Staying near Waikato Hospital, a guide for families
When someone you love is in Waikato Hospital, where you sleep matters more than it normally would. A whole home in Hamilton gives the family a kitchen, proper beds and room to be together, whether you need it for a few nights or several weeks. Our closest homes are a short drive from the hospital on Pembroke Street.
Why a home helps
Hospital days are long, and it is rarely one person doing the visiting. Coming back to a house rather than a motel room means you can cook a meal the family will actually eat and sit together in a lounge at the end of the day. It also saves the cost of eating out every night, which adds up quickly over a week or two.
Hospital staff on placement stay with us for the same reasons, and so do outpatients and their support people.
Visiting hours and parking
Visiting hours are 11am to 1.30pm and 4pm to 8pm, seven days a week, and other times can be arranged with the ward. Some wards keep their own hours, so it is worth checking with the ward before you travel.
Health NZ describes on-site parking as extremely limited during business hours and suggests allowing at least 90 minutes to find a park if driving in is your only option. The first 30 minutes are free in the Pembroke Street and Hague Road car park buildings, then fees apply up to a maximum of $7.50. If you will be visiting often over a week, ask at ward reception about the $7 weekly pass. There are drop-off zones around the hospital, so one person can drop the others at the door while they park.
The hospital's own family accommodation
Te Whare Taurima Waiora, on the hospital campus, is short-term accommodation for people supporting a seriously ill patient. It has a shared kitchen, lounge and laundry. Priority goes to families who live 100 km or more from Hamilton and to those with someone in an acute specialist ward, and other families are considered depending on beds. It is worth asking about. If it is full, or you would rather have a home to yourselves, we can help.
Booking when you don't know how long
Hospital stays rarely run to a plan, so tell us who is coming and roughly how long you think you need, and we will suggest the homes that suit. If treatment changes and your dates move, we will help where we can. Each home's page on our booking site has a map, so you can see where it sits in relation to the hospital.
For longer stays we arrange weekly cleans and fresh linen, and you will have our 24/7 guest number, so if something goes wrong at 11pm you reach a person. Our page on stays near Waikato Hospital has more detail, and you can see every home on our booking site. Booking direct with us is usually cheaper than through the big booking platforms.
