Rachel Hope Peary's Hamilton

Lovegrove Lane is a slightly hidden lane off Grey Street in Hamilton East. This is where I spend a huge chunk of my time! There’s a beautiful flower shop, a grocer that offers a delicious dal and salad lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday, a yoga studio and a picture framer where you can find a changing selection of thoughtfully handmade objects for the home - from ceramics to textiles. Then nourish yourself with delicious, lovingly made food, with many vegan and gluten-free options.

I love to spend an afternoon at Weasel. Owner Laree Payne has impeccable taste and you know you’re always going to see amazing work from around New Zealand and Australia. Exhibitions are on display for three weeks so there is always great new art to see and conversations to be had. I’m in there to see every show! I drag my son along to openings.

Never Project Space is a multidisciplinary space that is home to many different artists and makers. It also hosts art exhibitions and gigs. Almost every Friday evening, Never hosts live music or spoken word, and provides an inclusive space to socialise and enjoy the company of the many expressive and eccentric creatives that call Hamilton home. 

As a health fanatic, you could say this is my dirty little secret. My partner and I have a look that says, “Yeah, we’re getting Chilli House tonight.” This happens at least once a week. Full access to the chilli and sesame sauce is a good reason to eat in, but they do takeaways, too. There’s a great variety of options for vegan and vegetarians. Try the vegan dan dan or the spring onion pancakes. 

Even if you don't plan on getting a tattoo on your visit to Hamilton, a visit to Holiday Tattoo in Panama Square is a must. The small, stunning, plant-filled space is a visual treat as well as being home to Hamilton's best tattoo artists. If you do visit, be sure to use the bathrooms for a pink-tiled treat. If you need a place to catch up on some work, the co-working spaces at Panama Square are the one.

The mighty Waikato River that runs through our beautiful city is a treasure, a picturesque hidden gem of our city. I like to hunt around for little trails into secluded spots, where you feel like you’re the only person there. We recently moved to this side of town, so the river is my access to water and greenery. I relish the feeling of being submerged in a space, rather than a big open view. The river and the trails help you feel immersed in the bush when you’re just 10 minutes walk from the main city street.

A stroll to and around the Waikato Farmers’ Market  is a ritual Sunday treat that I enjoy. It’s the place I go to get all my fresh produce for the week, plus there are delicious artisan-made goods and live music. A family friendly activity that is helpfully located near a great park for the kids to play while you sip your coffee and devour some pastries.

Found is a treat of a shop run by Liz and Ann-Maree, right in the heart of the great new Riverbank Precinct. The shop is a perfect mix of everything, from hand-blown glassware to a curated selection of vintage finds. I have known Liz for a few years and she’s an amazing stylist. I go in and tell her, “I’ve got this event, these are the shoes…” and she’ll build a look. They stock a really awesome natural make-up brand, and Ann-Maree is a make-up artist who always shares little tidbits. 

Raglan is a 45 minute drive from Hamilton and is home to Solscape. The food, accommodation, views and yoga are a restorative spot for me and somewhere I love to have a mini-staycation if I need a few days to reset. A grounding spot to nourish yourself and your family.

On the way home from Raglan, or even as a short afternoon trip / picnic spot, the lakes and woodlands of Taitau Arboretum are beautiful. You can easily spend an hour or more exploring the walks and picnic areas. It's free and open from 8am till half an hour before sunset.