Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 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
champagne breakfast and an hour's flying time.
Festivals & Events
Hamilton Gardens
Arts Festival
PERFORMING ARTS
(
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.
Balloons Over Waikato
SPORTS
(
www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz
)
A colourful hot-air-balloon fest held in March.
Sleeping
The road into town from Auckland (Ulster St) is lined with dozens of unremarkable,
traffic-noisy motels: passable for short stays.
J's Backpackers
HOSTEL $
( 07-856 8934;
www.jsbackpackers.co.nz
; 8 Grey St; dm/s/d/tr $28/55/66/84; )
A
homely hostel occupying 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
HOSTEL $
OFFLINE 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.
Hamilton City Holiday Park
HOLIDAY PARK $
( 07-855 8255;
www.hamiltoncityholidaypark.co.nz
;
14 Ruakura Rd; campsites/cabins/units from
$37/47/75; )
Simple cabins and leafy sites are the rule at this shady park. It's reason-
ably close to town (2km east of the centre) and very affordable.
