Hamilton Gardens has enclosed gardens, open lawns, a lake & a nursery

The Waikato River has a walking & cycling track along its bank through the heart of Hamilton

Hamilton Lake (also known as Lake Rotoroa) Domain has grassed parklands, a boardwalk, playgrounds & a café.

University of Waikato's Hamilton campus has three lakes with birdlife, gardens, walkways, playing fields & eateries

Taitua Arboretum has woodland gardens, lakes, birdlife & picnic spots spread across 22 hectares

Memorial Park has a cenotaph & war horse statue, & the adjacent Parana Park has an adventure playground & paddling pool

From the 1860s, dairy cows, cattle & sheep farming, the growing of root & maize crops, & planting of orchards flourished

A cow called Mooloo is the Waikato Rugby Union's mascot, & supporters are known for their use of cowbells at matches

AgResearch Ruakura Research Centre which began in 1901 as ‘Ruakura Experimental Station’

Fieldays is the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural event & is held at Mystery Creek on outskirts of Hamilton

The Waikato A&P (Agricultural & Pastoral) Show at Claudelands Showgrounds, which was first held in 1892

Zealong Tea Estate is the only commercial tea estate in NZ

After the Tainui waka arrived at Aotearoa, the hapū Ngāti Wairere settled in Kirikiriroa - now known as Hamilton

Area where they built a pā on west bank between London & Bryce Sts was called "Kirikiriroa" - "Long stretch of gravel"

Pā built by hapū included Opoia Pā on eastern side of Claudelands Bridge & Te Nihinihi Pā near Cobham Bridge

Other pā included Miropiko Pā along River Road, Te Parapara at Hamilton Gardens, & Pukete Pā

Ngāi Wairere had planted crops including maize, potatoes & kūmara in the fertile soils along the Waikato River's banks

Apple & peach groves grew near Waipahihi Pā overlooking Putikitiki Gully, to east of Peachgrove Rd (built on old track)

The "Rocky Horror Picture Show" character Riff Raff which commemorates Richard O'Brien (actor & creator of the show)

Statue of a farming couple, their two children, a cow, a sheep & a dog commemorates Waikato farming families

Little Bull sculpture in Hamilton Gardens

Greenslade House (built 1912) overlooks the Waikato River from it's location on Wellington Street in Hamilton East

St Peter’s Cathedral, which was built on the site of the Hamilton West redoubt at the bottom of Victoria Street in 1926

Fairfield Bridge with its three distinctive arches spanning the Waikato River opened in 1937

The Tron - Hamilton's unofficial slogan - began as a Twitter hashtag #LoveTheTron in 2012 to show love for the city

Rockin' the Tron - Local music scene with bands playing at the Hillcrest Tavern (Hilly) & other venues over the decades

Hamilton's artists are promoted through ArtsPost's galleries, Waikato Museum exhibitions, & artwork in public spaces

'Wherever you go, take Waikato" - slogan for Waikato draught beer. (Hamilton was the home for the Waikato Brewery)

Hamilton has a range of popular hotels/pubs/bars/taverns & clubs

Dining can be experienced in an array of cafés & restaurants in the inner city and suburbs

'Hamilton the Fountain City' poster with a stylised cartoon map showing suburbs & key activities in Hamilton

Wellington Street Beach is a popular swimming spot on the Waikato River in Hamilton East

Rowing events are held on the Waikato River with boatsheds near the Victoria Bridge

Hamilton Zoo & the adjacent Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park with a peat lake & wetland ecosystems & walking tracks

Zuru Nightglow Show held during "Balloons over Waikato" event with hot air balloons & pilots from NZ & overseas

Sports including Mooloo supporters at Waikato rugby team game at Rugby Park (now FMG Stadium Waikato)

Mary Jane Innes (1852-1941): Manager-owner of the Waikato Brewery

In 2013, she was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame, 72 years after her death

Dame Hilda Ross (1889-1959): welfare worker & politician

Deputy Mayor (1945) & 1st Hamilton woman elected as an MP (1945-59). Her statue was unveiled in Garden Place in 2020.

Frank Sargeson (1903-1982): Short story writer & novelist

Born in Hamilton & attended school & worked there until 1925

Richard O'Brien (b. 1942): Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Was a barber In Hamilton when he conceived the idea for the stage-show, & co-wrote & acted in the film version

Kimbra (b. 1990): singer & songwriter

Born, grew up & attended school in Hamilton; then moved to Australia in 2008 to pursue musical career

Hamilton Kirikiriroa Medal has been awarded since 2014 to those successful in their chosen field & raised city's profile

2014-2022: John Gallagher, John & Bunny Mortimer, Dr Beverley & Prof Bruce Clarkson, Dr Peter Sergel, & Richard O'Brien