Last entry and goodbye

Due to time restrictions I was unable to visit a few destinations including the V8’s, Waitomo Caves and the Hot Air Balloons, but I gained an appreciation of Hamilton and New Zealand with the kindness, warmth and hospitality the locals showed me during my stay. While walking through the airport, I am to leave the people who have made this trip what it was and the reality hits me that I am leaving.

As I look over Hamilton for the last time it is with regret that this is my last blog entry that I will write about my visit in Hamilton, New Zealand. While I can say that I have fulfilled my research requirements, I have also extensively travelled the area of Hamilton, meet some great acquaintances and also experienced the true meaning of Hamilton. I left Hamilton leaving a part of me behind, yet building my own identity. I came to Hamilton to further my research in the field of identity and age, to demonstrate whether they impact in a tourism destination. As I have travelled to broad destinations from Raglan to the Waikato Museum, I have come to the conclusion that age does impact on an area. Age also has an impact on the choices and decisions that we make, whether it is accommodation, attractions or our attitudes and viewpoints.

Night Life

After being dropped off outside of Hood Street, I noticed the array of policemen and the barriers closing of the roads. I was told that Saturday was the busiest night as all the students went out and the working class locals had no worries of work the next day. First I found this strange but gained an appreciation for the limitation of traffic when ‘connecting’ to each club. Still enjoying myself, I quickly noticing that all the bars/clubs were central to each other. It seemed like you step out of one club to only step into another. This was a completely different environment to what I was use to whether it was my present company or the culture I was among. It was bought to my attention that the attitude and behaviour of these people where driven by music, sex and alcohol- a combination the owners are willing to supply. With the demand for quality weekends and hangouts, Hamilton has designed and area dictated by the youth. The experience of an individual is dictated by the environment in which they exist due to the experiences of their friends and the others in the club. The youth of Hamilton developed a zone, specifically to accommodate the expanding drinking culture, and also dictate the survival of the clubs. This is an industry forever competing for the needs and wants of the youth, so if they are unsatisfied, preferences in bars change. This attraction is a key example of how age demonstrates the tourist experience and the impact on the destination.

Water Experience- What Hamilton has to offer

One of the most talked about and recognisable features in Hamilton, has to be the Waikato River. I have noticed that the river has an affiliation to many of the other attractions in Hamilton whether it being a sight/view from the museum or the dividing of the Hamilton Gardens. This river is iconic not just as an image representing Hamilton and Waikato but also events like rowing and the business of River cruise. Used by any ages, the river holds strong as part of the local’s identity and way to be distinguished from other landmarks. It has been noted to me that attractions, such as Hamilton Lake and Karapiro, are appropriate for all ages as they are fitted with picnic areas for families and playgrounds for children entertainment.

As one of the backpackers is a keen surfer, we decided to take a road trip to Raglan. Once we arrived, we saw a glimpse of the sea in panoramic views. Driving through the township, it became recognisable that Raglan was targeted towards young-middle aged people. It was brought to my attention that Raglan is a hot-spot for surfing and brings in many surfing, kombi driving people which has an impact on shops and street design. My experience in Hamilton was to try and identify if age makes a difference on a tourism experience and location. Raglan is a perfect example for my research as age has impacted on this location, while dictating the experience of others through the image of youth and surfing.

Waikato Museum-Walking through time

After finding the Museum I found myself walking through rooms of art allowing for interpretations around each corner and bend. Although I couldn’t fully analyse the artwork, I found that age was identified by two aspects. Not only did the art and displays portray art and age through the times, it also depicted age in the displays that were on offer to view. As I walked around I was captivated with the different areas the museum displayed, from art displays to Maori history to Hamilton history to interactive senses. I found this exhibit very interesting as I was able to feel more of a connection to place and self, particularly Hamilton. The museum gave me understanding of the history of the local area, while the interactive space allowed me to get in touch with all my senses. As the museum is a place for displaying artefacts and information to the public I was able to interact with other people at the museum in different ways, depending on the surrounding displays. Interacting with people allowed me to see their viewpoint, and also change my own in some instances as they saw, shared and felt something different to what I was experiencing. It was here that I realised that my experience was due to my interaction with place and space, but also through the social interaction I had with other people.

Zoo Experience

Not long after we arrived at the Hamilton Zoo my first impressions had disappeared. I thought being a small city that the experience would be small, but I was corrected. Paths were designed to lead tourists in the directions, while there was still an element of surprise and choice. While taken from their natural environment for our benefit, the staff of Hamilton Zoo makes it as authentic as possible. We took our time walking through the zoo, marvelled at the exhibitions of the animals. Being in a group we took photos, sharing this experience. Walking along, I suddenly heard this noise which sounds like animals on the loose, only to turn around and see a ground of young school children on a trip. Being excited they were running around, scared that if they stopped they would miss out on something. What made the zoo a good experience was that it was accessible for any age, (dis)ability and interest. With playgrounds to guides to a cafe, the zoo is designed to keep everyone happy from toddlers to grandparents. Having the ability to see all age groups participate in the same activity gave me more of an appreciation, as I was able to learn more about the species and also about myself. Being in the group altered our experiences but it was the fact we shared what we saw and understood that made it an identity building experience.

Rugby and Local Support

From conversation in the morning, I managed to pick up of a local rugby game that was being played tonight. Rugby is a big sport in Hamilton with locals showing their pride by supporting the local Chiefs at the Waikato Stadium. It was just my luck that tonight’s match was a rivalry between the Chiefs and Crusaders. I meet up with the youth from this morning and while being tourists themselves, they joined in on the fun and wrapped up in red, black and yellow. By wearing these colours they were able to distinguish themselves from the Crusaders supporters while having the identity and recognition of being Chiefs supporters. It showed not only the identity of the team but their identity as an individual. As we were restricted by a tight budget, our tickets were in the ‘greenzone’. As I looked around I observed the youth among us. Listening to the pre-match entertainment I understood that the ‘greenzone’ had developed a reputation for being the area for students, energy and entertainment. Looking further around the stadium, I noticed that while everyone is showing their support and passion, they were more reserved. Being seated in the ‘greenzone’ lifted my spirits and got me more into the. I was able to sing along with the presumed students and even participated in the odd Mexican wave. I enjoyed my time at this stadium as I was able to witness the mixing of identities from locals, visitors and Hamilton which made for a great atmosphere to be involved in.

(Photos courtesy of Lauren McKain, segwaynz.files, waikatostadium 2010)

Hamilton Gardens

I knew of the beauty and natural landscape of New Zealand, but the spectacle gardens that Hamilton has on display show nature in a true form while representing the diverse cultural connection to the locals. It is a place where locals, along with tourists, are able to reflect on their national identity while being surrounded in a place that is calm and tranquil. A garden that holds so much significance and reputation, added to the hype that I felt from conversations I had with people. This morning I had no idea of today’s activities, but after meeting some young tourists who were planning on heading to the Hamilton Gardens, I decided to join them. This way I was able to interact with people and experience the gardens from my perspective as well as shared views. We walked around the gardens and discussed the different spaces and themes while gaining social capital in the form of photos. This not only gave us a souvenir of the gardens, but allowed us to be ourselves and have fun in a peaceful environment. As this wasn’t an organised tour, the young tourist had other activities planned for the day. This gave me the opportunity to look around the gardens, which I saw in a different light. Whether this was because I wasn’t distracted by other thoughts or whether I missed the displays previously, being by myself gave me a different experience. It was at this stage that I realised that my journey in Hamilton was going to depend on where I went and who I travelled with.

Accommodation - choices to be made

My first objective since arriving in Hamilton was to make a decision to where I would be staying and the type of accommodation. This was an important decision to make as my accommodation is the base of the trip. During the taxi ride around the city I saw notice a street that was full of hotel and motels. This was one possible option as they all looked medium to high class standard while being in great proximity to the city activities. My other options where to stay in hostels or backpackers which too had good access and transport links to the city. As I travelled to Hamilton solo, I based my accommodation choice on the level of social interaction. Being a foreigner and tourist, help from locals on destination/activity choices could make this an amazing experience. As I settled into my room, I observed that it’s not only youth that stay in backpackers but those who are on limited budgets. This was true to me, as I got the comfort from the accommodation while being able to save for the activities. My choice of accommodation will add to my experience and through social interaction I am hoping to make friendships and connections. Therefore this experience can help develop my own identity while enriching those involved.
For further information go to this website: http://www.aatravel.co.nz/new-zealand/Hamilton_Accommodation.html