Introduction
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Hamilton has to offer.

When to visit Hamilton

Hamilton in August
Estimated hotel price
$51
1 night at 3-star hotel
Hamilton in August
Estimated hotel price
$51
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Hamilton in February, when the average temperature is 66.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 77 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 41 °F, with an average temperature of 48.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 4.7″. In contrast, March is usually the driest month of the year in Hamilton, with an average rainfall of 2.8″.

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 center. The shortest flight to Hamilton from the United States departs from Los Angeles and takes around 18h 25m.

Car

Another option to get to Hamilton is to pick up a car rental from Auckland, which is about 71 miles from Hamilton. You’ll find branches of EZI and Autounion 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 center. The shortest flight to Hamilton from the United States departs from Los Angeles and takes around 18h 25m.

Car

Another option to get to Hamilton is to pick up a car rental from Auckland, which is about 71 miles from Hamilton. You’ll find branches of EZI and Autounion Car Rental, among others, in Auckland.

Airports near Hamilton

AKLAuckland Intl
HLZHamilton
TRGTauranga

Airlines serving Hamilton

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,628 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,008 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,575 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,097 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,812 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,092 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,681 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,051 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,442 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,525 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,332 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,336 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,413 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,452 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (908 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (282 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,895 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Hamilton

Average rates range from around $72 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $90 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Hamilton, with prices from $34 to $567 per night. Frankton is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Hamilton are about 8% 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, 2009 reviews)
$122+
View
Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1761 reviews)
$81+
View
Ventura Inn & Suites Hamilton
3 stars
Excellent (8, 2367 reviews)
$93+
View
Backpackers Central Hamilton
2 stars
Good (7.5, 2221 reviews)
$38+
View
Ramada By Wyndham Hamilton City Center
3 stars
Good (7.1, 2341 reviews)
$59+
View
Vr Hamilton
4 stars
Good (7, 3284 reviews)
$39+
View

Renting a car in Hamilton

Renting a car in Hamilton costs $81 per day, on average, or $242 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Hamilton.

Expect to pay $6.13 per gallon in Hamilton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $73.59 and $98.12. The most frequently booked car type in Hamilton is Intermediate (Nissan X-Trail or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Kia Stonic or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Hamilton costs $81 per day, on average, or $242 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Hamilton.

Expect to pay $6.13 per gallon in Hamilton (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $73.59 and $98.12. The most frequently booked car type in Hamilton is Intermediate (Nissan X-Trail or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Kia Stonic or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Hamilton