landmark
Hobbiton Movie Set
The real-life Shire from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, with 44 hobbit holes set in rolling green Waikato farmland.
10 km · about 20 min drive
Waikato Region, New Zealand · Oceania
Matamata is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Waharoa, 56km from Rotorua.
Matamata is a town located in Waikato Region, New Zealand. With a population of 6,306, it is an important destination in Oceania.
On a road trip, Matamata sits in New Zealand, where you drive on the left. It's in the Pacific/Auckland time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Matamata to your route.
Matamata (Māori: [ˈmataˌmata]) is a town in Waikato, New Zealand. It is located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges, and is a thriving farming area known for Thoroughbred horse breeding and training pursuits. It is part of the Matamata-Piako District, which takes in the surrounding rural areas, as well as MorrinsvilleRead more
and Te Aroha. State Highway 27 and the Kinleith Branch railway run through the town. The town has a population of 9,540 as of June 2025.
A nearby farm was the location for the Hobbiton Movie Set in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings. The New Zealand government decided to leave the Hobbit holes built on location as tourist attractions. During the period between the filming of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey they had no furniture or props, but could be entered with vistas of the farm viewed from inside them. A "Welcome to Hobbiton" sign has been placed on the main road. In 2011, parts of Hobbiton began to close in preparation for the three new movies based on the first Tolkien novel, The Hobbit.
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Matamata is located in Waikato Region, New Zealand, Oceania. The coordinates are -37.8106 latitude, 175.7624 longitude.
Matamata has a population of approximately 6,306 people, making it a town in New Zealand.
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Essential numbers in New Zealand
Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.
Full driving guide for New Zealand3 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
The real-life Shire from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, with 44 hobbit holes set in rolling green Waikato farmland.
10 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
New Zealand's geothermal wonderland with erupting geysers, boiling mud pools, steaming lakes, and rich Māori cultural experiences.
56 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Rotorua nature park showcasing New Zealand's unique wildlife including kiwi in a natural bush setting.
57 km · about 65 min drive
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