Waikato Day Tripper

A travel blog about slow travel in the North Island of New Zealand. Especially the Waikato region, New Zealand’s green heartland. Written by a local.
Kia ora and welcome, friend. You’ve come a long way to get here. Take your time and connect with the real New Zealand.

  • Small waterfall surrounded by tall green trees and bushes, in foreground is a small patch of green grass.
Nature and gardens
  • Maori carvings entrance to Te Parapara traditional Maori garden at Hamilton Gardens, tall green bushes at both sides.
essential
waikato
  • In foreground spring flowers including white, yellow, orange, bright pink and red clover with bright green foliage, woman wearing blue shirt and purple hat with woven brim in background leaning in towards the flowers and smiling slightly.
Tips for slow
travel
  • bright orange oval mandarin fruit in light brown woven flax basket with fronds of bright green leaves on top of the fruit, braided basket handles tucked into basket under the fruit.
local food, arts, culture
  • sheep with white wool coats standing on bright green grass covered hills, a few upright trees in the distance, sky is light grey-blue with clouds, at right back is a straight line of hazy blue-grey hills.
visiting new zealand

Start reading here…

Return to Hobbiton

In which two old hobbits discover whether Hobbiton is worth visiting.

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Trees with dark brown branches and dark green leaves in foreground on left, trees with lighter green leaves on right. In centre of photo in the distance is a waterfall, with cloudy white water falling from the top to the bottom of the image.

Welcome to jet lag

Jet lag is pretty much guaranteed when you arrive in New Zealand. Here’s how to stop it ruining the beginning of your holiday.

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Grey-turquoise statues of Alice in Wonderland in centre holding tea cup with March Hare with big ears at left and Mad Hatter wearing top hat holding tea cup at right. Tea pots and tea cups at their feet. In background brown and green hedge.

Gardens of surprise

What’s to see at Hamilton Gardens? Check out some of my favourite places.

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About me

Hi, I’m Alice. I’m the writer of this blog about slow travel in the Waikato region of the North Island of Aotearoa-New Zealand.

There are so many great places to explore here. Lakes, rivers, eco-sanctuaries, gardens, caves, waterfalls and more. I’m sure you’ll find plenty to inspire you.

The Waikato has been my home for nearly 20 years, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

I especially love the kind of journey that lets me venture out for the day and sleep in a comfortable bed at night.

I enjoy day trips, easy bike rides, walking in nature, thermal pools, gardens and local food. And playing music with my friends on the river bank on a summer afternoon.

Latest posts on the Waikato Day Tripper

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