Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most tourists who come to Matamata are dedicated hobbit-botherers: for everyone else
there's a great cafe, avenues of mature trees and undulating green hills.
Sights & Activities
Hobbiton Movie Set Tours
( 0508 446 224 866, 07-888 1505;
www.hobbitontours.com
; 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera; adult/child $75/37.50;
tours 10am-4.30pm)
Due to copyright, all the intricate movie sets around the country were dis-
mantled after filming of
Lord of the Ring
s, but Hobbiton's owners negotiated to keep
their hobbit holes, which were then rebuilt for the filming of
The Hobbit
. Tours include a
drink at the wonderful Green Dragon Inn. Free transfers leave from the Matamata i-SITE;
check timings on the Hobbiton website. Booking ahead is strongly recommended.
With your own transport, head towards Cambridge from Matamata, turn right into
Puketutu Rd and then left into Buckland Rd, stopping at the Shire's Rest Cafe.
FILM LOCATION
Wairere Falls
About 15km northeast of Matamata are the spectacular 153m-high Wairere Falls (the
highest on the North Island). From the car park it's a 45-minute walk through native bush
to the lookout or a steep 90-minute climb to the summit.
WATERFALL
Firth Tower
(
www.firthtower.co.nz
;
Tower Rd; grounds free, tours adult/child $5/1; grounds 10am-4pm daily, buildings
10am-4pm Thu-Mon)
Firth Tower was built by Auckland businessman Josiah Firth in 1882.
The 18m concrete tower was a fashionable status symbol, and is now filled with Maori
and pioneer artefacts. Around it are 10 other historic buildings, including a schoolroom,
church and jail. It's 3km east of town.
MUSEUM, HISTORIC BUILDING
Opal Hot Springs
(
www.opalhotsprings.co.nz
;
257 Okauia Springs Rd; adult/child $8/4, 30min private spas $10/5; 9am-9pm)
Opal
Hot Springs isn't nearly as glamorous as it sounds but it does have three large thermal
pools. Turn off just north of Firth Tower and follow the road for 2km. There's a holiday
park here too.
SWIMMING
Sleeping
