Cambridge Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Cambridge
Photo by Cheskie's Gap Life
Photo by Cheskie's Gap Life

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
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 1 Oct to 2 Oct
AU$219
1 Oct - 2 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (666 reviews)
"Great place to stay right in the middle of cambridge with plenty of dining/shopping options. Room was comfortable and the in house resteraunt was great! Room service too"

Reviewed on 13 Sept 2025

Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments
Kelly Rd Cambridge Lodge

Kelly Rd Cambridge Lodge

4 out of 5
1 Kelly Rd, Cambridge
The price is AU$184 per night from 12 Oct to 13 Oct
AU$184
12 Oct - 13 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified motel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (465 reviews)
"We had a lovely stay the staff were super friendly and our room was faultless!!"

Reviewed on 20 Sept 2025

Kelly Rd Cambridge Lodge
No1 Motels On Victoria

No1 Motels On Victoria

3 out of 5
89 Victoria Street, Cambridge
The price is AU$82 per night from 14 Oct to 15 Oct
AU$82
14 Oct - 15 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star motel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a business center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the overall value in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (618 reviews)
Family over night stay
"No 1 motel was easy to find, staff was helpfully. Accommodation was basic but comfortable and everything we needed. Had good selection of cereals and bread for breakfast with spreads."

Reviewed on 20 Sept 2025

No1 Motels On Victoria
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 (surcharge). Popular attractions Cambridge Farmers' ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (152 reviews)
"The cottages all have a lovely landscaped garden each with walks through them. It was really beautiful and on obviously cared for with love."

Reviewed on 5 May 2025

Cambridge Coach House
Bay Tree Boutique Accommodation Cambridge

Bay Tree Boutique Accommodation Cambridge

Cambridge
Stay at this vacation home in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Cambridge Farmers' Market and Te Koutu Lake are ...
10/10 Exceptional! (27 reviews)
"Lovely and clean, had everything we needed"

Reviewed on 31 Aug 2025

Bay Tree Boutique Accommodation Cambridge
Charming 3-bedroom cottage in marvellous Cambridge.

Charming 3-bedroom cottage in marvellous Cambridge.

Cambridge
Stay at this cottage in Cambridge. Enjoy a garden, laundry facilities, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Cambridge Museum and Jubilee Gardens are located ...
"Lovely place in a great location"

Reviewed on 9 Aug 2025

Charming 3-bedroom cottage in marvellous Cambridge.
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%
4 - Good
69
4 - Good 39%
3 - Okay
2
3 - Okay 1%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Very nice town, cycle friendly, roads seem safe.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

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

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

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Really pretty. Expensive shops. Lots of eateries.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

It’s a friendly peaceful gorgeous town - blissful!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

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.

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