Somersal Bed & Breakfast / Wedding Venue

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. 

At the base of the Kaimai ranges, the stunning Wairere falls cascades from 155 metres above. Climb to the top with us for spectacular views as far as the eye can see across the Waikato. Appetite worked up, we head to Putaruru gourmet picnic lunch and a gentle walk along the banks of Te Waihou River leading to the Blue Springs with some of the clearest and purest water in New Zealand. A region renown for dairy farming and local produce, it's only natural that we visit a local cheese maker to sample some of the best cheeses in New Zealand. Our afternoon is rounded off in fine style with a visit to Vilagrads, a fifth generation winery to sample a selection of their award-winning wines and ports and enjoy the stunning courtyard and vines.

Hamilton’s Classic Car Museum - venue hire - themed diner. A classic car museum with something designed to cater for every member of the family. We have over 100 cars for display and an extensive collection of petrol memorabilia – signs, tins, petrol pumps, pedal cars and early pin ball machines. The Jukebox Diner is situated inside the museum, a themed 1950s diner, the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal or a coffee. The Diner also has a fenced off children’s area with rides to help keep your younger family members entertained why you relax and enjoy your experience. We have a conference room available for hire with seating for up to 100 people and for those larger groups full hireage of the venue is available for up to 300 people.

Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum is situated in Waipā district, within Waikato. A touchpoint for visitors to learn local history, social development and bi-cultural collaborations between Māori and settlers from 1823, through amazing objects and engaging stories. Understand the reasons why British soldiers invaded the Waikato 1863, the locations, who was involved, and its impact on the Waipā communities that are still being felt today. Do you know about Te Ara Wai Journeys? Start your journey with us. We also have our collections online.

This workshop is designed for entry-level carvers with zero carving experience, and will take up to 2 - 3 hours. In this workshop, we will cover the basic skills necessary for stone-carving and will guide participants through the process of creating a basic traditional Māori pendant - the hei toki: an adze. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a fully completed and bound greenstone hei toki to take home.