What to do in Hamilton with kids? Hamilton is a North Island destination that is skipped by many families with kids, and that is not justified. Thus, the city would make a great stopover when you are on your way to Rotorua from Coromandel or Auckland. We ourselves slept in a village near Hamilton in Cambridge(applecross Sanctuary). These are the things to do with kids in the Hamilton area.
Hamilton with kids #1: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
This is the number one attraction near Hamilton visited by many tourists. We wanted to go here, but all the tours were already fully booked. They built an entire village for the movie Hobbiton, and you can take a tour of the movie set. Kids up to 8 years old are free. The tour takes two hours and is not very cheap. Check online for more information about the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour.
Our host at the accommodation did not understand why we insisted on going here, because according to her it did not amount to much and the online reviews about the tour are also very variable. So be sure to read up before booking a tour to this TV studio.
Hamilton with kids #2: Relaxing at the lake
In the center of Hamilton is a large lake and on this lake is really a fantastic playground. It is actually several playgrounds together and there is a section for every age group. Our daughter had a great time here for an entire afternoon and we also loved visiting this playground in the sunshine in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Buy a delicious lunch at the supermarket and you can have a great picnic here among other families in the grass, while your kids have fun in the playground. We had also done this and had a wonderful meal here with our daughter. By the way, at the playground itself there is also a possibility to have something to eat and drink.
We really found this a discovery and had a great time here in Hamilton. Especially if you visit this place with young children, you should definitely go here with the kids.
Hamilton with kids #3: The botanical gardens
You can also go to a very beautiful botanical garden in Hamilton with kids. This beautiful garden is the city’s most visited attraction and rightly so! The garden is free to visit and consists of different types of gardens from a variety of countries. A wonderful place to spend a few hours walking around with your kids and therefore really a budget getaway in Hamilton.
We had wonderful weather, which of course makes up for a lot when you walk through these gardens. There is also a nice playground near it in the form of a kind of gnome village. Our daughter played excellently here for quite some time. You can take beautiful pictures here with your family by the numerous colorful flowers. Visit the Hamilton Gardens website for more information such as opening hours and address.
Hamilton with kids #4: Visit Wairere waterfall
You can also visit a waterfall in the Hamilton area with your family. In fact, the highest waterfall in the North Island is Wairere Falls. These waterfalls are an hour’s drive away from Hamilton.
So it is convenient to have a car at your disposal when visiting these falls. We rented a car right in Auckland and visited the North Island that way. So take a look online to rent a car in Auckland.
The hike to the base of the waterfall is about 1.5 hours round trip, and if you want to get to the top, another 1.5 hours is added. It is a tough hike but perfectly doable for parents with older kids. Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities to picnic.
Tip: If you want to relax after the brisk hike to the waterfall, visit the Opal Hot Spring . These are just a few minutes away from here by car. For a few euros you can relax in one of the five hot water baths.
Hamilton with kids #5: Go spend a day playing in the indoor playgrounds
It rains quite often in New Zealand, so it’s smart to have an alternative program for your kids behind you. Because Hamilton is a fairly large city, you have several options here for your kids to play indoors. In New Zealand, you don’t have super many of these types of playgrounds, but you still have some fun playgrounds worth visiting.
The following options are available in Hamilton when it rains:
Fun Shed: this is a very large indoor playground with all kinds of inflatables and play equipment.
Inflatable World: This is New Zealand’s largest indoor inflatable playground. The Inflatable World sits next to the Fun Shed, so you can easily combine these two playgrounds.
Chipmunks indoor playground: this indoor playground in Hamilton is open every day and is the largest indoor playground in Hamilton.
Family-friendly hotel Hamilton
You can stay in Hamilton with the family just fine. You have plenty of nice and family-friendly accommodations in Hamilton and the Hamilton area that you can book. We list below the best rated family-friendly accommodations in Hamilton. Click on the blue link for more information on that accommodation in Hamilton.
Budget accommodation: JetPark Hamilton Airport New Zealand
Mid-range accommodations: Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton
Luxury Accommodation: Quantum Lodge Motor Inn
Also, check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Hamilton.
