Quest Hamilton

Haere mai! Welcome to Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery. Perched above the mighty Waikato River, this world-class museum and art gallery is the artistic and cultural heart of the Waikato. Visit us to experience visual stories and guided activities that bring our art, history, culture and science to life through an inspirational programme that aims to challenge and inspire you.

From ancient Egypt to a 21-century Concept Garden. Admission to the enclosed gardens requires a paid entry fee for visitors who live outside of Hamilton, with children under 16 years of age free. Unlike any botanical garden, our unique attraction is rated among the top 3 things to do in New Zealand and is in the top 1% of attractions globally on Tripadvisor. Discover the magic of Hamilton Gardens with one of our tours. Whether you're a first-time explorer or a returning visitor, this immersive journey unveils fascinating tales, discovering the cultural significance woven into every petal and pathway.  Or opt for an Audio Guide to enjoy a narrated journey through the ages and across the continents, exploring at your own pace. 

SkyCity Hamilton is situated inside the former Chief Post Office, in a building designed to maximise a superb riverside location on the banks of the Waikato River. With a range of dining and entertainment outlets, including EATBurger - voted the Waikato's best burger and The Local Taphouse - the first Good George bar in the CBD, there is something for everyone at SkyCity Hamilton! Enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the Main Gaming Floor with over 300 gaming machines and 23 table games (R20 to enter the casino) or strike up a little competition on level two with Hamilton's only bowling alley, Bowl and Social, a world-class venue offering non-stop fun and state of the art technology!

Let the gardens speak to you as you take an immersive, narrated journey through the ages and across continents, from Ancient Egypt and Renaissance Italy to the modern day. It is full of entertaining stories, insights, and observations that will enhance and deepen your experience. Multiple stopping points in every garden give you control over where to linger and which gardens you want to explore in depth. Listen to them all or just the ones that most pique your interest: either way, our Audio Guide will bring the gardens to life. Available in English and Mandarin.

Come into our professional workshop and Carve Your Own traditional Māori pounamu pendant. These workshops are not only designed to give people with no carving experience a taste of what goes into crafting taonga, but also the opportunity to carve their own greenstone treasure. In these workshops, we cover the cultural history of the artform, the tools and skills necessary for stone-carving, and guide participants through the process of creating a pounamu pendant. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a fully completed and bound taonga to take home with them along with a deeper appreciation of the rich cultural background behind it all.

We specialise in exciting and inspiring New Zealand photography workshops, tours and expeditions with effective photography guidance from a New Zealand professional landscape photographer with 20 years' expertise. Wherever you are on your photographic journey we work with you to become a more skilful and confident photographer. Our photo workshops will take you on a journey through the natural wonders of this awe-inspiring country, while also providing guidance and instruction from a New Zealand professional nature photographer with 20 years' expertise. From generous and relevant photography instruction to quality private lodgings and fine New Zealand cuisine, we are committed to providing a premium experience which is second-to-none.