February 27, 2026 • 9 mins
'Beyond the bright lights, city buzz and gorgeous gardens of Hamilton, the mighty Waikato is pitch-perfect for leisurely roadies. It’s a province generously endowed with so many enticements, from Middle-earth in Matamata to wonderland underground in Waitomo. But it’s also the fact that so many of Waikato’s towns are drive-to, not drive-through destinations.'
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast
from News Talks at.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be Mike Yardley's out travel corresponding He's with us this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Good morning, Good morning Jack. I just said to Libya,
I went to bed last night to the soundtrack of
Supergroup and Split ends wafting beautifully and acoustically across the city.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Amazing. So came all the way to your paper.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Was so good. Yeah, yeah, So I think it would
be about probably six seven k from my place to
Hegley Park, but yeah, just the wind just carried the
voices across to me. It was so good. Yeah, get required.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
So I looked close to Eaton Park and I'm not
one of these people who knowns about the noise. I'm like,
you know, you choose to live there, and honestly, I
like the sound of I like knowing that there's kind
of activity and there's life and there are events and things.
I really, I really enjoy it. Yeah, And even if
I'm not there, I think, oh, well, you know it's
great that this is on. You know, sometimes even I
(01:02):
know this.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, I was just going to say, I know this
is going to show my age check. But I was
a bit taken aback around christ Church yesterday the number
of electro gaev goers who seem to be dressed and
no less than just kind of like a super yette.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Ah, yep, you're right, you're showing your age. Yeah, I
know you know that. I mean, first of all, we
can yeah, I mean some people go some people go
all out, and some people kind of go the other direction,
don't they. You know, Yeah, you can be very extravagant
outfits and there can be some less than expans really anyway,
(01:42):
this morning you are road tripping through wy Cuttle town
and country. So beyond the bright lights of Hamilton. Why
Cuttle offers so much variety across the region A.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
It short does, and of course it's all an easy
reach for Aucklanders, but for South Islanders it's never been
easier or cheaper to get to the way Kato because
both here in New Zealand and Jetstar you may know
the check they've been going head to head with a
three twenties on the Hamilton christ Chuchu route. So the
FIRS is so cheap and of course you get there
so fast. And what I love is beyond the tron Yeah,
(02:17):
mighty Wyckedo. The spoil of towns and sights just project
so much distinctive character and personality. You know, you think
of Raglin or Tito or Orto, ahunger Matamata. They've all
got their own sort of sense of who we are.
And I think Wyato, perhaps more so than any other
(02:39):
province in New Zealand, just has so many drive two
towns as opposed to drive through towns, if you know
what I mean.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, So if we're talking drive two towns, Cambridge would
be a still right.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Oh man. It is no wonder Cambridge is undergoing such
a population boom. The lifestyle there is second to none,
and it's such a good base for a town and
country tiki tour. It is, of course the town of champions,
and they flaunt that sporting heritage with that fantastic Walk
of Fame all through town, all of their sporting heroes,
the local Olympians, over a dozen Melbourne Cup champions, you
(03:14):
name it. And I have to say, if you can
to yourself away from Cambridge's really good retail and hospital offerings,
go to that world class of elodrome and spend some
track time there. I was there a fortnight ago. The
ocean you champs were on, which was very lucky for
me man I was transfixed. The speed of those track races, Jack,
(03:36):
to see it in the flesh is absolutely staggering.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, you realize, like hat gutsy it
is you really can't give a full perspective a and
like one little goes wrong and you've got a long
way to slide around.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, and a lot of timber to slide on. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So what's the latest hospitality hero in Cambridge?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yes, well, it's the sort of town that doesn't rest
on its laurels. And you may recall on Juke Street
there used to be this really scruffy down at Hill Pub,
the Massona Hotel. I was actually there. It's sort of
I've got trauma over the Masonic Hotel, Jack, because when
Jasin Radurn declared the Delta lockdown, I happened to be
(04:21):
having a beer in the bar at the Massonic Hotel,
many miles from a home I know. Anyway, that was
a few years ago in our dark history. The hotel
has been there since eighteen sixty six, and a few
months ago it reopened reborn as the Clements Hotel after
the most meticulous tip to toe restoration. It's been just
(04:45):
transformed into a boutique affordable luxury hotel. The lovely local
owners they've spent millions hushing up this old girl, so
it's now just got this red hot following as the
trendy gathering space indoors and out in Cambridge. Super impressive.
Whether you're staying in house or not, you've got to
(05:05):
go there.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Nice. They've got a speakeasy bar right.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yes, this is what the locals love and it's something
you've definitely got to check out down in the basement,
this very intimate, evocative, underground speakeasy. It's named eighteen sixty six,
but it's such a great little spot for cosey libations
after dark. Really good bar trecks man, those bartenders they've
been watching that cocktail movie Farm and Party many times.
(05:29):
And the live music there super cool. By the way.
The Gallery restaurant in the hotel that's also attracting a
lot of buzz. And I thought of you, Jack, when
I considered the dessert menu. You've got to try the
black Forest to chocolate brulat with poached cherries. It's as
unctious as it sounds.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, yeah, no, that sounds good. I feel like, I
feel like the poach, cherry and chocolate combination as an
absolute winner.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Did you got to Hobbiton, Well, I'm a sucker for
a really good tourist trap. Yeah. And those whip smart
guided movie set tours on the Alexander family farm, they
just keep on keeping on selling out virtually every day.
It's like the world is that Hobbit and it's just incredible.
But if you haven't been in a couple of years.
(06:19):
The added feature now is bagshot rows Hobbit holes, which
now include two walk in the Hobbit houses, so everything
is purposized and crafted for Hobbits, from the beds and
the well stopped pantries, all the family heirlooms passed down
from generations of Hobbits. It's also magnificent, magnificently executed, and
(06:42):
it just reaffirmed to me how Hobbiton has nailed that
task of blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. It's
like you've gone into a third realm. It really is
so special.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Further south, how good is Sanctuary Mountain among the TOTEDI.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I went there for the first time two weeks ago.
Wa a sanctuary and it's got one the world's biggest
predator proofenses forty seven kilometers of fence. Unbelievable. So the
forest in the wetland, it is so beautiful. But as
you sort of wander around and they've got over seven
hundred native species yet the century. It really is a
(07:26):
national arc. I found myself eyeballing to Atara while squawky
saddlebacks and kaka and bury binging kennedoo flu all around me.
The place is a revelation.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That's so good. Do you know I've never been there.
I've always wanted to. I've got like a little list
I keep it a list on my phone of activities
to do with the family from time to time, and
that's always been there. I always thort it of be
an amazing thing to do because they've got kiwi.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Right, Yeah, they do, and it's fascinating. The story of
success go back twenty years ago. That's when they translocated
the first kiwi Toomunga Totade. A century had passed since
the kiwi all had been heard there before they took
that first kiwi there. Today, this gorgeous old growth forest
(08:14):
is a Swiss cheese lock to it Jack because the
forest floor is pock marked with so many Kiwi borrows.
Wherever you lock, there's all these holes. There are now
three thousand Kiwi in this forest.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Wheesh, three thousand. That's remarkable. What an incredible success story.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
That's a lot of breeding.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean that that is something, isn't it? Okay? Oh,
that's definitely going to be bumped further high up the list.
I reckon, yes, okay, cool, that sounds amazing. Thank you
so much, Mike.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Thanks Jack, very good.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and enjoy the sounds
of electric have Day two wafting across the city. Today.
Before midday, we are going to take you to our
music reviewer who was there to see Split Ends perform
last night, and he'll be there again today alongside seventy nine,
nine hundred ninety nine others who we know that enjoying
elitric ev
Speaker 1 (09:11):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast
from News Talks at.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be Mike Yardley's out travel corresponding He's with us this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Good morning, Good morning Jack. I just said to Libya,
I went to bed last night to the soundtrack of
Supergroup and Split ends wafting beautifully and acoustically across the city.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Amazing. So came all the way to your paper.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Was so good. Yeah, yeah, So I think it would
be about probably six seven k from my place to
Hegley Park, but yeah, just the wind just carried the
voices across to me. It was so good. Yeah, get required.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
So I looked close to Eaton Park and I'm not
one of these people who knowns about the noise. I'm like,
you know, you choose to live there, and honestly, I
like the sound of I like knowing that there's kind
of activity and there's life and there are events and things.
I really, I really enjoy it. Yeah, And even if
I'm not there, I think, oh, well, you know it's
great that this is on. You know, sometimes even I
(01:02):
know this.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah, I was just going to say, I know this
is going to show my age check. But I was
a bit taken aback around christ Church yesterday the number
of electro gaev goers who seem to be dressed and
no less than just kind of like a super yette.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Ah, yep, you're right, you're showing your age. Yeah, I
know you know that. I mean, first of all, we
can yeah, I mean some people go some people go
all out, and some people kind of go the other direction,
don't they. You know, Yeah, you can be very extravagant
outfits and there can be some less than expans really anyway,
(01:42):
this morning you are road tripping through wy Cuttle town
and country. So beyond the bright lights of Hamilton. Why
Cuttle offers so much variety across the region A.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
It short does, and of course it's all an easy
reach for Aucklanders, but for South Islanders it's never been
easier or cheaper to get to the way Kato because
both here in New Zealand and Jetstar you may know
the check they've been going head to head with a
three twenties on the Hamilton christ Chuchu route. So the
FIRS is so cheap and of course you get there
so fast. And what I love is beyond the tron Yeah,
(02:17):
mighty Wyckedo. The spoil of towns and sights just project
so much distinctive character and personality. You know, you think
of Raglin or Tito or Orto, ahunger Matamata. They've all
got their own sort of sense of who we are.
And I think Wyato, perhaps more so than any other
(02:39):
province in New Zealand, just has so many drive two
towns as opposed to drive through towns, if you know
what I mean.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Yeah, So if we're talking drive two towns, Cambridge would
be a still right.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Oh man. It is no wonder Cambridge is undergoing such
a population boom. The lifestyle there is second to none,
and it's such a good base for a town and
country tiki tour. It is, of course the town of champions,
and they flaunt that sporting heritage with that fantastic Walk
of Fame all through town, all of their sporting heroes,
the local Olympians, over a dozen Melbourne Cup champions, you
(03:14):
name it. And I have to say, if you can
to yourself away from Cambridge's really good retail and hospital offerings,
go to that world class of elodrome and spend some
track time there. I was there a fortnight ago. The
ocean you champs were on, which was very lucky for
me man I was transfixed. The speed of those track races, Jack,
(03:36):
to see it in the flesh is absolutely staggering.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah, you realize, like hat gutsy it
is you really can't give a full perspective a and
like one little goes wrong and you've got a long
way to slide around.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yeah, and a lot of timber to slide on. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So what's the latest hospitality hero in Cambridge?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yes, well, it's the sort of town that doesn't rest
on its laurels. And you may recall on Juke Street
there used to be this really scruffy down at Hill Pub,
the Massona Hotel. I was actually there. It's sort of
I've got trauma over the Masonic Hotel, Jack, because when
Jasin Radurn declared the Delta lockdown, I happened to be
(04:21):
having a beer in the bar at the Massonic Hotel,
many miles from a home I know. Anyway, that was
a few years ago in our dark history. The hotel
has been there since eighteen sixty six, and a few
months ago it reopened reborn as the Clements Hotel after
the most meticulous tip to toe restoration. It's been just
(04:45):
transformed into a boutique affordable luxury hotel. The lovely local
owners they've spent millions hushing up this old girl, so
it's now just got this red hot following as the
trendy gathering space indoors and out in Cambridge. Super impressive.
Whether you're staying in house or not, you've got to
(05:05):
go there.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Nice. They've got a speakeasy bar right.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yes, this is what the locals love and it's something
you've definitely got to check out down in the basement,
this very intimate, evocative, underground speakeasy. It's named eighteen sixty six,
but it's such a great little spot for cosey libations
after dark. Really good bar trecks man, those bartenders they've
been watching that cocktail movie Farm and Party many times.
(05:29):
And the live music there super cool. By the way.
The Gallery restaurant in the hotel that's also attracting a
lot of buzz. And I thought of you, Jack, when
I considered the dessert menu. You've got to try the
black Forest to chocolate brulat with poached cherries. It's as
unctious as it sounds.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yeah, yeah, no, that sounds good. I feel like, I
feel like the poach, cherry and chocolate combination as an
absolute winner.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Did you got to Hobbiton, Well, I'm a sucker for
a really good tourist trap. Yeah. And those whip smart
guided movie set tours on the Alexander family farm, they
just keep on keeping on selling out virtually every day.
It's like the world is that Hobbit and it's just incredible.
But if you haven't been in a couple of years.
(06:19):
The added feature now is bagshot rows Hobbit holes, which
now include two walk in the Hobbit houses, so everything
is purposized and crafted for Hobbits, from the beds and
the well stopped pantries, all the family heirlooms passed down
from generations of Hobbits. It's also magnificent, magnificently executed, and
(06:42):
it just reaffirmed to me how Hobbiton has nailed that
task of blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. It's
like you've gone into a third realm. It really is
so special.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Further south, how good is Sanctuary Mountain among the TOTEDI.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I went there for the first time two weeks ago.
Wa a sanctuary and it's got one the world's biggest
predator proofenses forty seven kilometers of fence. Unbelievable. So the
forest in the wetland, it is so beautiful. But as
you sort of wander around and they've got over seven
hundred native species yet the century. It really is a
(07:26):
national arc. I found myself eyeballing to Atara while squawky
saddlebacks and kaka and bury binging kennedoo flu all around me.
The place is a revelation.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That's so good. Do you know I've never been there.
I've always wanted to. I've got like a little list
I keep it a list on my phone of activities
to do with the family from time to time, and
that's always been there. I always thort it of be
an amazing thing to do because they've got kiwi.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Right, Yeah, they do, and it's fascinating. The story of
success go back twenty years ago. That's when they translocated
the first kiwi Toomunga Totade. A century had passed since
the kiwi all had been heard there before they took
that first kiwi there. Today, this gorgeous old growth forest
(08:14):
is a Swiss cheese lock to it Jack because the
forest floor is pock marked with so many Kiwi borrows.
Wherever you lock, there's all these holes. There are now
three thousand Kiwi in this forest.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Wheesh, three thousand. That's remarkable. What an incredible success story.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
That's a lot of breeding.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean that that is something, isn't it? Okay? Oh,
that's definitely going to be bumped further high up the list.
I reckon, yes, okay, cool, that sounds amazing. Thank you
so much, Mike.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Thanks Jack, very good.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and enjoy the sounds
of electric have Day two wafting across the city. Today.
Before midday, we are going to take you to our
music reviewer who was there to see Split Ends perform
last night, and he'll be there again today alongside seventy nine,
nine hundred ninety nine others who we know that enjoying
elitric ev
Speaker 1 (09:11):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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