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Waikato taniwharau. He piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha.
There's always something new to discover in the heart of Hamilton city. Let us be your guide as you rediscover the charm, culture, and character that make our city centre unique.
At HOYTS, we’re known for more than just our signature extra-comfy powered recliners. Sit back, relax, and discover why our cinema experiences are loved by all.
From the minute you walk through the door, we will tailor all our services to your individual needs.
Our industry leading stylists are here to listen and to then transform your hair, so you can walk out feeling your absolute best.
For ladies haircuts your experience begins with a customised luxurious rejuvenating scalp massage, includes a personalised consultation,
and is completed with a blowdry and styling and for the men and mini haircuts the ultimate grooming experience begins with a stress relieving scalp massage, includes a personalised consultation & styling.
Styling: from bouncy curls, the glamour blow wave, tousled beach waves, smooth and sleek to special occasion up-styles, our styling service is tailored to suit your individual look.
View website for more services and to book.
We love the positive impact and self-confidence our treatments provide while still keeping a natural and youthful glow.
Our philosophy emphasises the importance of taking a more holistic approach to beauty and cosmetic treatments. Your journey starts with a complimentary consultation and customised treatment plan enabling our clients to look and feel the best version of themselves.
You’re in safe hands with years of expertise and a commitment to staying at the forefront of the beauty and cosmetic medicine industry by providing you with the best possible care.
Standards you can trust. An associate member of CANNZ a governing body for cosmetic nurses to meet high standards of medical safety and training protocols with strict industry regulation means you can trust that your safety and care is our priority.
SKIN HEALTH
INJECTABLES
BEAUTY TREATMENTS
The Skin Spa believe in providing a personalised and exceptional spa experience for each of their valued clients.
Explore their online booking system to select the therapist and level that best suits your preferences and embark on a journey of relaxation and beauty tailored just for you.
A popular destination for riders on the Te Awa River Trail, and a nice stop on the way for visitors to the Hamilton Gardens. Next to the Waikato Museum and soon to be opened Waikato Regional Theatre. It’s a must visit if you are travelling through from out of town. The interior has the wow factor, with large windows from floor to ceiling, making the most of the panoramic view overlooking the Waikato River.
The cinema had three band new 35mm Kineton projectors which were the top of the line at the time to deliver the best image possible. The projectors were matched with a state-of-the-art sound and seating and a lovely foyer to match and opened with the film MICHAEL COLLINS starring Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn and Julia Roberts.
Despite its bar offering and up market decor the cinema struggled and was perhaps ‘before its time’. The cinema changed hands to the RIALTO group before being purchased and refurbished by its previous owner as THE LIDO CINEMA in Dec of 2009.
Apt Collections might not be a name familiar to many in Hamilton, but the tides are changing as the store opened its doors for the first time in Hamilton in February. Apt Collections is born from Longbeach Apparel, a New Zealand owned company that has been operating out of Christchurch for more than 45 years. You may be more familiar with the brands they stock; womenswear labels such as Foil, Newport, Preen, Memo, Design Nation, Neris, Seeking Lola, Billie the Label, and Leila & Luca.
At the helm of Apt Collections is Jane Coleman, the vivacious General Manager based in Christchurch, whose energy mirrors the vibrancy of the designs her brands bring to women across the globe. "We take pride in embracing bold colours and prints," says Jane. "Our goal is to make shopping a joyful experience for every woman."
Apt Collections is a 100% Kiwi-owned business, dedicated to helping women celebrate their individuality. Jane's key piece of fashion advice? "Don’t feel pressured to wear something just because it’s ‘on trend.’ There are so many options available today. Choose a style that makes you feel confident and comfortable, so you can look great and be your best self."
Selecting which styles to develop is a collaborative team effort. The majority of Apt's collections are designed in-house in Christchurch, where a talented design team manages everything from concept to completion. "Our team oversees every step of the process, from design and product development to manufacturing, marketing, sales, and delivery, "Jane explains. "We put a tremendous amount of research into fabric selection and fit to ensure quality across all our brands, resulting in a collection with broad appeal."
With the arrival of the spring/summer collection, Jane is excited about the vibrant prints, bright colours, and sophisticated monotones. "Natural fibres like cotton, linen, and breathable viscose are key this season, which is perfect as the weather warms up."
Gone are the days when brows were considered an afterthought to your beauty regimen. Nowadays, folks will pay top dollar for an Instagram-worthy brow, and there’s only one place to go if you’re looking for just that in Hamilton: Lab Brows + Body.
Tucked away down Barton Street and cosied up beside Rocket Coffee Roasters, the brightly coloured and funky patterned exterior catches your eye with a welcoming and upbeat vibe.
The action never stops at Hamilton's only bowling alley. Located on Level 2 of SkyCity Hamilton, Bowl and Social features world-class technology and bowling lanes.
There’s also a great lineup of arcade games, air hockey and a pool table. Plus, you can order a drink and a meal from the lanes or enjoy the incredible view of the Waikato River from the deck. This indoor activity is great for family and friend groups, and perfect for the school holidays.
They're not only known for their great bowling atmosphere, but also their delicious food and drinks! From pizzas, hot dogs, nachos and sides, you’ll find something tasty to fuel you while you bowl. And you can order from the comfort of your lane using your kiosk.
They've also got packages for individuals and groups that give you great bang for your buck.
Check out some of the top spots to grab delicious noodles!
Garden Place Noodle Bar
Location: 21 Worley Place, Hamilton Central
Signature dish: Hand-pulled Lamzhau beef noodles & Belt noodles with chilli sauce
Sichuan Style Restaurant
Location: 24 Collingwood Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton
Signature dish: Noodle soup with beef brisket
Saigon Noon
Location: 103 Alexandra Street, Hamilton Central
Signature dish: Noodle Soup - Pho
Whether you are looking for a place to unwind after work or a spot to enjoy a long lunch with friends, The Mercury Room offers a unique and enjoyable experience.
Known for their long lunch where you can enjoy a delicious platter of food for two hours, with options for a bottomless experience. They offer three different time slots: 2-4pm, 5-7pm, and 8-10pm or join one of their quiz nights and test your wits while enjoying great food and drinks.
Garden Place Noodle Bar not only has noodles in its name, but it also makes them by hand, from scratch, and thumps them into shape right in front of your eyes.
.HELLO ROSIE - 9A Casabella Lane
The food caravan with a cult following in the BOP grew up and turned into a bricks and mortar eatery in Casabella Lane. Hello Rosie will defy what you think vegan food is and should be, with a cabinet of the most tempting sweet treats and a menu packed with all-time favourites like their macn cheese bites or the Rosie burger, a vegan twist on a Big Mac.
THE VEGAN BUFFET - 645 Victoria St
This vegan institution in Hamilton, which was once on Ward Street, recently moved to Victoria Street. While still 100% vegan it is no longer a buffet, but perhaps changing location and the name would be too much for this secret local eatery. Fresh, healthy and delicious dishes at a reasonable price along with the friendly service are what have kept The Vegan Buffet a cult favourite.
BEEJI DHABA - 587 Victoria St
Serving authentic North Indian dishes made from fresh ingredients, Beji Dhaba’s extensive menu is 100% vegetarian, with many being vegan. Dhabas in India are
traditional roadside stalls or restaurants serving heartyfare for travellers and truck drivers, so the menu has a big focus on famous North Indian street food.
ANN FERN - 9 Knox St
This small espresso shop in the foyer of South Bloc offices has an array of toasties, soup, and sweet treats (all with vegan options).
BÁNH MÌ CÀPHÊ - Riverbank Lane, 298 Victoria St
This trendy Vietnamese joint that spills out onto Victoria on the River offers a complete vegan menu. You’ll find rice paper and spring rolls along with their famous Bánh Mi
in two flavours, not to mention salad, noodles, curry and pudding.
Delicious Culinary
Live Music
Pop Up Stores
Feat: Imachef, Toro Churro, Panda Golden Ear Dumpling, Mizzoni Pizza, Meezie Kitchen, Patrons Blazing BBQ PLUS MANY MORE!!
Bar will be open with drinks flowing. Also boutique market stalls and live music.
in Casabella Lane on Saturday 11 October from 10 till 4pm
Spend $20 or more and get a lucky dip prize - there are books, totes, pens and more up for grabs.
Buy any two Penguin books and get your free 2025 Personal Penguin
Write a love letter to your bookshop to enter the draw for$250 in book tokens - 8 prizes to be won around NZ.
Keep an eye out for the Libro.fm Golden Ticket to win a year's audiobook subscription.
And pick up a copy of the brand new Summer Reading Guide. It's never too soon to start your Christmas wishlist!
Australian Irish dancing touring company PACE LIVE is bringing all the craic of an Irish Christmas to New Zealand with their high-octane show, A Celtic Christmas! The cast features Auckland champion Irish dancer Keely O’Grady, who was the 2024 New Zealand & International Rose of Tralee; and Christchurch champion Irish dancer Mitchell O’Hara. These New Zealand locals will perform alongside world-class musicians and exceptional Irish dancers to bring New Zealand audiences the very best in the industry, including world champion dancers from international hit shows such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. The family show brings the heart-warming spirit of an Irish Christmas into a feel-good extravaganza filled with laughter, Christmas cheer, and the pure joy of the festive season for the whole family to enjoy. The show has recently enjoyed a hit on off-Broadway in 2024, and will tour across the North and South Island of New Zealand throughout November and December 2025.
Audiences can immerse themselves in the magnificence of Christmas in Ireland as they are transported to a land where energetic music and dance embody the beating heart of good craic! This feel-good show aims to give audiences a bit of Irish charm and features a company featuring over 15 of the world’s leading Irish performers and musicians. Featuring a powerful mix of traditional tunes, heartfelt ballads and all your favourite carols, A Celtic Christmas combines incredible music with jaw-dropping dance talent in an unforgettable night of storytelling and Irish charm.
Two Shows:
17th November, 2025 (Mon) 7:30pm
17th November, 2025 (Mon) 3:30pm
Fire up the hot glue gun, mix up your paint pots, and sharpen your scissors! Whether you’re having yourself a Mini Little Christmas, or your tree puts the T in OTT, we want you to show us what the season means to you!
Tree registrations will close at 5pm on Saturday 15th November or until we reach our max number - so please get in quick!
The Trees at The Meteor exhibition will run from 10th-19th December 2025.
More info coming soon.
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Mark you calendar - Hamilton Central is the place to be this October!
Tickets from $20
Step into Exscite after dark for a Halloween adventure like no other. Hear ghost stories around the campfire, follow the trick-or-treat trail, and enjoy free face painting for all ages.
Activity for the whole family!
We'll have activity stations for the whole family, including code-cracking and treat-bag making.
Follow the trick-or-treat trail and collect stamps to unlock a bag full of treats to take home.
Get into the Halloween spirit with free face painting from our friends at Enchanted Entertainment.
Gather around the campfire in Exscite to hear local ghost stories that will send a shiver down your spine.
Make your own treat bag at our creepy craft station.
Look out for a special guest roaming Exscite for photos.
Come along in costume whether you're a kid or a grown up!
Jeremy Mayall will bring the music, you bring the craft. Bring a project from home to work on or enjoy a drink and soak in the vibes of our latest exhibitions.
29 October onwards
We're very excited to extend our hours for these monthly Open Late sessions.
Instead of closing at 5pm, Te Whare Taonga will be open until 9pm so that you can enjoy the exhibitions after-hours.
With drinks and nibbles available to purchase from our bar, you can get in the groove with a DJ or live music. Each month we'll have a new floor talk or panel discussion to get ideas sparking as you check out the galleries.
For our October session, we'll enjoy a performance by Dr. Jeremy Mayall, composer/performer/innovator and CEO of Creative Waikato. While he performs, you are encouraged to sketch or write or craft to relax. Bring a project to work on from home or enjoy a drink and explore our latest exhibitions.
Held on the second Friday of every month (excluding December).
Take a creative lunch break to explore art through poetry.
These free drop-in poetry sessions are the perfect way for beginners and poetry lovers alike to explore their creativity.
With a focus on ekphrasis (poetry written in response to art), this is a fun and creative experience that is about expression, not perfection.
Be inspired by our exhibitions and explore new ways to look at art and language.
What to expect
Educator and poet Cassandra Barnett will introduce easy poetry techniques and prompts, help you see and connect with works of art, and encourage you to find your own creative voice.
Wander the galleries with pencil and paper, and support on hand, and poem what you see.
Poetry prompts
If you can’t join the lunchtime session, drop in at any time on the day of Poetry in the Galleries and pick up a poetry prompt. Let the galleries guide your words and enjoy writing at your own pace.
On a mission to create your dream home, renovate to sell, or ramp up the value of investment? Don’t miss the annual Waikato Home & Garden Show, where you’ll find everything you need to renovate, build, decorate and landscape your home under one roof.
As well as some great show-only deals, hundreds of exhibitors will be on hand to present exciting new products, stylish trends, innovative ideas and top quality service to help make your project a reality.
That’s not all – you’ll find something for the whole family including live cooking demos, seminars, demonstrations, food and drink, a kids zone and so much more!
10am - 5pm (4pm finish on last day of the show)
Come and celebrate the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with By The Way, NZs latest and greatest tribute band.
Be prepared to be transported to another galaxy, as the band perform the Chili Peppers greatest hits, with all songs you know and love - By The Way, Otherside, Californication, Under The Bridge…
Playing in Hamilton for one night only at the fabulous Nivara Lounge, doors open from 7pm with the band onstage at 8.30pm.
7pm Doors Open - 8pm Start
Earlybird Tickets $20
GA Tickets $30
TWO comedians, ONE night, ONE great price.
The most Haunted Comedian in all of New Zealand (Callum Wagstaff) and indie darling George Fenn (as Sexy Ghost Boy) are here to Split your Sides this Spooky Season, using comedy to defang all of your worst fears.
The show is strictly R18. It contains sexual themes and nudity up to underwear.
Doors open from 7pm, show at 8:30pm. There will be an intermission.
Tickets $30 waged / $20 unwaged / $35 on the door.*LIMITED* Early Bird 241 Tickets $15 each.
GEORGE FENN (he/she/they) George is a genre bending comedy theatre maker based in Ōtautahi specialising in audience interaction, described by witnesses as a hot mess mash up of Mr Bean and Marina Abramović.
Winner Organised Chaos Award (Auckland Fringe 2024) Bizarre and Charming Award (Hastings Fringe 2024) Spirit of the Fringe (2017 and 2020.) Nominated Outstanding Performer (Dunedin Fringe 2025)
“a theatrical alchemist, Fenn has the rare talent to create something utterly ridiculous yet very clever..." - Rosheen Fitzgerald, Theatreview
12th October
9th November
14th December
$10 Entry
Join Hamilton Operatic Society at Nivara Lounge to get your musical theatre fix and support local performers!
The 'Downtown Musicals' nights aim to provide a platform for up-and-coming theatre performers to get experience performing in front of audiences, as well as those wishing to try something new or who maybe haven't performed in some time.
Each night performers will pick their songs based on a theme. The theme for October is Cinematic Showstoppers.
Doors open at 7 pm with performances starting at 7.30 pm.
Note: These Nivara Lounge nights are now 18+ for performers and R16 for audience members accompanied by a parent or guardian. For performers under 18, please look out for our Downtown Musical Jr afternoon sessions.
For any queries or to use membership tickets, email Pip at admin@hamiltonoperatic.co.nz
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