Discover Hamilton Scavenger Hunt
Discover the city on the Waikato with a scavenger hunt across Hamilton. Wander the themed worlds of the Hamilton Gardens, follow the Waikato River through the CBD, walk Victoria Street and end with a Riff Raff statue pose for the Rocky Horror crowd. New Zealand's fourth-largest city, gardens that beat anything in the country, and a sneaky cultural surprise on Victoria Street.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Hamilton Gardens
Navigate to Hamilton Gardens on Cobham Drive and check in at the Visitor Centre.
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2
Waikato River walk
Drive or rideshare to the central Waikato River walkway and check in by the riverside path near Cobham Bridge or Victoria Bridge.
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3
Victoria Street
Walk west into the CBD and check in on Victoria Street between Bryce and London Streets.
Challenges (20)
Hamilton kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Hamilton backdrop (a Waikato River bridge, a Hamilton Gardens entrance, the Riff Raff statue in the distance) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Hamilton Gardens
Navigate to Hamilton Gardens on Cobham Drive and check in at the Visitor Centre.
Themed garden pose
Hamilton Gardens has a series of paradise gardens that recreate famous historical garden styles (Italian Renaissance, Japanese, Chinese Scholar, Indian Char Bagh). Pick a theme, find its entrance and take a group photo with the team posed inside in keeping with the style.
Surrealist garden chess
The Surrealist Garden in Hamilton Gardens has a giant chess set and dripping clock features. Find the chess pieces and take a group photo where the team poses as if mid-game, two pieces deep into a draw.
Trivia: Hamilton Gardens free
Hamilton Gardens has been ranked the world's best garden multiple times. The general entry fee is what amount in NZ dollars?
Answers: 0 / free / Free / $0
Checkpoint: Waikato River walk
Drive or rideshare to the central Waikato River walkway and check in by the riverside path near Cobham Bridge or Victoria Bridge.
Waikato River walk shot
The Waikato is the longest river in New Zealand and runs straight through Hamilton. Find a stretch of the riverside path and take a group photo with the team walking toward the camera with the brown river leading the eye.
Trivia: Waikato River length
The Waikato River is New Zealand's longest. How many kilometres long is it (within 25)?
Answers: 425 / 400 / 410 / 420 / 430 / 440 / 450
Checkpoint: Victoria Street
Walk west into the CBD and check in on Victoria Street between Bryce and London Streets.
Victoria Street busker shot
Victoria Street is Hamilton's main shopping and dining drag. Find a busker, a street mural or an art installation and take a group photo with the team in the scene.
Riff Raff statue pose
On Victoria Street stands the Riff Raff statue, a bronze of Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror character (O'Brien lived in Hamilton as a teenager). Find the statue, line the team up and take a group photo where everyone does the Time Warp pose alongside him.
Trivia: Riff Raff musical
The Riff Raff statue commemorates Hamilton-raised Richard O'Brien, who wrote which cult musical (three words)?
Answers: The Rocky Horror Show / Rocky Horror Show / the rocky horror show / rocky horror show / The Rocky Horror Picture Show / rocky horror picture show
Garden Place shot
Garden Place is Hamilton's central pedestrian square, with the Founders Theatre and ANZ Centre on either side. Find the square, line the team up and take a group photo with the team posed in the centre.
Waikato Museum / ArtsPost
The Waikato Museum sits on the riverside between Victoria Street and the river. Find the entrance facade (or step inside if open) and take a group photo with the team in front. Free admission for most exhibitions.
Riverbank picnic moment
Hamilton's riverside lawns are picnic-friendly. Find a spot on the bank, grab a coffee or a bakery roll from a nearby cafe and take a group photo with the team picnicking, river behind.
Cow nod (Waikato dairy)
The Waikato is dairy country, with the world's biggest dairy cooperative (Fonterra) headquartered nearby. Find a cow sculpture, a Fonterra sign or a dairy-themed cafe and take a group photo with the team mooing for the camera.
Hobbiton nod
The Lord of the Rings Shire set (Hobbiton Movie Set) is a 45-minute drive from Hamilton. If you cannot visit, find any Lord of the Rings or hobbit-themed reference in Hamilton (poster, postcard, gift shop window) and take a group photo with the team in barefoot hobbit pose.
Waikato plate
Order a Waikato classic (a Hamilton beef pie, a dairy-fresh flat white, a kumara bowl) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Local Hamiltonian tip
Convince a local Hamilton resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Hamilton finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Hamilton spot (the Waikato at golden hour, Hamilton Gardens at dusk, Victoria Street lit up at night) and take an amazing closing group photo. Kia ora from the city on the Waikato!
Frequently asked questions
Half a day. Three to four hours covers Hamilton Gardens, the Waikato riverside path, Victoria Street and Garden Place at a relaxed pace. Hamilton Gardens alone is worth 90 minutes; allow more if you want to walk all of the themed gardens.
Yes, general entry to Hamilton Gardens is free for everyone. A few of the most elaborate themed gardens (Surrealist Garden, Tudor Garden, Tropical Garden) have a small paid admission to the enclosed paradise garden section. The free outer gardens are stunning on their own.
October to April, when Hamilton Gardens is at its showiest with seasonal blooms. The Waikato River walks are pleasant year-round. Winter is cool and often misty over the river, which photographs beautifully if you do not mind a jacket.
Hamilton Gardens is the natural opener: free parking on Cobham Drive, the Visitor Centre cafe is a great kickoff brunch and the themed gardens anchor the opening photo. From there drive or rideshare to Victoria Street and the riverside path.
Yes. Hamilton Gardens has paths and lawns kids love (especially the Surrealist and Italian Renaissance themed gardens), the Waikato riverside has playgrounds, and Victoria Street has bowling and indoor entertainment options. The Riff Raff statue is a pop-culture treat for older kids and adults.