Self-Guided History Walking Tour

Kia ora. Welcome to the Cambridge Town History Trail.

Take a gentle stroll through the heart of Cambridge. This walk brings local history to life. Along the way, you’ll uncover stories of Māori voyagers, colonial soldiers, floods, fires, secret bunkers, and everyday life from days gone by. Every corner has a tale to tell.  

Cambridge’s story begins with the Waikato River.

In the 14th century, Tainui Māori travelled up the river and settled along its banks. They built pā (fortified villages), grew crops, and formed strong communities. These settlements thrived, trading with nearby areas, Auckland and Australia. But by the 1860s, growing tension between Māori and the colonial government led to war. Land confiscations followed. After the upheaval of the New Zealand Wars, a new town was laid out on either side of the river. It was named after the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.

Click on a tile below to begin your tour