Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0800 139 756;
www.waikatoexplorer.co.nz
; Hamilton Gardens jetty; adult/child $26/13; Thu-Sun)
Scenic
90-minute cruises along the Waikato River depart from the Hamilton Gardens jetty. On
Sunday afternoons, three-hour wine-tasting cruises (adult/child $55/24) operate.
BALLOONING
Kiwi Balloon Company
( 021 912 679, 07-843 8538;
www.kiwiballooncompany.co.nz
; per person $350)
Floating above lush
Waikato countryside, the whole experience takes about four hours and includes a cham-
pagne breakfast and an hour's flying time.
Festivals & Events
Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival
(
www.hamiltongardensartsfestival.co.nz
;
Hamilton Gardens)
Music, comedy, theatre, dance and movies,
all served up alfresco in the Hamilton Gardens during the last two weeks of February.
PERFORMING ARTS
Balloons Over Waikato
(
www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz
)
A colourful hot-air-balloon fest held in March.
SPORTS
Sleeping
The road into town from Auckland (Ulster St) is lined with dozens of unremarkable,
traffic-noisy motels: passable for short stays.
HOSTEL
$
J's Backpackers
( 07-856 8934;
www.jsbackpackers.co.nz
;
8 Grey St; dm/s/d/tr $28/55/66/84; )
A homely hostel oc-
cupying a characterful house near Hamilton Gardens, friendly J's offers good security, a
cosy kitchen, free bikes and bright, tidy rooms. There's a barbecue out the back and a
Mongolian yurt lounge-space on the front lawn.
Backpackers Central
MAP
( 07-839 1928;
www.backpackerscentral.co.nz
;
846 Victoria St; dm $25, s $50-60, r $75-140; )
Well-run
hostel with dorms, singles, doubles and family rooms, some with en suite bathrooms and
all with access to a shared kitchen and lounge. Worth considering as an alternative to a
motel room if you're travelling as a couple or in a group.
HOSTEL
$
