6 minute read
ROAD TRIP: A journey through Waikato
Hamilton to Raglan via SH 23 - 42min, 45.6km
SIDE TRIP - Hamilton to Te Kauwhata via SH 1 - 45min, 52.1km
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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 atone 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.
Hamilton
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HIGHLIGHTS
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. The precinct was opened in 2016 by volunteers who turned an old shed into a destination for visitors and a hub for the growing rural community. It’s a space for friends and families to meet and enjoy a coffee and bite to eat while the on-site petting farm and playground entertains the children. It’s a good spot to refresh and refuel before making the remainder of the journey to Raglan.The Village is also home to a selection of studios, housing an ever-changing array of wares to browse, including shoes and flowers.
The Village, Whatawhata
The Village Café
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 waterfall is revealed after a short, gentle walk through native bush; the only giveaway of what’s in store at the end of the track is the sound of water getting louder the closer you get. Suddenly, all is revealed! Two platforms provide vantage points for jaw-dropping views down to the falls. There’s the option to gaze up at the waterfall, as the track descends to a platform at the base of the falls. Here, you can appreciate the mossy, fern-covered embankments framing the falls, feel the mist on your face and breathe in the extra cool, fresh air. Please note, swimming here is not advised.
Wairēinga/Bridal Veil Falls
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Ngarunui Beach, Raglan
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RAGLAN SURF & ART SCENE
Raglan locals are a talented lot; from potters and painters to cobblers and jewellers. The town’s main strip, Bow St, and The Wharf are where you’ll find most shops and galleries, with an array of hand-made bags, belts, shoes, ceramics, paintings and photographs.
> SHOW OFF - An intimate gallery filled with beautifully unique sterling silver and pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) jewellery and local artwork
> ATAMIRA - Carefully selected boutique designer clothing and homewares
> JET COLLECTIVE - Fun and quirky gallery-shop stocking 100 per cent Raglan artists
> RAGLAN SURF CO - Not just a surf shop although it stocks wetsuits and an impressive line-up of surfboards lovingly constructed by the owners, a local family who’ve been in the shaping business for years
Rising Sun Tawhiri sculpture in Raglan
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
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. There’s a farmers’ market here on Thursdays and Saturdays, bursting with fresh, local produce. The small, picturesque town also features cafés, gift stores and other shops.
TOP WALKS
1. WAINUI RESERVE BUSH PARK - is home to a network of trails weaving through native bush, across farmland and down onto Ngarunui Beach. Developed by the Friends of Wainui Reserve community group, it’s dog-friendly and has a dedicated car park at the entrance.
2. NGARUNUI TRACK - The original public track leading down to Raglan’s main beach, the track passes through groves of nīkau palms, kawakawa and kōwhai trees. It’s about 800 metres one way.
3. 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.
4. 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 stonewalls 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.
FAMILY FUN
HAMILTON ZOO
Get up close and personal to creatures like lemurs and rhino on a Face2Face Animal Encounter and learn more about fascinating animals such as giraffe, chimps and tigers.
Hamilton Zoo
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism
THE HAMILTON GARDENS
Tucked away by the Waikato River are several themed gardens, channelling anything from Japanese aesthetics to the Italian renaissance. The latest addition is the Surrealist Garden, a trippy, Alice-in-Wonderland-style layout where everything is five times the normal size.
HAMILTON LAKE DOMAIN
Take a stroll around the inner city lake and watch swans and ducks paddling happily on the water. Enjoy a coffee at the on-site Verandah Café; the nearby popular playground provides hours of fun for kids.
CORNERSTONE ALPACAS
Just an eight-minute drive from Hamilton, meet the alpacas, hug them and feed them.
Friendly alpaca
Cornerstone Alpacas
WAIKATO ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM
Access areas of the museum normally out of bounds on a 45-minute behind-the-scenes ‘collection secrets’ tour.
EXPLORE 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, usually held in March.
Hamilton Botanical Gardens
www.hamiltonwaikato.com
