region. With your Hertz rental car, the possibilities are endless. You could continue on to explore the rest of the North Island with no trouble at all, so it’s definitely worth planning out a road trip if you have the time. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hertz Hamilton Downtown soon.
