Cambridge Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Cambridge
A visit to this tree-lined North Island town with its peaceful parks, boutique stores, cafés and scenic lakes is a pleasant day trip from Hamilton.

Cambridge is a pretty town that has a calming effect on its visitors. Walk or cycle along the banks of the Waikato River, or try your hand at trout fishing in Lake Karapiro. Afterwards, browse the galleries and boutique stores along Victoria Street. There are more thrilling activities too, if you are afraid you may get bored.Just like its namesake in the United Kingdom, Cambridge has an elegant, distinctly English feel. Its tree-lined streets, Tudor-style houses and numerous well-tended parks and greens pay tribute to New Zealand’s colonial roots. At the many local horse farms dozens of champion thoroughbreds have been raised. While most of the horse riding here is for serious equestrians only, you can still organise trekking tours that will take you around the local area.Just 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the town centre, is the man-made Lake Karapiro. Formed when a dam was constructed for a power plant in 1947, the body of water is now a favourite recreational area for Cambridge residents. Rent a kayak and explore its boundaries, or if you visit in summer you can jump in for a refreshing dip.The central walkways along the Waikato River make for a pleasant stroll. If you feel like something a bit more exciting, jump aboard the Camjet, a V8-powered speedboat that takes you on a thrilling ride up the river towards the Karapiro Dam. If you’re a keen cyclist, make sure to explore the Waikato River trails. Over 100 kilometres (60 miles) of tracks take you past several lakes, and some vast expanses of countryside. The attractive town centre of Cambridge is almost entirely made up of locally owned boutique stores, so if you’re looking for presents or souvenirs this is a great place to shop. You won’t go hungry either, with more than 20 cafés and restaurants serving up a wide range of local and international delights. Cambridge is located 23 kilometres (14 miles) southeast of Hamilton and is easy to reach by car, with ample parking, and bus.

Where to stay in Cambridge

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Leamington

5/5(39 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Leamington, Waikato River and Jubilee Gardens are top sights worth seeing.

Leamington
No1 Motels On Victoria
No1 Motels On Victoria
3 out of 5
89 Victoria Street, Cambridge
The price is AU$100 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$100
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 3-star motel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a business center. Our guests praise the clean rooms and the overall value in our ...
7.8/10 Good! (483 reviews)
"Central"

Reviewed on 26 Mar. 2024

No1 Motels On Victoria
Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments
Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments
5 out of 5
34E Lake Street, Cambridge, Waikato
The price is AU$219 per night from 28 Apr to 29 Apr
AU$219
per night
28 Apr - 29 Apr
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (478 reviews)
Highly Recommend Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments
"My hotel stay was exceptional from the modern room, the view from my room overlooking the hidden lake, the convenience of the location to visit Hobbiton, the delicious food in the onsite restaurant and the friendliness of the staff and owner."

Reviewed on 18 Mar. 2024

Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments
Podium Lodge
Podium Lodge
4 out of 5
20 Peake Road, Cambridge
The price is AU$220 per night from 3 Apr to 4 Apr
AU$220
per night
3 Apr - 4 Apr
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified motel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (176 reviews)
"Great place to stay if you are in the Cambridge area."

Reviewed on 24 Mar. 2024

Podium Lodge
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cambridge Coach House
Cambridge Coach House
4 out of 5
3796 Cambridge Road, Te Awamutu Highway, Cambridge
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly cottage in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast. Popular attractions Cambridge Farmers' Market and Cambridge ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (138 reviews)
"Good value accomodation. Very comfortable on the outskirts of Cambridge. Much building works nearby making a bit confusing to find but view from unit very good. I would not hesitate to go again if in the area."

Reviewed on 29 Nov. 2023

Cambridge Coach House
Cambridge Cottage - the perfect, pet friendly location!
Cambridge Cottage - the perfect, pet friendly location!
Cambridge
Stay at this vacation home in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Te Koutu Lake and Cambridge i-SITE Visitor Information ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (27 reviews)
Sweet Cottage
"Stayed in this lovely cottage, very clean and well equipped for our weekend away. Very comfy beds. Easy check in and host was great at communicating. All in all a great place to stay and very close to town."

Reviewed on 23 Mar. 2024

Cambridge Cottage - the perfect, pet friendly location!
Villa 142 - Luxurious and Centrally Located
Villa 142 - Luxurious and Centrally Located
Cambridge
Stay at this family-friendly villa in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a garden. Our guests praise the clean rooms and the property condition ...
10/10 Exceptional! (47 reviews)
Everything was Amazing!
"The Villa was immaculate, and so wonderfully restored and decorated. The gardens were beautiful and we enjoyed discovering something new each time we went outside. The kitchen has everything you might need to make meals, and there are two sitting areas (one open to the kitchen, and one in front with ..."

Reviewed on 24 Mar. 2024

Villa 142 - Luxurious and Centrally Located
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Cambridge

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
107
" "5 - Excellent 60.1123595505618%
4 - Good
69
" "4 - Good 38.764044943820224%
3 - Okay
2
" "3 - Okay 1.1235955056179776%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Jun 2020

Very nice town, cycle friendly, roads seem safe.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
16 Mar 2020

Noticed how friendly the people are here. Fantastic service in all eateries. Looking forward to a return visit. Layout of the town has been well thought of.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
10 Mar 2020

Cambridge is a lovely place to stay, beautiful surroundings and close to a lot of great activities.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
22 Feb 2020

Really pretty. Expensive shops. Lots of eateries.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
8 Feb 2020

It’s a friendly peaceful gorgeous town - blissful!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
25 Jan 2020

An up market little town with lovely browsing shops as well as good cafes and restaurants. The Farmers Produce market on Saturday mornings is recommended.