Te Awamutu - Alphra Lavender Farm, Lake Ngaroto, Hamilton Garden

Here we are, Hamilton!!!!

Four of us feel so happy when we reach here, because Hamilton is so much different with Te Puke. Te Puke is very famous of kiwi fruit hence it is just a small town with many kiwi orchards, and we are actually quite boring there. Hamilton, however, is in the top 10 of New Zealand Biggest City. The view we see here is so much different with the boring Te Puke!

We travel around Te Awamutu to visit Alphra Lavender Farm. Alphra Lavender Farm is actually not a farm, it is a Kiwi's garden, and the family is so kind to let visitors to visit the farm for free. They have a lovely house too!

the family's pet

Met friends here! What a small world!

The time we visit lavender farm is actually not the best time. The owner said that if we visit the farm after two weeks, we can see that the whole garden is purplish! They have a small shop selling some lavender souvenirs too.

After lavender farm, we went to the i-site of Te Awamutu to see what we can do here. We realized that there's actually a farmers market every Thursday, but it starts at 3.30pm.  Since it is still early, we found out that there's a Lake Ngaroto nearby and we decided to have a look there.

Lake Ngaroto, two words to describe - nothing special.
It's ok! Sometimes the itinery that is not planned gave us surprises and unexpectations, and that is what we love. We got a buy-one-free-one voucher for a coffee and that is how we enjoy ourself in a rainny day.

Layered veggie frittata, lemon cheesecake and awesome coffee at Robert Harris Cafe

In the evening, we went to one of Hamilton's main attrractions - Hamilton Garden. Hamilton Garden is too big and we didn't manage to walk the whole garden. There're 5 different areas in the garden and we only managed to see one of it.

China Garden entrance

多么美丽的竹林深处？

This weird "monster" is gifted by China

pattern again

Japan Garden

Indian Garden, it's really colorful

Tonight is also the first night we are not staying in a home stay. Our new home here - J's Backpackers!

Our 4 bed dorm, there's only 4 of us in this room!

The very special dining area. I feel that it is like the camp we always see in TVB old times drama. The camp those people stay when they are having a war like 三国时代. haha!

The outlook of our dining camp, cute and special?

Our new home, we all love the bedding they provide! This back pack house is really clean and warm!