Must See Places in Matamata, New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most exotic countries in the world to visit featuring some of the world's most unique flora and fauna. It is also the home to some of the finest wines ever produced in the world. All of this combined makes New Zealand a must-visit place for tourists from all over the world at least once. Among the many attractions of the island country is the town of Matamata located on the North Island of New Zealand.
The Matamata is most popular for being a set for the Lord of the Rings movie, but it also has a lot of attractions for tourists to enjoy and immerse themselves in.
Top Places Every Tourist Must Try in the Town of Matamata
So, let's see 10 things that every tourist must try in the town of Matamata during their trip to New Zealand.
The Hobbiton Tour
By far the most popular reason to come to not just the town of Matamata but, the entirety of North Island, the one-day tour of Hobbiton is extremely popular among tourists visiting New Zealand. This tour starts in Auckland and takes tourists to various scenic sites in the countryside.
Tourists also get the opportunity to take some pictures along with the opportunity to dine on Matamata's tasty lunch. Then, the tourists will be guided through the most popular part of this entire tour which is the tour of the various sets used for popular movies like the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.
During their time here, tourists will observe all the sets where major scenes of these films were shot. At the very end, the tourists will be allowed to purchase some souvenirs and enjoy some drinks at the popular Green Dragon Inn before boarding the bus back to Auckland where this tour will end.
Firth Tower Museum
Located just outside Matamata, the Firth Tower Museum houses the history of Josiah Clifton Firth who is also known as the Duke of Matamata. Firth is credited with bringing modern agricultural machinery to Matamata and investing a lot of money to clear the land. The Firth Tower Itself was built in 1882 as a lookout point.
All of this allowed the people of Matamata to use the Waihou River as a means to transport goods from their farms to the local market for sale. Nowadays, the Firth Tower has been repurposed as a museum and houses a worker's cottage and a farm homestead.
Opal Hot Springs
Situated just 2 km to the North of the Firth Tower Museum, the Opal Hot Springs is an easy tourist spot to have a vacation day with your family. This place contains a holiday park filled with camping grounds, 2 hot pools, one large cold water pool, and a private pool which is available for booking.
You are also allowed to barbeque here and the place has sandpits and other play areas for children, making this an easy spot to visit and enjoy some quality time with your family.
Wairere Falls
This location is one of the most popular natural spots on the North Island of New Zealand. You can reach this place via car which takes around 45 minutes to reach. Once you reach here, there is a trek that takes you to the base of this waterfall. During this trekking trip, you will observe groves of Nikau, pūriri, and kohekohe.
If you visit this place during the spring season, take a look at the apricot-colored flowers of Taurepo that grow around this place during the spring season. However, the best time to visit this place is the summer season. During summer, you are allowed to frolic in the pools created by the waterfall.
Even the track leading to this waterfall can be explored further during summer which makes it the best season for a visit to Wairere Falls.
Piako Gliding Club
The town of Matamata is a great destination for tourists looking for some adventures in the sky. Thanks to the Piako Gliding Club, tourists can book a gliding adventure that takes them to the Kaimai Ranges. This place has all the ideal conditions for a gliding experience and provides a scenic and adventurous experience to the tourists who join the club.
This makes the town of Matamata an excellent destination to enjoy some adventurous activities in the North Island of New Zealand.
Matamata District Book Club
Matamata is a town that truly has something for every possible type of tourist that chooses to visit. The Matamata district book club is an event that is held on weekends between Friday and Sunday. This event is aimed at providing all types of books to enthusiasts at cheaper and affordable prices.
The proceeds also help to support the underprivileged and include books of all kinds ensuring that the tourists will find some books that peak their interest. The main motive behind this event is to encourage the habit of reading among its guests. For this purpose, it also has a kids section where parents can read the books to their children to develop reading habits earlier.
This club also encourages green habits like recycling your old books so that others can get access to them. So, if you are a reading enthusiast, this event is a must for you to attend.
Te Tapui Scenic Reserve
For tourists looking to spend some time in nature, the Te Tapui Scenic Reserve is an excellent place to visit. The trek is a 4 Km trek that takes tourists to the peaks of Te Tapui which is around 492 meters tall and Maungakawa which is around 495 meters tall. This trek is a loop that can either be taken clockwise or anticlockwise.
The trek begins from Piakonui Road, located west of Matamata, and is around 4 km in length. During the trek, tourists will observe the wonderful natural scenery of the scenic reserve full of flora and fauna.
Redoubt Bar and Eatery
Tourists traveling in large groups will find that Redoubt Bar and Eatery is an excellent hangout place in Matamata. The diner has both outside and inside dining and offers a menu that changes from time to time. This place has received multiple positive reviews from its guests and is one of the best hangout places in Matamata.
TRAPD Escape Room
One of the more unique spots to visit in Matamata is the popular TRAPD. This place offers 3 games that test the puzzle-solving abilities of even the most experienced mystery solvers in the world. If you are looking to challenge yourself, then TRAPD is an excellent destination for you.
Swim Zone
Swim Zone of Matamata is a great spot for those tourists who wish to spend some time swimming or are traveling with their families. This complex has all types of pools including indoor pools, outdoor pools, toddler pools, and dive pools for everyone to enjoy themselves in.
Matamata is one of the best places for tourists to visit on the North Island of New Zealand. It offers all sorts of activities and experiences which ensure that every tourist finds something to immerse themselves in. Matamata provides natural scenery, fine dishes, adventure activities, tours, and many more things that will keep you engaged during your time spent here.
So, if you are planning a trip to New Zealand, try to include a visit to the town of Matamata in your plans.
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Many of New Zealand's natural wonders are free to visit. All you need to do is plan a budget trip to New Zealand using affordable transport, food, accommodation, and other smart tips that we give in this travel guide to New Zealand on a budget. Learn more at Budget Travel Guide to New Zealand. Please apply for a New Zealand eTA 3 (three) days in advance of your flight.