Matamata

i-Site Gatehouse Visitor Centre

The Centre is built as a Hobbit gatehouse, so don't miss it when in town.

By car

Matamata is on State Highway 27. The quickest route from Auckland is to start heading south on State Highway 1, then after crossing the Bombay Hill, turn on to State Highway 2, which leads into State Highway 27 after passing the turn-off to Tauranga.
Approximate distances and drive times are:

• Auckland – 160 km / 2 hrs
• Hamilton – 65 km / 50 mins
• Tauranga – 50 km / 40 mins
• Rotorua – 70 km / 55 mins
• Taupo – 120 km / 90 mins

By bus

• IntercityThis bus company has about 8 coaches per day passing through on the roughly north–south Auckland–Rotorua route, and the east–west Tauranga–Hamilton route.

• Firth Tower Museum

  address: 266 Tower Rd
  Museum displays in 13 buildings including the tower built in 1882. Museum displays are by the Matamata Historical Society.

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

  address: 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera
  Tour the film set used for the Shire in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film series. Pick-up from Matamata i-Site at no extra charge.

• Horse and Jockey Inn

  address: 81 Arawa St
  15 room hotel.

• Matamata Backpackers

  phone: +648809745
  address: 61 Firth St (SH 27)
  Small hostel consisting of small cabins, an ablution block, shared kitchen and dining room, laundry facilities, games garage and TV/movie lounge. Two-minute walk from the i-Site (Hobbiton departure point). Also provides the use of amenities for people travelling in campervans for a small fee.

There are public toilets on Hetana St, just along from the i-Site Visitor Centre.