Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Before you go
Your trip to Matamata.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Matamata – Waikato Destination Hobbiton and Waitomo about 60 km from Hamilton (Kirikiriroa)
How to get there
-
Aeroporto de Hamilton (HLZ) Hamilton (Kirikiriroa) · 55 km
-
Centro de informações de Matamata (i-SITE) 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
By car, about 60 km from Hamilton in 50 minutes, and about 160 km from Auckland in 2 hours. Regular buses linking Auckland with Rotorua and Tauranga stop in town. Rotorua is about 65 km away.
How many days
One day: Hobbiton and Wairere Falls. Many travelers pass through Matamata en route between Auckland and Rotorua without staying overnight.
When to go
All year. From October to March days are longer and drier, better for the waterfall track. Hobbiton operates in any weather.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
For Wairere Falls, yes. For Hobbiton, the tour buses depart from Matamata’s information center, so a car is not necessary.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Matamata
-
Morning
Wairere Falls
Leave early for the Wairere Falls track and climb to the lookout or to the top.
-
Afternoon
Hobbiton
Take the guided tour of Hobbiton, which includes a stop at the Green Dragon Inn. Book your time in advance.
-
Late afternoon
Matamata centre
Stop by the information center with a hobbit-house facade and continue on to Rotorua or Hamilton.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is Matamata far from Hobbiton?
No. Hobbiton is about 10 km away, and the tour buses depart from the town’s information center.
Is it worth staying overnight in Matamata?
If you want to do Hobbiton early in the morning or late in the afternoon and then continue your trip, yes. The town has limited accommodation options.
How to get from Matamata to Rotorua?
By car, about 65 km in 1 hour, or by regular bus.
What to do in Matamata besides Hobbiton?
The hike to Wairere Falls, the highest on the North Island, about 15 km from town.