The Base — Local services in Hamilton

The Base with its many outdoor shops and eateries is a plentiful feast for shoppers; however, the onsite indoor shopping mall Te Awa is my favourite. A hub of activity on the weekends and surprisingly quiet on any given weekday before 3pm especially on Mondays lends towards a slower pace and a pleasant experience. At times quiet enough to roll bouncy balls down and not collide with anyone.

The food court is reminiscent of a camp canteen; loud with conversation but filled with quiet thoughts. People vying for the their favourites from the golden arches to KFC and Pita Pit to Shamiana; there is something for everyone. The best place to get a hot beverage is Dunkin' Donuts...why? their drinks are hot not cool or lukewarm but hot, well priced and the customer is very good but the added bonus is the scrumptious, delectable and addicting donuts at under $4 they are the cheapest snack you can get unless you like $6-$8 muffins. They offer a great deals including a medium hot drink and two donuts for under $11. The food court is open late on Thursday and Friday nights.

Te Awa boasts Jago Town an indoor play centre for kids which hosts birthday parties.

A big welcome to JB Hi-Fi we are glad you finally made it. Awesome store!

Hoyts with its Hoyts Xtremescreen cinema for extra large viewing, a Hoyts D-Box cinema with motion recliners, 3D capable cinemas and a Hoyts Lux with an option of special dining and drinks with comfy recliners but it comes with an over the top price tag so maybe opt for it on date night or for really long movies. Don't let the websites photo's lull you in unfortunately all the cinemas on offer do need some loving attention and visible staff. The range of cinemas or the excessively expensive food with $10 candyfloss and over $5 a bottle water is not the best thing on offer. Lower your expectations. The best thing about Hoyts is the view out their windows. It's a very quiet place during the day and it's FREE.

An array of stores are on offer in Te Awa including Farmers Department Store, Huffer, Typo, Cotton On, Glassons and Just Jeans but you can find North Beach, Lovisa, Mr Minit, Smiggle and countless jewellery chain stores and beauty parlors just to name a few.

Pop in and take a stroll through, enjoy a hot or cold cuppa and a donut, see a movie or just come in from the cold and rain. Te Awa has something for everyone under a canopy of natural light and where time does not exist because clocks like Las Vegas aren't a fixed feature. Having fewer items that remind you how long you’ve been in the store gets people to shop for longer periods of time.

If you are wanting to expand your shopping experience while getting some exercise have a gander around The Base which brims over with countless big stores such as Chemist Warehouse, The Warehouse, Crackerjack, EB Games, Mitre10 Mega, Rebel sport and Adairs plus multiple banks, coffee chain stores, Burger Fuel, New Save Supermarket, Nando's and Subway to name more than half a dozen.

Be warned! On weekends go as early or as late as possible to avoid the rudeness of some shoppers relentlessly looking for a car park and the heaving thong of people walking aimlessly. The walkways with overhead shelter do not functions as such but lean towards a design fail and cosy nests for cute birds who have figured out when it's best to come out and when to stay home. A cautionary...

I recently visited The Base in Te Rapa, Hamilton, and I must say, it was a fantastic shopping experience! The mall is large, modern, and well-organized, offering a wide variety of stores that cater to just about every need. Whether you're after fashion, tech, homeware, or dining options, The Base has it all, making it a one-stop shop for any outing.

As I walked through the center, I was impressed by the wide selection of well-known retail stores, from clothing shops like H&M and Farmers to electronics stores such as JB Hi-Fi. There's also a fantastic variety of specialty stores where you can find unique items. I loved browsing through the fashion sections, and I easily found some great deals on the latest trends. The center is also home to some great shoe and sportswear stores, which is always a bonus for me!

What stood out to me the most was the food court. The selection of eateries is top-notch, with something to suit every taste. From fast food to more casual dining options, I had no trouble finding something delicious to eat. I ended up grabbing a coffee at one of the cafes, which had a great ambiance for a quick break. The entire food court area was clean and well-maintained, making it an enjoyable space to relax and refuel.

Parking is abundant and easy, and the atmosphere in the center is always lively yet relaxed, making it a pleasant place to spend a few hours. The Base is definitely one of the best shopping malls in Hamilton, offering a great mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. I’ll certainly be returning for more visits!...

The key is the different mix of people that either visit on a regular basis or those from other cities, towns, and countries, that are just passing through.

The Infomation Center ( C S D Customer Service Desk ) is located at the Southern end of Te Awa mall, including a huge customer on site free parking areas for convenient access to the on site stores.

The three centers on site are, Te Awa the mall with underground free customer parking, the Outlet including free parking and access to Farmers, and Katmandu with a variety of stores in between to the Clearance Shed offer a range of shopping for everyone, from the senior citizen to parents starting new families, to teens.

The Base offers a play area for the toddlers to the intermediate age range.

There are changing facilities for new born through to toilet trainers, located in Te Awa mall, the Outlet, and between T-Short Warehouse and Nandos.

There is the Hoyts Cinema complex located in Te Awa mall.

An up date, today is the 31st December 2022, and the Base has change immensely since the above paragraphs were written, the change far outweighs what I knew back then - worth it for a couple of hours as in browsing and or shopping - stop reading and go...