Nine-year-old Tom Farrar with his dog 'Billy', a Miniature Schnauzer, playing in the puddles on the edge of Hamilton Lake. Photo / NZH
Hamilton's river and gardens put you in the mood for wonderful walking It's a 45-minute walk around Hamilton Lake.
1. The banks of the Waikato River
A favourite Hamilton route is along the river. Start by St Andrews Golf Course (parking at the end of St Andrews Tce), head for the water and then choose whether to go north or south. South will take you towards the city centre
and under some pretty spectacular bridges, while north is fun for admiring the gardens of the householders who are lucky enough to call the water their fenceline. This path is shared by cyclists and walkers, so respect is expected from all parties.
2. Circumnavigate Hamilton Lake
Hamilton's Rotoroa Lake is just plain lovely and you can walk right around it. Centrally located, it's used for a wide variety of recreational activities and is also an important habitat for wildlife. The 3.8km loop path takes about 45 minutes to complete. And when you're done, you can enjoy the cafe, the fabulous park and the slide which has to be as long as Osh could possibly allow. It helps if you like ducks and swans.
