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9 Must Visit Art Galleries to in Cambridge, NZ

Cambridge, New Zealand, is not only renowned for its picturesque landscapes but also for its vibrant art scene. From contemporary galleries to studios showcasing local talent, Cambridge offers a diverse range of artistic experiences. Whether you are an art connoisseur or a casual admirer, the following list of top art galleries will guide you to the best artistic spots in town....

8 of the Best Pubs in Cambridge New Zealand

Cambridge, a charming town in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island, boasts a vibrant pub scene with a variety of establishments catering to different tastes and occasions. From cozy bars to modern bistros, here are eight of the best pubs to visit in Cambridge....

Top 10 Traveller’s Choice in New Zealand

This is a big moment for us. Not just because we’re regional, or independent. But because it means we’re doing things right. And that’s the best reward for effort we could want.Little things make big things happenTaking care of the small stuff, the details, has made the big things – our guests, our staff, our hotel, our apartments – the talk of the town. Traveller’s Choice Awards are quite different than an industry accolade. They come from the people who have experienced each establ...

Seasons and Sustainability. Our New Menu.

Enjoy a flavoursome feast fresh from the artisans, rich soils and fertile grazing grounds of the Waikato and New Zealand.Seasons and Sustainability. Our New Menu.Out of the sea and off the butcher’s block. Farm to plate. Our new menu celebrates the fertile lands and pristine oceans of the Waikato and greater New Zealand. Seasonal produce is plentiful here and we’ve gone out of our way to source the best of it from local producers whose earth-conscious thinking is in tandem with our own.Bread...

Surviving the Level 4 Lockdown

An inspirational true story of survival and growth during Covid-19All through January 2020, from when Hidden Lake Hotel first opened its doors, we’d been running high on the adrenalin of belief, seeing our dream become a reality. So like every other business in the hospitality industry, when the severity of the situation hit, we scrambled to make sense of it, let alone gauge the impact it would have.Clearly from the onset our immediate plans and forecasted projections would have to be put on h...

Social Distancing Holiday: How to holiday safety during COVID-19

Let’s face it, sitting inside the same 4-walls for weeks on end will eventually grow tiresome. Many of our usual leisure activities are now restricted due to COVID-19. It’s almost certain that most of us will become restless....

Hidden Gems – The Church Grown From Trees

“Many people see the face of God in the beauty of nature, but few have ever taken this to the extent of Barry Cox, the infinitely patient creator of New Zealand’s Tree Church.”SourceTree Church is a 3 acre (1.2 hectare) selection of exquisite gardens and a stunning church made from trees – that Barry Cox created in the small Waikato township of Ohaupo.Located at 119 West Road, this hidden gem is a short 20 minute drive from Hidden Lake Hotel in Cambridge – making it a gr...

Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Hobbiton

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” Chapter 1 of The HobbitNestled in an idyllic location on a sheep farm near Matamata, the film set of Hobbiton takes its pride of place. People visit from far and wide to marvel at the beauty that takes after J.R.R Tolkien’s epic series of ...

Perfect Family Day Out in Cambridge – Ride the Miniature Trains

Leamington Domain is a beautiful reserve area in the middle of Leamington (a suburb of Cambridge, on the opposite side of the river to the main town center). Here, you will find the Cambridge miniature train tracks.Just like many community endeavours, this track was constructed and is maintained and operated by a dedicated group of volunteers – the Cambridge Model Engineering Society.If you’re looking for the perfect family day out while staying in Cambridge, then look no further – th...

Exploring The Pinnacles – The Ultimate Hiking Guide

“The Pinnacles (759 metres) are a serrated outcrop of rhyolite that formed around 8 million years ago. Like a toothed saw they cut the skyline. From the summit there are views along the entire length of the Coromandel Peninsula, from Mount Moehau to Mount Te Aroha.”Source The Pinnacles track starts roughly 22km inland from Thames, and follows the original packhorse route that was used to carry supplies to the kauri loggers during the great deforestation of the 1880s – 1920s.It is a we...

Chasing Dreams 2: Bangkok to New ZealandNew post

Arnon Somboonarunsarn credits his career achievements to the influence of his teachers and the opportunity to learn from successful people. But he also believes that family and friends are important to staying motivated.Another in our Chasing Dreams series on finding success in hospitalityArnon found inspiration in his passion for learning new things and meeting and talking to people. 12 years ago he applied for a job and worked in a five star hotel in Bangkok, where he lived.It didn’t take lo...

Exploring the Blue Spring and Te Waihou Walkway – The Ultimate Guide

***South Waikato District Council has taken a decision to close the Blue Spring / Te Waihou Walkway. The closure will be in effect from 13 November 2023 and we hope to have the Walkway re-opened by this time next year, if not sooner.***Colours breathe life into our surroundings, and impart depth into our perceptions. If you’re looking to experience a beautiful and uniquely Kiwi attraction, then Blue Spring might be just what you’re after.Based roughly 5km out of Putaruru township, the Waihou...

The Perfect Rainy Day Activity – The Te Awamutu Space Centre

“Anything that stimulates the public’s imagination about the nobility and the importance of space exploration is something that I’m very excited to be a part of.”Ron HowardThe Te Awamutu Space Centre is a museum and activities room dedicated to sharing collective knowledge and experiences of space exploration.Here, you will find a collection of artefacts from the American and Soviet-Russian space exploration programmes, informative displays about the universe, the his...

Chasing dreams of a diverse coffee industry

As a long time mentor and trainer in hospitality, Glenda knows the importance of developing and empowering students. Here we feature the first of our ‘Chasing Dreams’ series on the journey Glenda’s past students have taken to career and business success....

What I learnt from building a hotel

As our hotel build takes place in Lakewood – with its barn style commerce and recharge station – we can see our initiatives taking shape. How big picture thinking can be used to create a retail and hospitality hub that takes nothing from its environment but instead gives back. But, what I have found most pleasing is how many of the hotel’s contributors have taken these intentions to heart....

The power of positivity at work

We are fortunate to be in the driving seat of this incredible new business. So when it came time to think about the type of workplace we wanted to create, we started with a word – inspirational....

The Best Weekend Markets in Hamilton and the Waikato

Renowned for a history of farming and agriculture, the mighty Waikato boasts a wide range of markets that provide all kinds of unique and wonderful shopping experiences. Whilst many of these markets are catered towards fresh produce and culinary delights, there are also an abundance of other wares on offer such as crafts, household items, holistic services, “junk” and the standard market fare.In this article, you will find a summary of our local markets and events that are happening througho...

Can a hotel make a family feel at home?

As the hotel build moves into its final stages, there are many decisions to be made about the type of service delivery we offer guests.Being of a boutique nature, we’re grateful not to be beholden to the cookie cutter approach of larger establishments, where customised tweaks to the service are seen as unnecessary and even an inconvenience. We definitely see ourselves as the polar opposite of that....

The Ultimate DIY Waikato Photography Tour Guide

The Waikato is a green, luscious, pasture-filled oasis of varying microclimates and natural attractions. We are blessed to have so many beautiful destinations on our doorstep, with photographers coming from far and wide to capture that perfect image.If you want to snap some fantastic shots during your stay here, then look no further. Our ultimate Waikato DIY photography tour guide features some of the most prominent and less well-known spots that are within close proximity to Cambridge.This rout...

We go talking to Travel Buyers

With progress at the hotel moving along nicely, it was time to take the show on the road. ExPlore Central North Island Trade Show presented us with the ideal environment.It was focused on our region of New Zealand, meaning we’d not just meet buyers but industry partners – a direct alignment with our sustainable partnerships model.It was the perfect place to begin a conversation with the travel industry about the doors an earth conscious hotel in the Waikato can open for Tourism and...

Great conference organisation comes from the head

While the rules of great conference organisation revolve around timing and delivery (planning and organisation is a given), to be successful a great hotel has to bring its ‘A’ game. It helps to get a buzz out of welcoming diverse people from specific organisations and industries and countries, all arriving with a common purpose, but behind the scenes the hard work needs to be done....

Great hotel service comes from the heart

Really great hotel service – you know it when you find it. At Hidden Lake Hotel, service excellence is something we are passionate about. But where does great hotel service come from?In my years of hotel experience I can honestly say that the best hotel service comes from people whose passion is for 2 things – the hotel’s guests and a love for the region it is operating in. These people make a terrific addition to any hospitality family and, as our hotel’s opening day draws nearer, our l...

Building a responsible business from the ground up

When Hidden Lake Hotel opens its doors it will be living proof of the difference responsible business practices can make. Any business can make the decision to operate responsibly and make it work. But you need a lot of motivation to make it succeed....

D’Arcy’s Organic Kitchen Garden

The philosophy behind Hidden Lake Hotel’s kitchen was set in motion decades ago by Glenda’s Uncle D’Arcy. His organic kitchen garden stems from a lifelong passion for growing produce.D’Arcy’s practice has always been to eat fresh from the earth that you have tilled yourself, source local everything else you can, live a healthy lifestyle, give back, and know where your food is coming from....

Giving Back To Lake Te Koutu

Like most travellers, we increasingly appreciated where we came from and how special it was through experiencing other cultures and landscapes. Having grown up in the Waikato, we already had a strong connection with this part of the world and a keen desire to preserve the beauty of it for future generations. Designing a new hotel on the shores of Lake Te Koutu in the town of trees was the perfect opportunity for us to give back....