Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Hamilton travel guide

Hamilton Tourism | Hamilton Guide

You're Going to Love Hamilton

With a population of 152.641, Hamilton is the largest city in Waikato, New Zealand by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Hamilton deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Hamilton

Hamilton in November
Estimated hotel price
$150
1 night at 3-star hotel
Hamilton in November
Estimated hotel price
$150
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Hamilton in February, when the average temperature is 19 °C, and the highest can go up to 25 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 5 °C, with an average temperature of 9 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 120 mm. In contrast, March is usually the driest month of the year in Hamilton, with an average rainfall of 70 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Hamilton

Plane

When flying to Hamilton, you’ll arrive at Hamilton (HLZ), which is located 10 km from the city centre. Airlines that fly from New Zealand to Hamilton include Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Qantas Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Hamilton departs from Christchurch and takes around 1h 15m.

Car

Another option to get to Hamilton is to pick up a car hire from Auckland, which is about 114 km from Hamilton. You’ll find branches of North Car Rental and Mode, among others, in Auckland.

Plane

When flying to Hamilton, you’ll arrive at Hamilton (HLZ), which is located 10 km from the city centre. Airlines that fly from New Zealand to Hamilton include Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Qantas Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Hamilton departs from Christchurch and takes around 1h 15m.

Car

Another option to get to Hamilton is to pick up a car hire from Auckland, which is about 114 km from Hamilton. You’ll find branches of North Car Rental and Mode, among others, in Auckland.

Airports near Hamilton

AKLAuckland Intl
HLZHamilton
TRGTauranga

Airlines serving Hamilton

Lufthansa
Good (8,220 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,575 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,214 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,068 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,473 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,563 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,249 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,733 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,654 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,208 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,984 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,617 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,535 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,430 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,481 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,600 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,040 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (318 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,917 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (1,040 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Hamilton

Average rates range from around $149 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $137 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Mystery Creek Motel and Backpackers Central Hamilton.

Where to stay in popular areas of Hamilton

Most booked hotels in Hamilton

See all
Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$139+
View
Anglesea Motel And Conference Centre
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$119+
View
Ventura Inn & Suites Hamilton
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
$146+
View
Backpackers Central Hamilton
2 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$48+
View
Alcamo Hotel & Conference Centre
3 stars
Good (7, Good reviews)
$95+
View
Vr Hamilton
4 stars
Good (6.8, Good reviews)
$69+
View

Hiring a car in Hamilton

Hiring a car in Hamilton costs $176 per day, on average, or $352 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 57% more expensive than at Hamilton.

Expect to pay $3.25 per litre in Hamilton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $38.97 and $51.96. The most frequently booked car type in Hamilton is Standard (Mitsubishi Outlander or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Subaru Legacy Wagon or similar) is, on average, 39% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Hamilton costs $176 per day, on average, or $352 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 57% more expensive than at Hamilton.

Expect to pay $3.25 per litre in Hamilton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $38.97 and $51.96. The most frequently booked car type in Hamilton is Standard (Mitsubishi Outlander or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Subaru Legacy Wagon or similar) is, on average, 39% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Hamilton