6 minute read
ROAD TRIP - A JOURNEY THROUGH WAIKATO
Hamilton to Raglan
Hamilton to Raglan via SH23 - 42min, 45.6km
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SIDE TRIP Hamilton to Te Kauwhata via SH1 - 45min, 52.1km
© AA Traveller 2021
An hour-and-a-half drive south of Auckland is Hamilton, set on the banks of the Waikato River. There is a lot to include on your itinerary here, from an exploration of the city centre, a visit to the Waikato Art Gallery and Museum or the wonderful Hamilton Gardens to wander or to cycle along the Waikato River Trails. Another bonus for Hamilton is its close proximity to beachside Raglan. Head west for 45 minutes and you’ll soon be sitting at one of the cafés on the palm tree-lined main strip of this rustic, charming settlement. A popular summer destination, Raglan keeps its visitors busy and entertained with its artisan food scene, good coffee, boutique clothing stores, galleries, native bush walks and those famous west coast beaches boasting some of the country’s best surf breaks.
Surrealist Garden
© Hamilton Gardens
HIGHLIGHTS
Lake Karāpiro, Waikato
© Camilla Rutherford
THE VILLAGE, WHATAWHATA On the corner of Horotiu and Whatawhata roads en route from Hamilton to Raglan is a cluster of pop up shops and a café known to locals as The Village: an old shed transformed into a hub for the growing rural community. A good spot to refresh and refuel before making the remainder of the journey to Raglan.
WAIRĒINGA/BRIDAL VEIL FALLS Veer left at Te Mata Rd off the Hamilton/Raglan SH 23 and follow the signposts to Bridal Veil Falls.The spectacular 55m waterfall is revealed after a short, gentle walk through native bush. Walk to vantage points at both the top and bottom:the top track is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. Please note, swimming here is not advised.
THE RIVERBANK LANE A gorgeous wee pocket of shops and hangouts in Hamilton, combining the Browsers bookshop (literally packed to the rafters with second-hand literature), a café, burger joint, Duck Island ice cream and a bar boasting elevated river views.
HAMILTON SUNDAY FARMERS’ MARKET Every Sunday from 8am until noon, fill your bags with fresh farm produce while having a yarn with local growers and sellers. Held at Claudelands Arena.
Produce at Hamilton Farmers’ Market
© Hamilton Farmers’ Market
PANCAKE ROCKS Somewhat a secret, Raglan has its own stash of pancake rocks. Hiding in plain sight, book a local kayaking tour and paddle between rocks, little beaches and chasms.
Pancake Rocks, Raglan
© Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
RAGLAN
Is famed for its attractive subculture, which is a mix of Bohemian meets Rasta meets surfer. A medley of independent shops showcases this artsy, flower child vibe and the locals are the very definition of cool.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN RAGLAN
BLACK-SAND BEACHES Raglan’s iron-rich, black-sand beaches are arguably its most famous feature.
SURFING The best spots for a tussle with the waves are Ngarunui Beach, Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Ruapuke Beach.
Raglan surfer
© Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
SOLSCAPE An eco-retreat that doesn’t break the bank. From its lofty position offering dramatic sea views to the on-site yoga classes and earth domes, Solscape will restore your every chakra.
ATAMIRA Carefully selected boutique designer clothing and homewares.
JET COLLECTIVE Fun and quirky gallery-shop stocking 100 per cent Raglan artists.
RAGLAN BOAT CHARTERS For dreamy sunset cruises and scenic morning cruises across the harbour, complete with tea and coffee.
Raglan Roast
© Camilla Rutherford
SIDE TRIP TO TE KAUWHATA
If you’re venturing south to Hamilton from Auckland, consider a stop to stretch the legs in Te Kauwhata. Tucked away off SH 1, the village is an hour from both Auckland and Hamilton and exudes country charm.
Visit Pounamu Taonga Greenstone Shop for beautiful items of greenstone, bone and mother of pearl at wallet-friendly wholesale prices. The town also features a sweet mix of cafés, gift stores and other shops.
TOP WALKS
TAITUA ARBORETUM With great views and wonderful bird life plus a collection of mature trees covering 20 hectares of open pasture, lakes and woodland gardens which are linked by a network of meandering walking paths, this arboretum is ideal for a family outing or Sunday stroll. Varied times and distances but the main walk takes 1.5 hours and is just out of Hamilton city.
WATERWORKS WALK Located in the Hakarimata Scenic Reserve, 1km north of Ngāruawāhia, you’ll find this easy and popular walk. Stroll through attractive native bush, alongside a stream to an old dam.
KARIOI SUMMIT TRACK For the serious walker, this trail traces the peaks of Raglan’s iconic mountain and ancient volcano, Karioi, which translates to ‘sleeping lady.’ Look closely, the outline resembles just that – a woman lying on her back, as Māori legend describes. Terrain is challenging, with abseiling ropes assisting over rocky embankments in some parts. But the views revealed are well worth the effort; on a clear day you can see as far as Mt Taranaki. Be sure to arrange transport at the other end if you’re completing the track in full. Alternatively you can walk up and down the same side, parking at the Te Toto Gorge car park. Set aside about six hours.
Forest near Raglan
@ Getty Images
TE TOTO GORGE If climbing Karioi isn’t on your agenda, head to the same car park (13km from Raglan partly along unsealed roads) and the one-hour return Te Toto Gorge Track provides equally stunning views without as much exertion. The historically significant site weaves through remnants of traditional Māori garden plots and stone walls dating back as far as 1700.From the car park, a short track leads to a stomach-dropping amphitheatre, the site of once thriving Māori gardens. Beyond is an unmarked track peeling away to coastline views.
CITY FUN IN HAMILTON
CORNERSTONE ALPACAS Just an eight-minute drive from Hamilton, meet the alpacas, hug them and feed them.
Friendly alpaca
© Cornerstone Alpacas
THE HAMILTON GARDENS An exceptionally well maintained maze of fascinating themed gardens channelling anything from Indian temples to an Italian villa. Free entry.
Indian Char Bagh Garden
© Hamilton Gardens
HAMILTON ZOO Say hello to 600-plus native and exotic animals including four new cheeky cheetahs that arrived April 2021. Daily keeper talks are not to be missed.
HAMILTON LAKE DOMAIN Walk the lake’s 3.8km perimeter, passing lovely little spots for a sit down, as well as the lake fronting Verandah Café, covered picnic area and playground.
HAMILTON
Peruse the varied inner-city shops and make time for Duck Island: a Hamilton-founded ice cream company famed for its inventive flavours that are profoundly Kiwi (think fairy bread and feijoa crumble). Once you’ve called into the Waikato Art Gallery and Museum, venture to the Classics Car Museum and grab a burger from its retro American diner.
Hire a bike or walk along the cobbled paths tracing the river. The network of tracks is part of the Waikato River Trails and is very popular. If you’re a tea-lover, Zealong Tea Estate offers plantation tours and tastings, and once a year, the city swells for its annual Balloons over Waikato hot air balloon festival, held in March.
Hamilton
@ Adobe Stock
