Welcome to a green city!

Hamilton is New Zealand’s biggest city without connection to the sea and the capital of the Waikato region, too.

The city is known for its Waikato University, the big zoo, and the pretty Hamilton Gardens or the Waikato Museum of Art and History. Even if you aren’t the greatest art fan on earth you should come and have a look around because the museum often hosts exhibitions with free entry (and that’s a real bargain). Once I’ve been to a pretty informative Antarctica exhibition with a lot of little self-experiments.

Hamilton’s lively main street with heaps of shopping possibilities, restaurants and cafés (I recommend ‘The Cheesecake Shop’ for people with a sweet tooth), the city library, a cinema and the Waikato Museum is the Victoria Street.

I quite like the street’s location close to the Waikato River because it’s pretty easy to combine a museum’s visit or a shopping tour with a relaxed walk along the water.  

There has been a long but also interesting development from the original Maori village Kirikirioa to the modern and busy city of Hamilton.

Another important fact, I really appreciate, is the nice connection between busy city life and relaxing freedom here in Hamilton. That means you’ve absolutely no difficulties in leaving a sometimes annoying business life behind you because a walk or a bike ride along the Waikato River or around the Hamilton Lake compensate for a stressful day. I totally like these escapes in a quieter and more peaceful world even if this distraction lasts for a short hour.

Hamilton offers many varied activities, which could be interesting for tourists although the city is no real tourist magnet. But a family visit at the zoo, a picnic and a minigolf match by the lake or a fun day at Waterworld with its swimming pools, water slides and barbecues are worth an experience as well.

I’m completely lucky, to spend the main part of my kiwi time in a green and friendly city because I’m absolutely no fan of daily big city life by a long shot, though.