Matamata Ward Highlights

Matamata Ward Essentials

Matamata Ward is home to the world-renowned Hobbiton Movie Set, where visitors can explore Bag End and the Green Dragon Inn. Beyond Middle-earth, the region features the 153-meter Wairere Falls, the highest waterfall in the North Island, accessible via a bush-clad hiking track. The area also offers geothermal relaxation at Opal Hot Springs, panoramic views from the Maungakawa Summit, and essential travel services at the Matamata i-SITE, housed in a distinctive gatehouse building.

Andres Iga / CC0

Hobbiton Movie Set

The Hobbiton Movie Set is a significant location used for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film trilogy, serving as a…

lastly / CC0

The Green Dragon

Reconstructed pub within the Hobbiton Movie Set serving exclusive Southfarthing ales, ciders, and non-alcoholic ginger beer.

Johnragla / CC BY-SA 4.0

Wairere Falls viewpoint

Observation point for the 153-meter waterfall, the highest in the North Island, reached via a track through Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park.

iSite

Official visitor information center featuring a unique Tolkien-inspired gatehouse architectural design.

Wairere Falls Upper Lookout

Elevated viewpoint at the top of the falls offering expansive views across the Waikato Plains and the Kaimai Range.

Opal Hot Springs & Holiday Park

Geothermal holiday park featuring public and private mineral pools located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges.

Martina Kellnerová / CC-BY-SA

Big Oak Tree

Significant landscape feature within the Hobbiton Movie Set, situated near Bag End.

The Shires Rest

The primary departure point for Hobbiton tours, containing a ticketing center, gift shop, and cafe overlooking the Alexander farm.

Denis Jacob / CC-BY-SA

The Redoubt Bar and Eatery

Central Matamata gastropub themed after a 19th-century colonial redoubt.

Maungakawa Summit

Located in a scenic reserve, this summit offers views of the Waikato region and marks the site of a former tuberculosis sanatorium.