Hamilton

Hamilton Airport Car Hire and Waikato Car Rental

Situated in the heart of the North Island the diverse Hamilton and Waikato region encompasses New Zealand's fourth largest city, the country's longest river, and the world famous Waitomo Caves with its glowworms and adventure tourism activities. Well-known for its nature-based tourism, underground adventure and off-the-beaten track experiences the Waikato region offers something for every traveller.  Your Hamilton rental car will take you from the stunning black sand surf beaches of Raglan to Hamilton's vibrant café scene and the rolling hills and majestic forests that shape the landscape. Your rental car will give you easy access to iconic attractions such as the Hobbiton film set, the historic Te Aroha Mineral Pools, Maungatautari Ecological Reserve and much more.

The Hamilton and Waikato Region’s proximity to other destinations makes it the perfect base for exploring the central North Island in your rental car. From Rotorua’s thermal attractions and trout fishing at Taupo or skiing on Mt Ruapehu, to the white sand beaches of the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, Hamilton city provides the gateway to some of New Zealand’s top tourist locations, all within day-tripping distance in your rental car.

Hamilton Car Hire Fleet

Pegasus Hamilton's car rental fleet is fully-serviced and well maintained with good fuel economy.  Choose from small, medium or larger rental cars, from Budget models for the price conscious traveller to later model cars and spacious stationwagons.  For larger families and sports groups choose an 8-seater people mover or a 12-seater Transit minibus, we even have luggage trailers!  Click here to see Hamilton car hire rates and get an instant quote or make a booking. 

Whether you are in Hamilton for a holiday, attending a sports event, a conference or here on business, our friendly team will have you on the road in your rental car in no time.

Corporate Car Hire Hamilton

Pegasus Rental Cars Hamilton offers business travellers a great deal on car rental!  Join our Blue Wing Business Club for regular renters and get set car hire rates from $49 per day, which also includes a free upgrade!  Blue Wing offers many other car rental benefits.  Click here to find out more and apply.  Save time and money with Blue Wing business car hire.

Why rent with Pegasus Rental Cars Hamilton?

NO HIDDEN COSTS

• Local owner/operator with the best friendly personalised service

• All car hire daily rates include GST and insurance

• Unlimited kms on car hire 4 days or longer

• Peace of mind motoring with a 23 point car rental safety check - your Hamilton rental car is thoroughly checked before your car hire.  You are also covered by 24 hour NZ Roadside Assistance (NZRA)

• Child seat and GPS rental available

• FREE Hamilton Airport pick up and dropoff of your rental car (during business hours) from our convenient airport location, just a short drive from Hamilton Airport.

•Hotel and motel car rental transfers available (conditions may apply) and only 10 minutes from Waikato Hospital

Areas of the Waikato

North Waikato

Steeped in history and culture the North Waikato showcases the region’s uniquely significant Maori and European heritage. Home of the Maori King and the Kingitanga movement, historical landmarks and battle sites can be found throughout the area. The area’s rich mineral deposits mean it was, and still is, a significant source of the nation’s power – first with coal mining and now with thermal power.  In the North Waikato bushclad mountains make way for rugged coastlines and the mighty Waikato River as it makes its way to the sea, while small towns and villages dot the landscape with an eclectic lineup of shops, cafes and churches.  At the Hakarimata Range, west of Ngaruawahia, you can stand next to the largest kauri trees in the region while for those with subterranean tendencies can journey under the earth in the North Waikato and wonder at the untouched limestone formations and glowworms of Nikau Caves.  Foodies are catered for too with artisan producers such as Mercer Cheese, Te Kauwhata-based Savour the Taste, Candyland and Herb Haven, where you can also take a course in bread making.  Plus don’t be surprised to hear the roar of engines as the area’s three motorsport facilities, popular with locals and visitors alike, rev into action. 

Hamilton City

A fast-growing metropolitan city situated on the banks of the mighty Waikato River. Hamilton’s rich cultural mix and vibrant centre makes it a perfect place to experience the friendly Kiwi lifestyle.  The vibrant café and bar scene is making a name for itself, and plentiful open spaces mean the city is an easy place to spend time in. The city is also rapidly gaining a reputation as business hub for creativity and innovation as well as a destination for world-class international, national and local events.  Arts and culture form an important part of the city’s makeup with the Waikato Museum paying homage to Hamilton’s past and the present through its exhibitions.  If shopping is on the agenda visitors can take their pick from some of the country’s best fashion designers and stock up on gifts, whether from European-style Casabella Lane or a gallery selling the works of local artists and craftspeople.  Outdoor enthusiasts might be tempted to kayak or take a ride in a hot air balloon, then again, they may want to simply stroll along the riverside or play a round of golf at one of the top courses in and around the city.  With all the creature comforts you’d expect from a metropolitan city and the added bonus of its central location Hamilton is also the ideal base from which to explore the wider region and central North Island.

Raglan

Raglan is the region’s great chill out spot. Drawn by its relaxed vibe, superb waves and rugged landscape Raglan is a popular destination for artists, surfers and local weekend holiday makers alike.  Raglan’s bohemian atmosphere and idyllic coastal setting makes it the perfect spot to while away an afternoon browsing amongst the boutique cafes and shops, lazing on the beach or kayaking on the harbour. While those with more adventures activities in mind can take a short drive from the town to the beaches that make the area a surfing mecca, including Manu Bay which has one of the longest left-hand breaks in the world.  The harbour provides a tranquil spot for kayaking or cruising or if it’s the wild untamed nature of the west coast you’re after there is plenty of that on offer too, either on foot, on horseback or on a fishing boat. While inland, Bridal Veil Falls, which plunge 55m, are an inspiring sight when you take the walk to the pools below.  With all this natural beauty, it’s no wonder that artisans and creative people flock to the area. This creativity is on show in the town’s galleries, studios and markets, and buying a souvenir usually also means buying something distinctively local and all the more memorable.

Te Aroha and surrounds

Situated 50 minutes north east of Hamilton is Te Aroha.  Originally an Edwardian Spa town, Te Aroha, which means “the love” in Maori, has prospered since the goldrush days and is now becoming as well known for its walking, hiking and biking activities as much as its rejuvenating waters.  The mountain’s summit, reached by a two and a half hour hike from the town, provides stunning views of the Waikato plains, Mt Ruapehu, and the Bay of Plenty coast while gentler tracks can be found around its wide base. And those who seek their exercise and views by way of two wheels have the 10 kilometres of excellent and sometimes challenging mountainbiking tracks just above the town on the mountain’s lower slopes.  Back at ground level, much of the rolling landscape around Te Aroha is dominated by a patchwork of dairy and sheep farms, providing an insight into classic rural kiwi life.  Visit the town’s historically preserved picturesque Domain grounds and the Mineral Spa s which have been drawing people to the area’s for over 100 years to experience the health-giving properties of the hot springs. Or take time to follow the popular heritage trail in nearby Morrinsville and explore antique stores, the acclaimed sculpture park and artists studios. 

Matamata

A statue of Gollum on Matamata’s main street tells you where you are in prime middle earth territory, with Hobbiton Movie Set just down the road. With the perfect combination of hillsides and plains, Matamata, meaning headland in Maori, has its rural roots in the equine and dairying industries.Today the town’s main attraction comes from the film industry after the Alexander brothers farm became the Shire in Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Take a tour to discover magic behind the phenomenon and watch the set of his next journey into Middle Earth, The Hobbit, take shape.  Set in the shadow of the Kamai Ranges the area’s diverse range of natural scenery means there are some hidden gem’s to uncover including the 153m high Wairere Falls. Meanwhile, the Opal Hot Springs, which are right next to the town’s 18-hole golf course, add to the region’s many opportunities for a soak or swim in naturally heated waters.  Back in town, Matamata’s cafes on the main street are popular local meeting spots while artisan producers are also claiming the area as a good base for their operations including the award-winning Kaimai Cheese Company at Waharoa.  The many grand trees give the town centre a distinctive appeal and the iconic Firth Tower Museum in its parklike setting gives an insight into the area’s pioneering history while “the kingmaker”, Wiremu Tamihana, is also recalled in placenames and historic sites.

Cambridge

At the heart of the Hamilton & Waikato Region is Cambridge, known locally as the town of champions due to its gold-medal winning Olympian residents and its long-standing and illustrious heritage of thoroughbred racing.  Flanked by horse studs and rich pastures Cambridge’s peaceful tree-lined streets are full of interesting fashion and homewares stores along with chic cafes. The heritage trail or Walk of Fame is a must for any cultural buff and horse stud tours are available for those interested in equine pursuits.  Take a walk around Lake Te Ko Utu at the top end of Cambridge town centre or laze for a while under the shade of a tree around the fringe of the village square, where there may be a game of cricket or weekend market under way.  Situated nearby at the base of Maungatautari Ecological Reserve, is Lake Karapiro, the proving ground of rowing’s elite as well as a popular spot for local boaties, kayakers and water-skiers. A glimpse into the New Zealand forests of the past, Maungatautari offers superb walking tracks through flourishing native flora and fauna.  The rural outskirts of Cambridge also boast an array of artisans including gourmet coffee roasters, winemakers and produce growers, not to mention galleries like Inspirit, displaying local and national works of art and sculpture.

Te Awamutu and surrounds

There’s plenty of modern bustle about Te Awamutu (which in English means “The Rivers End”), but the farming-based area also proudly displays its agricultural roots. While away some time visiting Te Awamutu’s stunning rose gardens or the nearby attractively quaint village of Pirongia, with cafes, crafts and clydesdales.  Beautiful bush walks for all ages and abilities are within easy reach in Te Awamutu township both at Maungatautari Ecological Reserve to the east of the area and at Mt Pirongia itself to the west. Nearby, Wharepapa South has some of the best rock climbing in New Zealand and Lake Ngaroto is a favoured sailing spot.  The area also has a wild side to its past, and history is everywhere you look. It was the scene of one of the most famous battles of the Waikato wars – at Orakau just outside Kihikihi.  Te Awamutu’s museum showcases the history of the area and houses Uenuku, an important taonga (treasure) of the Tainui people. More recent heritage is also on record with the True Colours exhibition, telling the story of local musician’s Tim and Neil Finn, who formed Split Enz and Crowded House.  Wherever you go in the area, the getting there will be part of the fun as you are rewarded with fine views of the picturesque rolling Hamilton & Waikato countryside.

Waitomo Caves and surrounds

An hour south of Hamilton the mystical world of Waitomo awaits. A land of contrasts, much of the area’s natural wonders can be found below the earth’s surface as rolling hills and unspoilt native bush gives way to subterranean limestone caverns.  Millions of years in the making, Waitomo’s (wai meaning water and tomo meaning hole into the ground in Maori) visually awe-inspiring cave network draws people looking for adventure and those looking for a sense of wonder.  Above ground there are good cafes and walks as well as horse treks and agricultural shows plus the beautiful Marokopa Falls and natural limestone Mangapohue bridge.  The self-proclaimed kiwiana capital of NZ, Otorohanga, proudly celebrates all things kiwi, from No 8 wire to pavlova. It’s also home to the Kiwi House, where you are guaranteed a sighting of the nocturnal bird that has come to represent the country.  To the south Te Kuiti, shearing capital of the world, has its own version of the running of the bulls each year – but with sheep, while at the most southern point of the region, the Pureora Forest Park features great walking, biking and hunting experiences.  The Waitomo area also stretches to the wild and windswept west coast with the seaside town of Kawhia, where the region’s first Maori people landed and the great voyaging Tainui canoe found a final resting place.

South Waikato

At the southern end of the region sit the country towns of South Waikato, Tirau, Putaruru, Tokoroa, each with their own unique features and stories to tell.  Well known as an antiques, arts and crafts mecca the area’s quaint town of Tirau is popular stop on State Highway 1. Browse amongst boutique galleries and gift stores or check out the weird and wonderful corrugated iron creations on show.  Further south Tokoroa celebrates its forestry heritage with the carved Talking Poles and Putaruru’s Timber Museum tells the story of a mainstay industry in the area.  The South Waikato’s undulating bright green pastures and forests offer the walking, hiking and biking enthusiasts among us a world of options including the Waikato River Trails. Good for all age groups and levels of fitness, this series of trails will eventually cover 100km and makes for an truly iconic New Zealand experience.  Water also features strongly in the South Waikato with natural hot pools, crystal clear waterfalls and the Waikato River flowing through the area. The water of the area’s famous Blue Spring is in fact so pure they bottle it. Follow the Te Waihou Walkway to the source, which is fed by spring water that has been underground for up to 100 years.