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 October
Estimated hotel price
$149
1 night at 3-star hotel
Hamilton in October
Estimated hotel price
$149
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 6 miles 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 71 miles from Hamilton. You’ll find branches of New Zealand Discount Car Rentals and North Car Rental, among others, in Auckland.

Plane

When flying to Hamilton, you’ll arrive at Hamilton (HLZ), which is located 6 miles 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 71 miles from Hamilton. You’ll find branches of New Zealand Discount Car Rentals and North Car Rental, among others, in Auckland.

Airports near Hamilton

AKLAuckland Intl
HLZHamilton
TRGTauranga

Airlines serving Hamilton

Lufthansa
Good (8,221 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,565 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,189 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,481 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,055 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,529 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,257 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,733 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,656 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,122 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,963 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,532 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,515 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,460 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,585 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,036 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,840 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (315 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (1,033 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Hamilton

Average rates range from around $144 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $135 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Mystery Creek Motel and Backpackers Central Hamilton. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Hamilton, with prices from $57 to $950 per night. Frankton is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Hamilton are about 30% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Hamilton

Most booked hotels in Hamilton

See all
Novotel Hamilton Tainui
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$250+
View
Ashwood Manor Motor Lodge
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$97+
View
Anglesea Motel And Conference Centre
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$116+
View
Backpackers Central Hamilton
2 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$52+
View
Alcamo Hotel & Conference Centre
3 stars
Good (7, Good reviews)
$94+
View
Vr Hamilton
4 stars
Good (6.8, Good reviews)
$65+
View

Hiring a car in Hamilton

Hiring a car in Hamilton costs $175 per day, on average, or $349 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, 50% more expensive than at Hamilton.

Expect to pay $3.17 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 $38.02 and $50.69. The most frequently booked car type in Hamilton is Intermediate (Mazda CX-5 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Toyota Corolla or similar) is, on average, 54% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Hamilton costs $175 per day, on average, or $349 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, 50% more expensive than at Hamilton.

Expect to pay $3.17 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 $38.02 and $50.69. The most frequently booked car type in Hamilton is Intermediate (Mazda CX-5 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Toyota Corolla or similar) is, on average, 54% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Hamilton