Experience the beauty and tranquil water of the Waikato River on the Waikato River Explorer

Come and experience the Cafe with the best views in the Waikato and enjoy a relaxing cruise on New Zealand’s longest waterway flowing through Hamilton, New Zealand’s largest inland city. Waikato River Explorer is a great option for corporate events, client functions, staff dinners or just a leisurely cruise with family and friends. Bookings essential on all sailings to avoid disappointment. See you on the river …

About Waikato River Explorer

Established in 2012 by a group of Hamilton Business people, our mission is to open up this magnificent inland waterway to everyone. Our vessels are out on the river year-round and our amazing skippers and Crew are ready to show our river off to you. Experience the beauty of the Waikato river from the Waikato River Explorer. Click here to book your scenic cruise or enquire about your Waikato event today.

• Mystery Creek Wines Tasting Cruises Definitely our most popular cruise offering, these cruises are available all year each Sunday and Saturday afternoon offering a fantastic cruise, food and wine tasting experience that is totally unique to the Waikato.
• Vilagrad Wine Tasting Cruises Definitely our most popular cruise offering, these cruises are available all year each Sunday and Saturday afternoon offering a fantastic cruise, food and wine tasting experience that is totally unique to the Waikato.
• Weekday Scenic Cruises Scenic Cruises on Thursday & Friday run for 90 minutes departing at 12:30pm each week and 2:30pm October to April. We have a fully licensed bar on board and café style food available for purchase during these cruises.
• Scenic Cruises – Saturday Scenic cruises on Saturday depart Hamilton Gardens. The 12:30pm sailing generally operates between Riverlea and Claudelands. All other sailings generally head upstream as the vessel will most likely be dropping passengers off at Mystery Creek. This schedule can change from time to time due to operational requirements. Please see Terms and Conditions for information. We have a fully licensed bar on board and café style food available for purchase during the cruise.
• Mystery Creek Ferry Riding the Waikato Explorer to events at Mystery Creek Events Centre certainly beats sitting in long traffic queues and the long walk back to the car at the end of the day with bags of bargains and samples.
• Scenic Cruises – Sunday Scenic cruises on Sunday depart Hamilton Gardens. The 12:30pm sailing generally operates between Riverlea and Claudelands. All other sailings generally head upstream as the vessel will most likely be dropping passengers off at Mystery Creek. This schedule can change from time to time due to operational requirements. Please see Terms and Conditions for information.

Deposit and Cancellation Information

Departures: Waikato River Explorer Cruises Depart from the River Jetty @ Hamilton Gardens (Just down the hill from the Gate 1 car park).
Terms and Conditions of Sale and Cruises

1. Scenic Cruises run in all weathers due to the river environment not having an adverse effect on conditions.
2. Bookings for Scenic Cruises may be transferred to an alternative date if that date is available no less than 24 hours from sailing.
3. No refunds will be given if passengers don’t turn up for a sailing.
4. All sailings are subject to change at Waikato River Explorer’s discretion for reasons of operational requirements.
5. Tickets are refundable in the event that Waikato River Explorer cancels the service. This is most likely to happen if operational conditions on the river prevent the vessel from conducting safe passage.
6. In the event that a group has chartered the vessel for a function and a scheduled cruise has been cancelled, notification of this will be made via the website no less than 24 hours prior to sailing.
7. Passengers are guaranteed seating on Scenic Cruises if tickets are bought and paid for online or by other means no less than 24 hours from the commencement of that cruise and that cruise will NOT be available for charter.
8. Waikato River Explorer reserves the right to refuse any person access on any sailing for any reason including any person who is unruly in behavior, unfit to travel, is likely to cause distress or discomfort to other passengers or has previously engaged in any unlawful activities affecting the company. The Master may also require any person to leave the vessel.
9. All prices are in NZ$ and include GST.
10. Any scheduled Scenic Cruise including the Sunday Wine Tasting Cruise is available for charter but only if no less than 25 tickets have been purchased online or by other means prior to the commencement of the cruise and only if there are no other bookings registered for that cruise.