Student Accommodation Hamilton

Hamilton is one of the most beautiful student cities in New Zealand and attracts thousands of students from across the world every year. This is largely due to the presence of top universities like the University of Waikato and the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), known for their academic excellence and vibrant student life.

There are several popular neighborhoods in Hamilton for student living, such as Hillcrest, Hamilton East, Hamilton CBD, and Rototuna, which offer a variety of options, including shared apartments, en-suite rooms, non-en-suite rooms, and studio apartments. Some top student accommodation in Hamilton includes properties starting at just NZD $280 per week!

However, with so many options available, choosing the best student housing in Hamilton can feel overwhelming for students. This is where University Living comes in. With over 10+ years of experience in the accommodation abroad industry, we have helped more than 12,000,000 students find their home away from home. So, if you are an international student looking for properties in Hamilton, you are in the right place.

Hamilton is home to several thousand students, with many more coming in every year. Now, one of the main problems these students face is finding the ideal student accommodation in Hamilton. Finding the right property is very important because your comfort and privacy in student life depend on the type of accommodation you choose. Student accommodation in New Zealand is divided into two basic types, namely: Student Housing and Private Apartments. Both of them have their own pros and cons, and therefore, have been explained briefly below:

Student Housing

Also popularly known as PBSAs (Purpose-Built Student Accommodations), these properties are built specifically for students and therefore have everything you need in them. The best part about these properties is that they are generally located near the university or in areas that have great transport connectivity to the university. The rent for these accommodations includes utility bills like electricity, water, gas, and Wi-Fi bills, along with other facilities like gym, lounge, breakfast bar, etc. PBSAs are further divided into 4 types to provide more budgetary options to students. These include:

• Shared Accommodation: These are some of the most affordable types of student properties in the city. In shared accommodation, students get to share a room along with 2/3 occupants along with a shared washroom, kitchen, and living room. Since everything is shared among all occupants, the per person costs come out to be really low!

• En-Suite Accommodation: This is the most preferred type of student apartment in Hamilton, as in these properties, students get to have an entire room to themselves along with a attached washroom, a shared living room, and a kitchen!

• Non En-Suite Accommodation: These types of rooms are very similar to an En-Suite accommodation. However, the only major difference between the two is that, unlike its counterpart, an En-Suite accommodation does not come with a personal washroom. The rest is the same, a personal room along with shared washroom, living room, and kitchen.

• Studio Apartments: These are the most comfortable and private type of student apartments in Hamilton, because in this property, students get to have an entire unit to themselves, which comes with a bed, a kitchen, and a washroom. All of this for just one person!

Private Apartments

These properties are different from a PBSA and are often leased out as individual independent units with 2/3 rooms with washrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The tenant of the property can literally invite their friends over for a week without any concerns. However, the rent for these properties does not include any utility bills or extra facilities. Every other expense, be it electricity, water, or gas, is on top of the rent! Also, these properties are the best suited for students and working professionals!

Hamilton is a warm and growing inland city located in the heart of New Zealand's North Island, nestled along the banks of the Waikato River, the country's longest river. Known as "Hamiltron" or more affectionately as "the Tron," the city is the hub of the rich Waikato farming region, famous for its lush green pastures, dairy farms, and the legendary Waikato Rugby Team. Unlike the coastal appeal of Auckland or Wellington, Hamilton has a relaxed, family-friendly vibe with beautiful gardens, including the world-renowned Hamilton Gardens, which showcase themed landscapes from different cultures and time periods. With a lower cost of living than Auckland and a central location just 90 minutes south of the big city, Hamilton has become an increasingly popular choice for students and families.

Every year, thousands of students come to Hamilton to study at top institutions like the University of Waikato and Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology). With over 12,000 students at the University of Waikato alone, finding the right student accommodation is a key challenge. Although the city offers many housing options, with rents ranging from approximately NZD 160 to NZD 550 per month, the search can still be overwhelming. Well, if you are looking for student properties in Hamilton, you are at the right place. We at University Living have over a decade of experience helping students find their perfect home away from home. Students can choose from the several hundred properties that we have in our portfolio!

Hamilton is home to some of the most aesthetically pleasing cities in the country and has some of the most gorgeous neighbourhoods! Although students can live in any neighbourhood they feel good with, students are recommended to stay at locations that already have an established student population. This ensures that they can reach out to their peers in case of any issues or concerns. Also, these neighbourhoods have everything that you might need as a student in the city! Some of the top neighbourhoods in Hamilton include:

Hillcrest

One of the best neighbourhoods for student accommodation in Hamilton is Hillcrest, and it is considered one of the best areas for students in the city! It is best suited for the students of the University of Waikato, because the neighbourhood is home to the university! Hillcrest is located towards the east side of the Waikato River and features tree-lined streets and excellent amenities. The neighbourhood not only houses students, but is also home to working professionals and native residents of the city! The campus of the University is a majestic place in itself, and features the famous Knighton Lake with ducks, expansive sports fields, and the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, which hosts world-class concerts in Hamilton. The neighbourhood also houses the Hillcrest Stadium, which is a local sports facility and community hub within the suburb. If you ever wish to take a recreational stroll in the city, Jubilee Bush is a native bush area offering walking trails and a quiet escape from studying. For all your shopping needs, Hillcrest Shops in a major local shopping area in the neighbourhood that houses a supermarket, a bottle store, and a bakery, along with some of the best restaurants in the city! The Hamilton Gardens, one of the most world-famous themed gardens in New Zealand, is also located at Hillcrest! These gardens are free to enter and therefore are absolutely loved by students! The average of student properties in Hillcrest ranges between NZD 1800 and NZD 2400 per month.

Hamilton East

As the name suggests, located in the Eastern part of the city, right across the river, Hamilton East is one of the most preferred neighbourhoods for student apartments in Hamilton, and is located a short 10-minute walk from the University of Waikato! Hamilton East is a fun place to be at, and offers a lively yet relaxed lifestyle with a buzzing cafe scene, boutique shopping, and riverside walks along the Waikato River. The neighbourhood has great transport connectivity to the rest of Hamilton, and therefore, can be accessed from anywhere in the city! One of the best places to be in the neighbourhood is the MADE complex! This is a new boutique retail and dining complex built on the banks if River Waikato, and houses several banks, speciality stalls, restaurants, and cafes. Another one of the top places to eat a sumptuous meal while shopping in the neighbourhood includes Hamilton East Village Shops, which is the historic main street with a great selection of cafes, restaurants, and speciality stores. The Waikato River Walkways also provide some of the most scenic riverside paths in the city, which are just perfect for jogging, walking, or relaxing by the water. One of the most iconic spots in the Hamilton East is the Claudelands Bridge, which is a historic bridge connecting Hamilton East to the CBD, and is extremely popular with pedestrians and cyclists. The average rent for student properties in Hamilton East ranges between NZD 1750 and NZD 2000 per month.

Hamilton CBD (Central Business District)

The Hamilton CBD is literally one of the best neighbourhoods for student rooms in Hamilton, and is located a short 10-minute bus ride from the University of Waikato! The CBD is also the commercial and transport heart of the city, which makes it the best choice for any university in the city! The best part about Hamilton CBD is that students living here are surrounded by shopping centres like Centre Place, the Transport Centre, a wide array of restaurants, bars, cinemas, and nightlife options. Everything that a student might require while pursuing their education in the city can be found in the CBD! The neighbourhood houses the Centre Place Shopping Centre, which is the largest shopping mall in Hamilton, and features Kmart, Farmers, and a food court. If you love poker or blackjack, SkyCity Hamilton is the best place in the city, as it is one of the best casinos in the city, and features an entertainment complex with bars, restaurants, and live shows. This neighbourhood also houses one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in the city, which is situated on the Riverbank and features art and cultural exhibitions. The best part about this museum is that it is free for entry and is frequented by students, specially on the weekends! While in the neighbourhood, you can’t simply ignore visiting Victoria Street, which is the main dining and nightlife strip, and is packed with international restaurants, pubs, and cocktail bars. The average rent for student properties in the CBD ranges between NZD 1500 and NZD 1800 per month.

Rototuna

Based in the Northern part of the university, Rototuna is one of the most affordable neighbourhoods in the city and is the best suited for students who want a quieter and modern lifestyle, away from the hustle and bustle of the main city centre. The University of Waikato is also located a short 20-minute bus ride away! This neighbourhood has recently undergone major changes and therefore, is quite new and boasts some of the best PBSAs in the city! Rototuna is particularly popular with international students, especially those from Asia, due to the presence of large Asian supermarkets, authentic restaurants, and a massive shopping centre nearby! The best part about this neighbourhood is the presence of The Base, one of New Zealand's largest shopping and entertainment complexes, featuring hundreds of stores, cinemas, and a massive food court. Another one of such places is the Rototuna Village, which is a modern shopping centre with a supermarket, specialty stores, cafes, and medical facilities. Apart from this, there are several supermarkets nearby that make shopping a fun thing to do in the neighbourhood! The average rent of student properties in the neighbourhood ranges between NZD 1100 and NZD 1500 per month.

Hamilton is one of the most affordable cities to live in New Zealand in terms of cost of living. The city has everything in every budget for everyone. Although the cost of living is a personal concept that is determined by the lifestyle a student lives and the sort of expenses they incur, if students plan their budget accordingly and manage their expenses properly, they can expect to spend a month in Hamilton in well under NZD 1600.

The table below highlights some of the major expenses that students might undertake while studying in the city.

PS: Students must note that these figures are tentative and might change based on their actual consumption and expenditure! If you want to have a better understanding of the cost of living in Hamilton, you can use University Living’s exclusive cost of living calculator!

There are a plethora of options for students to choose from when it comes to top student accommodation in New Zealand. However, not every property is worth it. There are certain criteria that a good property should fulfil. The property should be located close to the university and the city center, and should be located in a neighbourhood that has great transport links to the rest of the city. Therefore, here are some of the top properties for student accommodation in Hamilton starting at just NZD 280/wk.

• 167 Knighton Road

Hamilton has a population of over 230,000 people, including more than 20,000 students. To simplify daily travel for these residents, the city has developed a wide-ranging public transportation network that supports both intercity and intracity journeys. The main transport options available to students in Hamilton are bus services and National Rail Services, which are briefly described below.

BUSIT Bus Network

The primary and most convenient mode of public transit in Hamilton is the BUSIT Bus network. The service operates an extensive network of over 20 urban routes that cater to all major neighbourhoods, educational institutions, and shopping centers in the city. These services provide last-mile connectivity throughout the city and make sure that no passenger is stranded in the middle of the night anywhere in the city. A single one-way ticket costs between $3–$4 depending on the zones travelled, and students also use the BUSIT card to further save on accommodation costs!

InterCity Coachlines (Intercity Bus)

Best suited for students who wish to travel outside Hamilton on weekends, the InterCity coach network serves as New Zealand's national coach company, operating over 150 services to hundreds of destinations nationwide. From Hamilton, students can catch a coach to major cities like Auckland and Wellington, and to popular tourist spots like Rotorua, Taupo, and the Coromandel Peninsula. These are mostly used by students for weekend getaways to nearby cities!

Hamilton is one of the most aesthetically pleasing cities in New Zealand and therefore attracts several thousand tourists every year. The tourist spots are free for students, and some provide discounted tickets. Students enjoy spending their weekends at these spots, and these have been explained briefly below:

Hamilton Gardens

One of the most visited and famous places in the city, Hamilton Garden is a gorgeous, award-winning garden that is unlike any other botanical garden. The Hamilton Garden is designed to tell the story of garden design across different cultures and historical periods. Visitors can explore a series of themed Enclosed Gardens, ranging from the Japanese Zen Garden to the Indian Char Bagh and the lush English Flower Garden. The best part about these is that the entry to these gardens is completely free!

Waikato Museum

Situated on the banks of the Waikato River, the Waikato Museum is one of the best museums in the region and is a heaven for all those who are interested in the art and history of New Zealand! The museum features extensive exhibitions on the area's settler past, Maori and European history, and a strong collection of contemporary visual art! This place is a must-visit, and hosts several educational events, and exhibitions which are always a delight to watch!

Zealong Tea Estate

The greenest and the freshest place to visit in the city is the Zealong Tea Estate, which is the only commercial tea plantation in the country, and is nothing short of a paradise, right outside the outskirts of Hamilton! Visitors can tour the estate to learn how tea is made from scratch, enjoy a premium high tea experience with stunning views, and sample some of the finest teas in New Zealand. It is one of the most recreational spots in the city!

Hamilton is home to one of the finest universities in the country. This university is the pioneer in educational research and training, and therefore, invites several thousand students every year to pursue higher education! Although there are several higher educational institutions in the city, the best one if explained briefly below:

University of Waikato

The premier research University of Hamilton, the University of Waikato, is one of the best universities in the region and is known for its contribution to research and training! The university is known for its strong programs in law, education, Māori & Indigenous studies, and management, and has a large, vibrant student population. The university campus is a gorgeous area which features the famous Knighton Lake! Some of the top courses chosen by students include Business & Management, Education & Teaching, Computer Science & Digital Innovation, and Communication Studies! The university has also produced several notable alumni, including Jacinda Ardern, Warren Gatland, Manasseh Sogavare, and Jerry Mateparae!

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)

Famous as one of the leading institutes of technology with its main campus in the Hamilton CBD, the Waikato Institute of Technology is known for its practical, hands-on approach to education, focusing on vocational and applied learning. The institute offers a huge range of certificates, diplomas, and degree programmes in several fields! Some of the most sought-after programmes in the university include Nursing & Health Sciences, Sport & Exercise Science, Media Arts, and Carpentry! Some of the most famous alumni of the institute include Donna-Lee Biddle, Marrin Haggie, and Ellyn Proffit!