Hamilton Gardens
Deservedly the most popular tourist destination in the Waikato, this unique and amazing 58 hectare garden experience offers a different way of looking at plant collections, telling the garden story.
Enjoy the living Persian carpet in the Indian Char Bagh garden, the tranquility of the Japanese and Chinese gardens, the romantic English garden, the artful American Modernist garden and the grand Italian renaissance garden.
| Waikato Museum
Situated in Hamilton, overlooking the beautiful Waikato River, the museum has 8 galleries that show touring exhibitions, as well as exhibitions featuring items from its own collection. These include the majestic 200 year old carved waka taua - Te Winika, artwork by prominent NZ and regional artists and an interactive science experience. A regular programme of activities is available, as well as the popular Museum cafe and the Museum Shop at ArtsPost.
, Hamilton City
Hamilton has a growing collection of public art, numerous art galleries, as well as an eclectic range of talented local artists.
The city has a wide range of theatres which cater for large shows to the more intimate, as well as being home to large cinema complexes and smaller independent art house cinemas. Film and theatre festivals run at different times in the year.
Shopping Those in need of serious retail therapy are in good hands with a world of choice in Hamilton from boutiques and high-end fashion stores to large shopping malls. In particular the European inspired Cassabella Lane running between Barton and Anglesea Sts is a hidden shoppers gem with diverse boutiques and cafes.Speciality markets can be found peppered around the outskirts of the city during weekends.
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Waikato River walkways A recently completed 11km walkway along both banks of the Waikato River which runs through the centre of Hamilton offers endless opportunites to walk, ride bikes, watch boats on the river. Whether you want to relax and unwind, or burn off some energy with a run or walk, this is the perfect place for that.A popular Hamilton walk is to circle Hamilton's Lake Rotoroa. At around 4km, the off-road walkway with nothing between you and the lake takes you around its edge on boardwalks and paths, through stands of bush and past myriads of wading and free flight birds. 
