Kia Ora! New Zealand, you always have my heart – with countless stunning views and experiences, serene drives, and kind, friendly people. In 2025, we did a family road trip in New Zealand and explored North Island and then Auckland for another six days.
Our trip was during winter season without snow in July/Aug. While we were affected by the erratic weather on this trip, the advantage was seeing very little tourists with easy, flexible arrangements. I could immerse myself in North Island’s attractions in many different ways – on land, air and sea. We could also enjoy it leisurely – just very thankful to be able to see Allah’s creations.
Interestingly, North Island offers a different vibe from the South. We did a road trip in South Island before (it was AMAZING). While South Island has dramatic mountains, North Island has geothermal formations and is hilly. So, you actually see lots of isolated houses perched on top of the hill. There is also a bigger emphasis on culture and heritage, especially Maori culture and people. Another observation was that North Island has more stable roads, and much more livestock of horses and alpacas, as well as golf courses, so naturally not as many lookout points along the roads. It is a lot more difficult to see stars with your naked eye.
Getting There and Getting Around
Air New Zealand is part of SIA’s star alliance, so there are codeshare flights. The process with Air NZ went smoothly including checking in of the wheelchair, and it comes with a meal (the Muslim meal is always served first while the other around us took a long while to be served their meals). We also have to purchase the NZeTA in advance, crazy to see the fee increase, which is now NZ$117 per pax via the app.
For this trip, we used GoRentals and had a good experience. The only thing was that it took a while to walk to the shuttle pick-up point at the airport. North Island has a lot of roundabouts and straight roads, so it is actually much easier to drive in North Island. If you need other vehicle alternatives, you can refer to this logistical guide for New Zealand.
There are generally more cars on North Island than in the South. On most of New Zealand’s main roads, the speed limit is 100 km/h. In urban areas, the speed limit is 50 km/h unless a sign says otherwise. We also had an interesting experience while on the road in Hamilton as police officers were doing roadside screening – it was my first time having to do a breath test. All I had to do was count one to five into the device!
From Auckland Airport to Rotorua
Day 1, Sunday
Auckland Botanic Gardens
Auckland Botanic Gardens was near the airport and located next to the main highway down South. Even though we visited on a Sunday with many visitors, there was ample space to enjoy the gardens. The gardens are huge and divided into different sections. This includes herbs, camellias and magnolias, palms, native plants, edibles, and African plants.
Despite its size, the paved paths connecting each section made for an easy stroll. There were benches if you ever needed a break. A delightful place to explore, especially on sunny winter days.
They have trails, activities and workshops too. Free entry, and you can borrow wheelchair and mobility scooters at the Visitor Centre for free if needed.
Address: 102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Auckland 2105, New Zealand
Woolworths Takanini
The first few things to do on a road trip is to visit a supermarket for necessities. Usually, you might end up reaching the accommodation late and you might already be tired from your travels. Best to grab some bottled water, snacks, and beverages earlier.
Address: 228 Great South Road, Takanini, Auckland 2112, New Zealand
Putaruru Blue Spring
The natural spring is famous for its clear blue waters, thanks to the exceptional purity of the spring water. We only walked half the trail, but were already floored — the path runs alongside a crystal-clear river flowing from the renowned Blue Springs, so clear you could see the riverbed’s underwater plants and schools of fish, all set against a backdrop of trees, shrubs, and mountains. Truly beautiful.
The trail was crowded, as everyone was headed to the Putaruru Blue Spring. Note that it’s mostly a gravel path with some hilly terrain, so it’s not wheelchair-friendly, and with few benches along the way, walking the full route there and back can be tough. We parked along the road, which meant a 10-minute walk to the entrance and another 10 minutes to the actual trailhead. The drive in also involved winding mountain roads with no phone reception.
Address: Leslie Road, Putāruru 3483, New Zealand
Chicking Rotorua (Halal)
Like its name suggests, it is the New Zealand version of KFC, which serves halal fried chicken. If I remember correctly, their fried chicken comes in regular and spicy, and the spicy is spicy. It was $2 for extra sauce. There are also grilled options and burgers, wraps, and more. A meal for three cost about NZ$53.
We spotted an Asian grocer market at the same street too!
Address: 1213 Amohau Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Polynesian Spa
This spa appears on every travel site as a must-visit in Rotorua. It’s an iconic geothermal spa retreat with 28 mineral pools fed by two natural springs (one alkaline, one acidic), a combination that nourishes skin and relieves tired muscles and aches.1 Had assumed it was mainly for facials and body treatments, but I was wrong. There’s a full therapy menu — Aix water treatments, body wraps, massages, facials, sound healing, yoga, meditation — but the pools are the real draw. The common pools stayed packed even late in the evening, the whole area thick with steam as people simply soaked in silence.
We selected the lake view private pool, and it was actually so, so relaxing somehow? The pool was hot, and we naturally floated in the pool. This was the first time I understood why saunas are so popular – the heat healed and loosened our muscles, even though getting dressed afterward in the cold weather was rough.
We hadn’t booked in advance, so a private room wasn’t available right away — we paid for the next open timeslot instead. While waiting, we browsed their gift shop, which stocked all sorts of cool health and wellness items and vitamins. Since it was dark by our slot, we couldn’t really enjoy the lake view — book ahead if you want the best scenery. We paid NZ$164 for three people.
Address: 1000 Hinemoa Street, Lakeside, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
PAK’nSAVE Rotorua
Did another quick supermarket run, just because we can. The huge yellow shop sign just makes you want to park your car and enter the shop filled with food and necessities. The interior was more like a wholesale factory, so you may find good deals for certain items.
Address: Cnr Fenton Street &, Amohau Street, Victoria, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Accommodation in Rotorua
We stayed at a ground floor apartment at Pukaki Street. It was a quiet neighbourhood which has offices in the day, but easy and accessible enough to drive to the main areas or grab a quick bite nearby.
Address: 1080 Pukaki Street
Soaking in Rotorua’s Geothermal Spaces
Rotorua and its surrounding towns are well known for its geothermal activity. There are plenty of places to explore in the town center or a bit further out.
Day 2, Monday
Volcanic Air
The next day, we soaked in the view of the Lake Rotorua in a different way – from the top! This was truly one of the best experiences we had – we booked a 30-minute flight on Volcanic Air’s floatplane. The floatplane was a lot bigger than I thought, it was so spacious for three pax and could fit much more people. For three pax, we each got a window seat. There was a safety briefing before that, and then we were weighed for safety purposes.
The floatplane was docked at the pier, and then we took off from the lake. The views were just breathtaking – from Mount Tarawera, Lake Rotorua, Crater Lakes, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, sacred Maori forests and lakes, and even volcanic rift lines! It was a unique perspective of the region’s stunning volcanic landscapes, geothermal wonders, and crystal-clear lakes. The pilot was good-looking too 😛
Interestingly, the plane itself felt so light, and you feel like you are floating in the air somehow. You can still talk and communicate using the mics in the air. Being in the floatplane was actually really cold when you are in the air, so do wear sufficient layers. We actually booked for an afternoon flight, but they contacted us to reschedule to morning as they expect bad weather from 11am onwards, so it could be risky, and we made it! Luckily, we were able to switch our AM and PM activity at short notice.
We paid about SG$620 for three pax. While it is costly, this activity was surreal – highly recommended. You can book on Klook in advance and tap on vouchers if available.
Address: 1 Lakefront Drive, City Lakefront, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Rotorua Lakefront
After an exhilarating ride, we relaxed and took a walk along the boardwalk to appreciate the beautiful lake view from another angle.
If I remember correctly, the public toilets here were clean. There was also a whare (house) of Te Arawa’s Waka Taua (war canoe), which is regarded as a taonga (treasure). The terraced landscaping with native trees and shrubbery and unique pathways and bridges made of various materials was fun to explore.2
We enjoyed the playground and the animals in the area. It felt the adults could play at the playground too with the flying fox, pendulum swing, mid-height elements, and half-court basketball. There were super cute buckets and shovels “machinery” in the sandpit for kids too.
Address: Lakefront Drive, Ohinemutu, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Sulphur Point
If you want to see geothermal activity up close, do a quick walk through Sulphur point. The area has steaming vents, boiling mud pools, and the distinct smell of sulfur. Looking at the space kind of feels like you are in a different world. You can actually see the mud pools bubbling with occasional small bursts.
Address: Hatupatu Drive, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Kuirau Park – Mud Pools
After experiencing the joy of warm pools on Day 1, we visited Kuirau Park for round 2 – for free! This Maori-owned valley has hot-water lakes, mud pools, and geothermal foot baths in the center of the town. The vibe feels serene and peaceful in the day, and there was no crowd when we visited on a Monday morning, so we can easily use the geothermal pools. Dipping our feet really had a refreshing effect on our body almost immediately, and our feet dry fast in cool weather.
The rest of the trails to view the rocky-mud and sulfur pools and hot springs may not be wheelchair-friendly because the paths are on pebbled roads, but they are on flat ground. There are information panels around to explain the geothermal elements in that area. Feeling the steam full-on as close as you could was also interesting. We also spotted staff in bright orange uniforms cleaning the pools.
Address: Kuirau Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Ali Baba’s Tunisian Cuisine (Halal)
This family-owned eatery specializes in mouthwatering Middle Eastern dishes. The restaurant may be small with limited seating, but the service is warm and welcoming. Everything was made upon ordering, and the dishes were full of sauces. We had a very filling lunch here with a pizza, pasta, and kebab for NZ$65.77. The serving size here was large so we could have just ordered two meals for three to four pax.
Address: 1146 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Lady Janes Ice Cream Parlour @ Eat Street
We walked over to Eat Street for dessert at Lady Janes. Ice cream is still an essential dessert even in winter weather, somehow it still tastes good. They had a selection of over 40 ice cream and sorbet flavours, including Anzac coconut cookie and classic hokey pokey. Three of us got a scoop each that cost a total of NZ$18.50.
Eat Streat is a popular pedestrian-only food court located at the lake end of Tutanekai Street in Rotorua. It offers a variety of dining options, but it felt like there wasn’t anything halal there, but we could see it being a lively place in the evening.
Address: 1092 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Agrodome
This was definitely enjoyable for both adults and kids and we had lots of fun during both the show and the tour! You attend the show, followed by a tour on a tractor-trailer deep into the 350-acre working farmland. The show introduces you to 19 different breeds of sheep with many different personalities which you can meet up-close, be entertained with a live sheep shearing demonstration, milking a cow, see farm dogs (and ducks) in action and more. Did not know wool was oily as they passed around the audience for a feel.
Then, head on outside for a live dog trial and see how they round up the sheep, then go round the farm to feed countless sheep and alpacas! We also spotted cows and deer. They brought us to their working orchard and we sampled homegrown manuka honey.
They run multiple shows and tours daily, accommodating large groups, so we were lucky to switch to a later slot when we called that same morning. The overall experience takes about two and a half hours, and manual wheelchairs are available if needed. There’s also a shoe-washing station on site.
Address: 141 Western Road, Ngongotahā, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Skyline Rotorua
We wanted to take the gondola up for the luge and the swing, but those activities close earlier than the last gondola ride. Decided not to go up since we had done one Skyline in Queenstown before and that it was getting late. To be honest, riding the gondola feels scarier than a rollercoaster ride because the ride up is really steep and close to the mountain, but I remember the view at the top was really wonderful and it was cool to see the mountain-bikers riding down.
Address: 178 Fairy Springs Road, Fairy Springs, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand
Lake Front Reserve
We wanted to catch a sunset and a Google search showed us this Lake Front Reserve that comes with a serene and picturesque location. We honestly couldn’t find it, if you know do let us know in the comments below!
Address: 18 Manahi Avenue, Kawaha Point, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Kmart Rotorua
Couldn’t resist visiting a Kmart and leaving the place with hands full. Though I observed the Kmart here is not as interesting as the ones in Australia somehow.
Address: 1490 Amohau Street, Rotorua 3013, New Zealand
Crispy kebabs and burgers
It was cheaper to order directly at the shop than ordering from Uber, so we drove over. The food here was actually so good, especially the burger, with vegetarian and halal-friendly options. There were also office workers eating kebabs in the shop. Two set meals cost about NZ$45.
Address: 1211-1213 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Overall, Rotorua had a lovely, laidback vibe. It wasn’t crowded, though there were plenty of parks and pools around town. Traffic only picked up in the evenings, likely people heading home. The weather stayed cloudy with light, passing rain throughout. Random note: the chocolate here wasn’t great.
Getting Schooled on the Road from Rotorua to Taupo
We did our first petrol run on Day 3.
Day 3, Tuesday
Te Puia – Rotorua, NZ
We booked the Te Rā Guided Experience at Te Puia, a morning tour lasting about 1.5 hours. Te Puia is huge, covering the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, so expect some walking — but the sights make it energizing. Wheelchairs are available, most of the site is wheelchair-friendly, and their map marks accessible paths; there’s also a waka or electric shuttle at one point. The tour took us to see kiwis at the conservation centre, then through a Jurassic-like landscape of native bush, geysers, and mud pools. It felt genuinely majestic and surreal watching it all unfold.
The best part wasn’t just the bubbling, steaming geysers, but the passion of the Maori people throughout — guides, staff, and the students at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. You can watch skilled carvers and weavers at work across three schools: stone and bone carving, wood carving, and weaving. Intake is strict — students must be Maori and are awarded scholarships to study there. We learned it’s extremely difficult to master all three schools, so most students specialise in just one. The guided tours were informative and engaging, offering real insight into local folklore and customs.
The tour ended off with a very cool performance – traditional welcome ceremony, songs, chants, poi, and haka within the impressive traditionally carved wharenui or meeting house. There is a winter discount on their site which includes the Haka.
After you are done with the guided experience, you could roam around and explore the natural wonders of geothermal activity. Unfortunately, it was raining quite heavily, so our plans had to change. We decided to skip some of the places we wanted to visit (like Secret Spa and other geothermal landmarks) and headed back to Rotorua for lunch.
Address: 20 Hemo Road, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
TURKISH KEBABS & EATERY (Halal)
Always good to eat hot food during rainy weather. The kebab and rice here were good as they used basmati rice, but their fish and chips are not recommended. Serving size is huge, so we shared one main which filled our tummies. There was a corkboard that was filled with different currencies contributed by tourist customers.
Address: 1178 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Hukafalls Jet Taupo
It was still raining as we drove to Taupo, so we called Hukafalls Jet to check if the ride was running. They confirmed it was, so we headed over. On arrival, the rain picked up, and we had to wait a while to confirm it was still safe to start. Staff said they could proceed, but warned it wouldn’t be enjoyable — at the boat’s speed, rain would hit our faces like hail, which felt like a lot to pay for an uncomfortable ride.
It was quite funny because only the Asians were willing to wait for the ride, and we were still adamant and did not move even after the staff said that. Eventually, we took their advice, with the rest also following suit.
Address: 200 Karetoto Road, Wairakei, Taupō 3377, New Zealand
Huka Honey Hive
We drove past this honey shop and decided to pop by. For nearly 30 years, this local favourite has been showcasing the world of bees and their prized product through its gardens, apiaries, and retail spaces. They had lots of honey options in different forms – from honey-based snacks, drinks, health and skincare products. You can actually try samples before buying, and the staff were very nice and able to advise on the products. They have quite a wide range of high grade manuka honey.
There is an activity area for children (and us) to learn more about bees and pollination and a cafe too.
Address: 65 Karetoto Road, Wairakei, Taupō 3351, New Zealand
Huka Falls Lookout
Right down the road from Huka Honey Hive is the Huka Falls Lookout, offering a gorgeous view, even from up high, you can see the turquoise river and its powerful current, giving a real sense of nature’s force before heading down for a closer look. Parking is limited to just three or four spots, but since it’s on a minor road, it wasn’t an issue. The wind was fierce here, so our umbrella barely helped against the gloomy weather.
Address: Huka Falls Loop Road, Wairakei, Taupō 3384, New Zealand
Huka Falls
Huka Falls is a breathtaking natural wonder, beautiful and exhilarating to experience. I’d recommend seeing it from both vantage points. You can feel its energy at the footbridge over the rushing whitewater pool, with views of the 220,000-litres-per-second falls. The current was strong and rough, and I loved it, even though we didn’t get to ride it that day.
There was plenty of parking space since it links to the start of various walking trails on the other side of the footbridge.
Address: Wairakei, Taupō 3384, New Zealand
BurgerFuel Taupo (Halal options available)
What would we do without BurgerFuel, we could not really find any other Muslim-friendly food places in Taupo for dinner, so this was a lifesaver especially in the rain. Let them know you want the halal meal, and they will be able to advise you on the selection. A meal for three pax was NZ$66.70.
Address: 2 Roberts Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
Accommodation in Taupo
Ika Nui Taupo
There was a good discount when we booked the room directly on their website. The lakefront motel was in a great location because you could just sit in the living room, sip some hot chocolate and watch the beautiful Lake Taupo comfortably. I actually liked the apartment because it was simple, clean and spacious. It was a comfortable queen bed, a pull-out single bed but still have room for sofas and a rounded dining table. The kitchen had ample counter space too. It comes with a patio with outdoor furniture and lake views, but it also means you have to climb some stairs to get to your apartment.
Address: 64 Lake Terrace, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
From seeing Lake Taupo to the streets of Hamilton
Spot cute elements of Taupo on the streets – they are well-known for their trout!
Staring out into Lake Taupo from the room made me realise how powerful natural resources are and why people can be greedy for it. Just pure appreciation of Allah’s creation of nature as you grow older.
Day 4, Wednesday
Sail Barbary eco-sailing to Maori Rock Carvings Taupo
One perk of traveling this time of year was the small crowds at most activities. Due to the rain, the company texted us a delayed reporting time, which worked out well. The dock hosts a few touring companies, but ours was easy to spot, with parking right in front. The yacht made for a more intimate, unique experience, and we each got a homemade drink.
Luckily, the rain became a drizzle, so we were able to set sail on the calm, clear nine-degree waters of Lake Taupo late morning. During the sail, they shared stories about the lake – that it was born from a volcano eruption so huge that it could be seen from Europe, and Singapore could literally fit in the lake. You could also find lots of trout in the lake. Everything about the experience was really free and easy, you could do whatever you want on the boat, take photos, relax in the cabin, or enjoy the view up-close.
We passed by lots of houses and also spotted a house perched at the cliff beside the lake that cost nine million dollars. After some time, we finally reached the Maori Rock Carvings at Mine Bay in Lake Taupo. I enjoyed the insightful commentary from knowledgeable and friendly staff about the Maori Rock Carvings (which in essence is symbolic graffiti art). We were also visited by friendly ducks who jumped up the yacht.
Address: Berths 9 &, 10 Redoubt Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
BurgerFuel Taupo (Halal options available)
We enjoyed more views of the Lake from the second floor of BurgerFuel. We spent NZ$55 for three pax during lunch.
Address: 2 Roberts Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
Love Taupo Sign
We did some sightseeing in the lovely, quiet town of Taupo, including the iconic Love Taupo sign set against Lake Taupo and mountain views. There were multiple spots along the lake to snap photos and soak in the scenery.
Nearby parking was full, so we parked a bit further and walked down to the heart of town, restaurants and fast-food eateries.
Address: 181/151 Lake Terrace, Hilltop, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
McDonald’s Taupo
If you ever want to dine in a vintage DC-3 airplane, well, this is it. The McDonald’s Taupo brands itself as the world’s coolest McDonald’s, where customers can enjoy their meals inside the aircraft, complete with seats and tables, while also having the opportunity to explore its original cockpit. It is quite a sight even seeing it from a distance.
Address: CNR ROBERTS & RUAPEHU STREETS, 48 Roberts Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
NZ Post Shop Taupo Central
Made a quick pitstop at a post shop to get some stamps for international mailing (NZ$2.20 per postcard). There was a booth to put the stamps on, but of course licking it works equally well. The post office is in the same shop as a bookstore and a pharmacy. The post box is right outside the shop, but drop-off big packages in the shop.
Address: 41 Te Heuheu Street, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
Taharepa Baths
Taharepa Baths is a free, easy spot for a quick rest. Dip your feet in the geothermal waters at Taharepa Reserve, or dig into the sand to create your own small hot pools — there are two main ponds, one medium-hot and one hotter. The rainy weather wasn’t on our side on that day.
Address: 159 Lake Terrace, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
It was then a two-hour drive to the next town, Hamilton!
New World Hillcrest
Stopped by a local supermarket. The range of products here was limited, and it felt like the prices were more expensive than Woolies or Coles, might be because it is a relatively smaller supermarket.
Address: 280 Cambridge Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
Penang Street Food (Halal options available)
After checking into our hotel, the weather finally settled, so we walked to dinner at Penang Street Food. The streets were a bit dark, with most shops closed and few streetlamps. The restaurant serves Malaysian food — at first glance, one dish looked like pork, but the owner clarified it was just red sausage. They said all dishes are cooked separately with no cross-contamination, and that ingredients are halal.
The staff were friendly and could also speak Malay. We spent NZ$77.70 for three pax.
Address: 941A Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Card Merchant Hamilton
The number of Card Merchant stores we visited on this trip should never be disclosed. A hobby store in the city centre and it was still open at night with gamers playing matches in the shop. You could purchase the usual trading cards, board games, Pop! Vinyls, toys, Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, and more. Some of the Pokemon series were cheaper than in Singapore.
Address: 660 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Timezone Victoria Street
There was no one in the shop at 8.30pm. It has the usual arcade games, but Singapore definitely has better entertainment variety and quality (since we do not have natural landmarks to keep us occupied).
Address: 460 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Accommodation in Hamilton
Novotel Hamilton Tainui
We picked this hotel for its convenient location and free parking. Very easy access to the town, and also right beside the Waikato river and SkyCity. There is a small sofa beside the door and the bed and pillows. This riverfront Hamilton hotel greets you with a traditional Maori totem gate at the entrance.
Address: 7 Alma Street Hamilton, 3244
Shopping for sights in Hamilton
Hamilton felt more cultural and commercialized, so we ended up doing plenty of art and shopping instead.
Day 5, Thursday
Waikato River (Hamilton River Path – West River Bank)
The Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest, runs through the heart of Hamilton, making it easy to walk along the water. It ran right beside our accommodation on the west riverbank, giving us access anytime to the river, mature trees, and sweeping lawns. From Hamilton, you can explore five different Waikato River Trails.
Address: Hamilton River Path – West River Bank, 3204, New Zealand
Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery
On the walk to the museum, we passed plenty of graffiti and historical monuments. Look for the rainbow-coloured “waterfall” — it marks the entrance to the Waikato Museum. Established in 1987, the museum features exhibitions on the region’s art, history, and culture, with well-curated galleries blending historical and modern pieces. Highlights include a fully restored 200-year-old Te Winika Waka, a traditional Māori canoe, along with many other Māori treasures.
It was striking to see how, even on opposite ends of the world, humanity and culture echo similar themes — shared experiences of colonisation, identity, urbanisation, and more.
They have a lift for people on wheelchairs, prams and walking frames up to every floor. The museum actually provides foldable chairs that you can take if you need a rest in the museum, very cute. What’s even cuter is seeing students having an excursion to the gallery. It is free entry.
Address: 1 Grantham Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
ArtsPost Hamilton
We passed by another artsy building beside the museum. Housed on the ground floor of the former Post and Telegraph Office, this venue features three small galleries with regularly changing exhibitions by regional artists. It is free entry and supports the Waikato arts community through exhibitions and a retail shop.3
The shop sells exclusively New Zealand-made art and design made by actual New Zealand artists from ceramics, paintings, prints, jewellery, textiles. Very tempted but I couldn’t risk breaking the items while on holiday.
Address: 120 Victoria Street, Hamilton
Game Centre
The game culture here is strong with plenty of game shops that sell games, puzzles, miniatures and hobby accessories. Of course someone could not resist buying more Pokémon packs, but I managed to find a card game souvenir for my friend. Prices were affordable and a bunch of the games was also on sale. The staff was very friendly and provided game recommendations when needed.
Address: 11F Garden Place Hamilton Central Hamilton 3204
We also spotted a few bingsu and bubble tea shops at Hamilton Central:
| 奶茶制造厂 BUBBLE TEA FACTORY | Snow Town |
| Address: Shop2/5 Garden Place, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand | Address: 104 Alexandra Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand |
K Chicken Hamilton (Halal)
This is a halal-certified Korean fried chicken restaurant. It had been a while since we had something other than Western meals or kebabs, so this was highly needed for lunch.
The menu features options like honey soy ginger chicken, spicy, cheese onion, black pepper flavours, and boneless crispy chicken. It comes with some tteokbokki toppings and also seaweed or normal fries. We got two chicken meals for around NZ$50. Surprisingly, lots of customers going in and out.
Address: 4 Whatawhata Road, Dinsdale, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
There is also another halal shop down the row of shophouses: The Kebabs.
Check out Coin Save, which is like your local household shop you find in Singapore’s heartlands. Its charmingly messy, no-frills aisles is a comforting sight.
Hamilton Gardens
Hamilton Gardens feels like a garden built for the rich and elegant, meticulously designed with themed spaces featuring architectural elements like colonnades and pagodas. They have three Garden Collections – Fantasy, Productive and Paradise, and these collections examines the evolution and meaning of gardens throughout history, with the oldest being the Ancient Egyptian Garden (2000BC), and the Concept Garden based in the 2000s. Thoughtful garden landscapes include Tudor to Japanese to the traditional gardening skills of Tainui-Waikato Maaori. You can also enjoy a halal-friendly gourmet picnic at the Hamilton Gardens if you pre-order in advance!
We did not enter the paid area and wandered around the rest of the free entry sections – absolutely loved the Turtle Lake. Like you could literally see a reflection of the beautiful sky in the lake. It was gorgeous, wide, and peaceful.
Address: Hungerford Crescent, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
The Base + Te AWA
The Base is an outlet mall beside a shopping mall, one of the largest in the country, with indoor and outdoor sections and boutiques for the whole family. We headed straight to Chemist Warehouse first to buy them goods (spent over $200, joke’s on me). The supplements and vitamins were great, including halal-certified and vegan-friendly options. There were also outlet shops for international brands, plus a merch store with anime, board games, puzzles, and Pop Mart collectibles.
The best part was the Asian supermarket — we couldn’t help window shopping through familiar products like durians, coconuts, and Ayam brand cans, even spotting sambal nasi lemak, belacan, and Thai chili sauce.
Cross the street to Te Awa, The Base’s indoor mall with department stores, boutiques, and casual dining. We finally found Farmers and Mecca for the items we’d been looking for. There is a food court and seating stretched along the mall, plus cafes and snack booths — including a cute shop called TasTea, and a GongCha. Parking is free with plenty of space.
Our only regret: not buying from Dubai Perfumes. Their perfumes were beautiful and luxurious, and we kept getting drawn back by the scent, but couldn’t track the shop down again on Shopee afterward.
Address: Te Rapa Road &, Wairere Drive, Hamilton 3200, New Zealand
Bowl and Social @ Sky City Hamilton
A bowling alley right beside the hotel was perfect for a late-night activity. The bowling alley also had some arcade games, air hockey, and pool tables, and it is opened minimally till 9pm. If you go in the day, the view of the Waikato River can be seen from the deck.
The best part of this bowling experience was really the aesthetics of the scoring board that really made me want to come back again. They had so many super funny animation reaction videos after each bowl, from skydiving to princess in a tall castle to cowboy to bodybuilder to police themes and more. The best part was that the animation used our faces with different expressions that we had pre-recorded at the start.
Two games each for two pax cost us NZ$68. I think the fee included the shoe rental, though you have to pay for socks if you need them. The beverages though can be quite costly as we bought a canned drink for NZ$5.
Address: 340 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Woolworths Hamilton
We did a quick grocery run at a Woolworths that opens till 10pm. There were still a lot of people, and they closed off the main entrance at night. Vibes felt a little creepy outside the shop though, so do not do your grocery runs alone at night.
Address: Cnr Anglesea &, Liverpool Street, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Gaming DNA
Drove past another game shop, which was right across the street from Woolworths, so we walked over to check it out. Located on Level 2, it was surprising to see the shop filled with people having a game night after not seeing people in public. I guess these places are where the locals have their social activities, besides the pubs and bars, and it closes late enough for people to socialise after work.
Their items are priced reasonably, and has a very wide range of board game, puzzles, merch and TCG/RPG/Wargaming stuff. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and the staff were helpful and friendly.
Address: Level 1/550 Anglesea Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, New Zealand
Overall, so much cute graffiti all around Hamilton!
Waitomo’s Way to Glow to Auckland
Unpredictable weather does affect your itinerary. We have had a few activities that got pushed around even till Day 6 of the trip, but luckily, we managed to complete them!
Day 6, Friday
Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tour
Spellbound Waitomo Glowworm and Cave Tours was an amazing experience — pictures really don’t do it justice. You have to see this wonder of Allah’s creation up close. On the van ride to the caves, we spotted adorable lambs nursing, sleeping cows, and even some dead livestock, plus an eel in the Waitomo River. Along the way, we had the option to get off and take in the rugged, scenic limestone-studded farmland, or drive to the cave with the van.
The guide was knowledgeable and offered detailed insights into the area, caves, and glowworms. Very minimal lights were allowed at specific spots to protect the environment. The moment when it was pitch dark in the cave was the moment we lit up with awe and amazement. It was a leisure boat ride as you are surrounded by enchanting glowworm displays. We were initially a bit worried about accessibility of the tour, but the cave was mostly flat ground, flat water and no stairs, quite safe for older folks.
We then explored the Spirit Cave with its impressive limestone formations and the opportunity to see remnants of a 12,000 years old 3.5m-tall bird, Moa. It was fascinating to walk through an old river gorge and have a different POV of the sky through the Tomo (or sinkholes) that opens up to the forest and sky. There was also a short snack break in between the two spots.
The meeting point had grown lemon trees right beside the office and it was in the middle of the farm with lots of cows of all colours just minding their own business.
There were two main options of a glowworm tour, Spellbound or Discover Waitomo. The latter was the more mainstream option I believe, and they had a few other tours and experiences available. Eventually picked Spellbound because it was cheaper and photography is allowed with a smaller boat size of 12 as compared to 23. Moreover, it is a small family-owned business who are cavers and locals with 35 years of experience in the business. We had a free tour upgrade that lets you explore two caves.
Overall, this was really enjoyable. Simple, but amazing.
Address: 334 Boddies Road, Waitomo Caves 3981, New Zealand
We then went back to K Chicken (Halal) for lunch because we could not get enough, and made our way to Auckland for the next half of the trip. Check out what we did in Auckland here.
North Island proved erratic weather can’t eradicate good vibes – floatplanes, glowworms, and one too many geothermal soaks later, we came home warmer than winter let on. Always a pleasure meeting you, New Zealand!