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    Cambridge
    Alex Forbes / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

    New Zealand

    Cambridge

    CityCulture

    Cambridge is located on the Waikato River, approximately 24 km southeast of Hamilton, and with around 22,700 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the Waipā District.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. New Zealand
    7. Waikato
    9. Cambridge
    Cambridge is located on the Waikato River, approximately 24 km southeast of Hamilton, and with around 22,700 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the Waipā District. The town calls itself the Town of Trees & Champions: Old avenue trees line the streets, and the surrounding area is home to numerous thoroughbred stud farms, which have earned Cambridge its reputation as New Zealand's horse capital.In the compact center around Victoria Street, you'll find cafés, boutiques, and buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Outside, the Te Awa River Ride along the river awaits, as well as the rowing area on Lake Karāpiro and the Maungatautari wildlife sanctuary.

    Sights in Cambridge

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Te Awa River Ride

    1Te Awa River Ride

    The Te Awa River Ride is a cycling and walking path along the Waikato River. It stretches for more than 65 km from Ngāruawāhia in the north, past Hamilton and Cambridge, to Lake Karāpiro in the south. The path is mostly wide, smooth, and flat and suitable for most cyclists (grade 1 to 2 difficulty); some sections run on the road.From Cambridge, the Lake Karāpiro section is recommended, featuring a boardwalk along the lake. Use is free of charge, and rental bikes are available from local providers.
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    CamJet Jet boat tours

    2CamJet Jet boat tours

    From the jetty in Cambridge, jet boat rides depart on the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river. The shallow-draft boats perform fast turns and spins between the vegetated riverbanks.Tip: Book in advance during peak season and bring a windproof jacket; it gets chilly on the water.
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    Lake Te Koo Utu

    3Lake Te Koo Utu

    The small Lake Te Koo Utu (formerly known as Te Koutu) is located on the edge of the city centre, surrounded by a public park with mature trees. A walking path leads around the water.The lake is considered one of the city's most popular green spaces and is perfect for a quick loop between a café and museum.
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    Cambridge Museum

    4Cambridge Museum

    The Cambridge Museum is housed in the Old Court House on Victoria Street. Its collection includes objects and archival material related to the town's history, such as military and school records, family histories, photographs, and old postcards.Admission is free. The museum has also published a Heritage Walk through the historic town centre.
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    Lake Karāpiro and Karapiro Dam
    Attraction

    5Lake Karāpiro and Karapiro Dam

    About 8 km southeast of Cambridge, the Karapiro Dam, completed in early 1947, dams the Waikato River, forming the approximately 11 km long Lake Karāpiro. The lake is a well-known rowing venue and hosted the World Rowing Championships in 1978 and 2010.The southern end of the Te Awa River Ride leads to the lake. If a regatta is on, you can watch from the shore.
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    Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
    Park

    6Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari

    Southeast of Cambridge, a 47 km long predator-proof fence encloses the forested mountain range Maungatautari. Since 2006, the 3,363 hectares within the fence have been free of introduced mammals (excluding mice). Meanwhile, Kiwi, Takahē, Kākā, Hihi, Kōkako, and Tīeke, as well as Tuatara and Giant Wētā, live here again.Hiking trails into the forest start at the visitor center on the south side; guided tours increase the chance of seeing shy birds.
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    City walks in Cambridge

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Cambridge's Green Oasis: A Walk Through the Town of Trees

    Discover charming Cambridge in New Zealand on this two-hour circular walk. From historic buildings and lively Victoria Street to the picturesque calm of Lake Te Koo Utu and the town's impressive avenues, immerse yourself in the green soul of this unique town. Experience the elegance and relaxed lifestyle that make Cambridge so special.

    ~2 Std. 5 Min.
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    Stops (7)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Onyx Cambridge

    Restaurant with a bar on Alpha Street in Cambridge's town center. Modern New Zealand cuisine, open for lunch and dinner.
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    2

    Alpha Street Kitchen & Bar

    Restaurant and bar on Alpha Street in the city center, with modern cuisine and sharing plates.
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    3

    Rouge

    Café on Empire Street in the town center, for breakfast, brunch, and coffee.
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    4

    Pijjas

    Pizzeria on Albert Street, a few minutes' walk east of the center. Pizza is available for takeaway and dine-in.
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    5

    Smoke Collective Barbecue

    Barbecue restaurant on Albert Street, northeast of the town center. Specializing in smoked meat.
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    6

    Alpino Cambridge

    Italian-influenced restaurant, café and wine bar on Victoria Street in the town centre. Pizza, Mediterranean dishes, plus evening wine and cocktails.
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    7

    Hanoi Boy Vietnamese Street Food

    Tiny Vietnamese spot on Victoria Street, in the city center, with street food for dine-in and takeaway.
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    Food and Drink in Cambridge

    In Cambridge, you'll discover a diverse culinary scene, ranging from local favourites to international influences. Whether it's a relaxed coffee at Absolute Coffee House or modern New Zealand cuisine at Alpha Street Kitchen & Bar – there are options for every taste.

    Cafe culture and Flat White

    Around Victoria Street and Alpha Street, one cafe follows another. For breakfast or brunch, order a Flat White along with it, the espresso with fine milk foam popular in New Zealand.

    Cambridge Farmers Market

    Jeden Samstag von 8 bis 12 Uhr verkaufen kleine Höfe und Produzenten aus der Umgebung ihre Waren auf dem Victoria Square. Ein guter Ort für regionale Lebensmittel und ein Frühstück auf die Hand.

    Dairy Products from the Waikato

    The Waikato is one of New Zealand's most important dairy regions. You can find cheese, yogurt, and ice cream from local producers in delis and at the market.

    Grilled Lamb and Beef

    Restaurant menus often feature New Zealand pasture-fed lamb and beef, often grilled or from the smoker.

    Garrison town, Horses and Sport

    Long before Europeans arrived, Māori lived along the Waikato River; today, Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Korokī Kahukura are primarily rooted in the area. In 1864, during the Waikato Wars, British troops under General Duncan Cameron established a military camp by the river, where more than 800 soldiers were stationed at times. It was named after the Duke of Cambridge, a cousin of Queen Victoria.The camp soon became an agricultural centre, and the soils proved ideal for breeding thoroughbred horses. Successful racehorses and show jumpers came from the surrounding studs, hence the moniker Home of Champions, which the town also applies to its rowers and cyclists. The St Andrew's Anglican Church, dating from 1881, is part of the historic townscape. The Cambridge Museum provides an overview of the town's history and also publishes a Heritage Walk through the centre.

    Nightlife

    1

    Group One Turf Bar

    Sports bar and pub on Commerce Street downtown. True to its equestrian heritage, they show horse races and other sports broadcasts.
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    2

    Good Union

    Bar and restaurant on Victoria Street on the northern edge of the city center.
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    3

    Stables on Alpha

    Bar with kitchen on Alpha Street downtown, a café by day. Good for a beer or a drink in the evening.
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    Cambridge Adventures

    The town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. Since December 2015, the Waikato Expressway (State Highway 1) has bypassed the town, making the town centre quieter. A public bus from the regional Busit network runs several times a day to Hamilton via Tamahere and the University of Waikato; timetables can be found at Busit.By bike, you can explore the Te Awa River Ride, which runs along the river to Hamilton and Lake Karāpiro. For destinations like Maungatautari or Hobbiton near Matamata, a rental car is the most practical solution.

    Accommodations in Cambridge

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      • 1Te Awa River Ride3 days
      • 2CamJet Jet boat tours4 days
      • 3Lake Te Koo Utu5 days
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    Nearby

    Waikato

    Waikato

    The Waikato, south of Auckland in the north of the North Island, is primarily green pasture and dairy land, traversed by the Waikato River, New Zealand's longest river. Hamilton is the main city, with the Hamilton Gardens. To the west, Raglan attracts with surf beaches on the Tasman Sea; to the east are Cambridge and Matamata, home to the Hobbiton Movie Set from the Lord of the Rings films. In the south of the region, you'll find the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.For hiking, the Hakarimata Range near Ngāruawāhia, the fenced mountain forest of Maungatautari, and the Karangahake Gorge, with its gold mining traces, are ideal. Most of these destinations are reachable from Hamilton as a day trip.
    Hamilton

    Hamilton

    Hamilton, known in Māori as Kirikiriroa, is New Zealand's fourth-largest city, situated on both sides of the Waikato River – at 425 km, the country's longest river. Most visitors are drawn to the Hamilton Gardens and their thematic displays. Other worthwhile attractions include the Waikato Museum by the river, the riverside paths, and Hamilton Lake. The city is ideally placed as a base for excursions to Raglan, Cambridge, Hobbiton, or the Waitomo Caves.
    Matamata and Hobbiton

    Matamata and Hobbiton

    Matamata is a rural town in the east of Waikato, surrounded by pastureland and horse studs at the foot of the Kaimai Range. It is known for the Hobbiton Movie Set on a sheep and beef farm southwest of the town, where The Shire from Peter Jackson's films is preserved and can only be visited on a guided tour. In the town itself, the Information Centre, styled like a gatehouse, and the Firth Tower Museum recall the film and settler history.
    Raglan

    Raglan

    Raglan is on Whāingaroa Harbour, on the west coast of the North Island, about 48 km west of Hamilton. The town, with a population of just under 4,000, is especially popular with surfers: At Manu Bay, a long left-hand wave breaks, which was featured in the 1966 surf film The Endless Summer, and on the black sand beach Ngarunui, many learn their first waves.Around Bow Street, you'll find cafés, galleries, and small shops, and at the harbour, the old wharf dating back to 1921. In the hinterland, the 55 m high Wairēinga waterfall and the forested Karioi await.
    Waitomo

    Waitomo

    Waitomo is a small village in the hilly karst country of the King Country, and beneath the pastures lies a network of limestone caves. The name combines wai (water) and tomo (hole, shaft) and describes a stream that disappears into the ground. In the Waitomo Glowworm Cave you glide by boat beneath thousands of glowworm lights, you reach the Ruakuri Cave through a spiral entrance, and the dry Aranui Cave shows stalactites and stalagmites. During the day, the Ruakuri Walk is worthwhile, as is a detour along Te Anga Road to the Mangapohue Natural Bridge and the 35-metre-high Marokopa Falls.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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