River Riders Ngāruawāhia

Hours of operation

Monday to Sunday 9am - 4:30pm (Pick-up and drop-off location only)

Months of operation

All Year

Phone number

+64 27 265 5504

Explore every bend of the 'Mighty Waikato River', New Zealand's longest river, on the saddle of a Paihikara Hiko (Electric bike) from Ngāruawāhia 'The River Kingdom' in the north to Lake Karapiro 'The Home of Champions' in the south.

Come on an electric adventure along the majestic Waikato Te Awa, New Zealand's longest river! Join us for a curated 1-3 day experience on Te Awa 'The Great New Zealand River Ride' or Waikato River Trail. This incredible journey begins or ends at the northern trailhead, just an hour's drive from Auckland Airport in Ngāruawāhia, and takes you through key attractions such as The Hamilton Gardens, The Velodrome, and Cambridge before concluding or commencing at Lake Karapiro. Choose from our carefully crafted packages that include everything you need for a seamless Mighty Waikato River experience. From bikes to kayaks, thrilling jet boat rides, delicious meals, accommodations, and transportation – we have it all covered. Welcome to River Riders.

Pricing

$39 - 129 (Adult)

Proximity to Airport:

1hr 15min to Auckland International Airport. 35min to Hamilton Airport.

Proximity to Town:

800 metres to central Ngāruawāhia.

Proximity To Coach Terminal:

Public bus system 500 metres to bus stop.

Activity Duration:

2 hours, 4 hours or a full-day to 2 days or more.

Parking:

Yes, there is plenty of parking available - overnight parking, including motorhomes.

View all Things to do

Zealong Tea Estate

Zealong Tea Estate - High Tea

Visit the Zealong Tea Room and indulge in our Signature High Tea, curated with a selection of hand-crafted gourmet sweets and savouries, or choose from our seasonal lunch menu. Enhance your experience with the perfect pairing of Zealong tea to - whether you prefer a refreshing green, a floral oolong, or a bold black, all our teas are 100% organically grown on-site and proudly made in New Zealand. All served with breathtaking views of the Estate’s rolling tea terraces and landscaped gardens. Make your visit even more memorable with a traditional tea tasting ceremony or a guided tour of our certified organic tea plantation.

SkyCity Hamilton

SkyCity Hamilton

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!

Hamilton Gardens

Hamilton Gardens

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. 

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

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.

Travel Time South Pacific

Travel Time South Pacific

Travel Time South Pacific has been delivering inspirational New Zealand itineraries and experiences since 1987; building exceptional relationships with suppliers throughout the region, and providing competitive rates and customised tours to our clients. Our passionate team are highly experienced in designing itineraries for groups, including special interest, privately guided luxury and small group tours, and incentive travel. A unique point of difference is our modern fleet of luxury coaches that we own and operate in New Zealand under our brand Leisure Time Tours, giving our clients assurance of quality and cost-effective coach travel. On call 24 hours 7 days in case you need our help.

Sands Carving Studio

Sands Carving Studio - Carve Your Own Greenstone

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.

All things to do

This website helps visitors connect with providers of great tourism experiences. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider complies with its safety obligations. Users should seek more information from the provider concerned. While Hamilton & Waikato Tourism will do its utmost to ensure the information contained within this website is accurate, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, offers or details of any information or operator listings. Prices, timetables and other details or terms of business may change without notice. The information included in this website is not advice and does not imply any endorsement by Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.