Matamata Attractions | Te Aroha Attractions | Morrinsville Attractions
MATAMATA ATTRACTIONS
Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours
One of Matamata’s visitor attractions is the Hobbiton movie set which was featured in Lord of the Rings. Although the site has now been returned to its original state, there are still a number of Hobbiton holes that remain.
The tours start with a drive through a picturesque working sheep farm which offers spectacular views of the Kaimai Ranges. Your tour guide will escort you through the 4 hectare site recounting fascinating details on how Hobbiton was created.
Tours depart daily from the Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre. Bookings are essential.
Centennial Drive
Beginning with the memorial entrance near Bedford Park, a lily pond and plaque commemorates the Maori, missionaries and the early settlers of the district. Other features of this delightful drive include paved areas, stone seats, fernery, waterfalls, sun dial and a native plant section.
Firth Tower Historical Reserve
More than a century old, Firth Tower and homestead stand on their original site. Other old buildings relocated and restored are the Okoroire Post Office, Selwyn School, an old jail and the old Methodist Church built in 1914. A replica of an old two storey barn houses examples of early transport and there is an excellent static display and audio visual of the construction of the Kaimai Tunnel. A diorama of the Stanley Landing is on display. Open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Founder’s Memorial Park
Situated at the north end of Arawa St is 1.2 ha of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs with a beautiful rockery and waterfall. Tables and seats are placed in strategic places for use by local residents and passing motorists.
Longlands Farm/Restaurant
Visit a working farm. Groups are welcome. Meals, morning and afternoon teas available in the restaurant (bookings essential).
Kaimai Cheese Ltd
Café and store situated 5km north of Matamata in the township of Waharoa. Newly established café and cheese producing company producing speciality cheeses. Open daily 9am - 5pm.
Matamata Airfield
Venue for some of NZ’s top gliding and parachuting competitions. Glider rides available weekends and Wednesday afternoons. Also experience tandem skydiving. SH 27 just north of Matamata at Waharoa. Information and bookings through Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre.
Matamata Racing Club
With over 400 horses trained at the racecourse, the Matamata Racing Centre is one of the busiest training tracks in NZ.
Located in the centre of the Waikato, Australasia’s premier thoroughbred breeding centre, Matamata is recognised as one of two major areas of horse concentration in the country. There are more than 20 studs within a 15kms radius of the township and the area is well represented by leading stallions. Eight meetings a year are held at the track.
Early morning training may be viewed by visitors.
Opal Hot Springs
6kms from Matamata, Opal Hot Springs is set in 6ha. Open 7 days. Public mineral pools, private spa pools, barbecues, motel units, cabins, caravan and tent sites.
Skydiving
Feel the adrenalin rush, experience the thrill. Tandem jumps, first jump courses, plus exit photos and freefall videos. Matamata Airfield on SH 27 8kms north of Matamata. Book with Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre.
Sport/Recreation Facilities
There are two 18 hole golf courses in the district, one in Matamata, another in Walton and a 9 hole public course at Okoroire.
The Matamata Sports Centre has full training and competition facilities including an indoor pool, diving pool and toddlers’ pool, spa and sauna, therapeutic pool and barbecue.
Squash, tennis and netball are well catered for with an eight court centre at Matamata Domain. Domain Park also caters for soccer and athletics and houses a children’s playground.
Pohlen Park is the venue for cricket and soccer with the adjacent Headon Stadium catering for indoor sports.
There are three bowling greens and a croquet green in the town centre as well as bowling facilities at Hinuera, Waharoa and Walton.
Trout Fishing
Local streams provide trout fishing. Lake Karapiro also provides excellent fishing.
Wairere Falls
The Wairere Falls, set amongst the beautiful bush of the Kaimai Range, drop over the Okauia fault in two stages – 80m and 73m. A walking track, leads to a lookout and then to the top of the falls.
Walking and Tramping
The Kaimai-Mamaku Range offers numerous walking tracks. Old Maori trails and historical sites, early horse and coach routes, gold mining relics and logging remains contribute to an interesting network of tracks.
Matamata Attractions | Te Aroha Attractions | Morrinsville Attractions
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