Whangarei
17.89°C
About
Matamata, located in New Zealand, is a highly sought-after locale for tourism thanks to its stunning vistas and verdant pastureland. Additionally, it has garnered worldwide recognition as the home of Hobbiton - one of the most renowned movie sets globally. The town sees droves of visitors annually who are drawn by its innate beauty and cultural significance while immersing themselves into J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy realm on Middle Earth.
The much-celebrated Hobbiton movie set, situated a little distance from Matamata township, is among the most sought-after locales in this area. Enthusiasts can partake of an exploratory visit to this filming site and immerse themselves in delightful sights such as the memorable hobbit dwellings or venture out for drinks at Green Dragon Inn besides other filmic landmarks associated with both The Lord Of The Rings epic series along with its prequel 'The Hobbit'. One cannot but notice that these cinematic creations blend effortlessly into picturesque natural surroundings enabling visitors to indulge their love for photography while relaxing amidst stunning pastoral scenery.
Beyond the exquisite Hobbiton, there are numerous other sights worth beholding in Matamata. For instance, a scintillating visit to Firth Tower Museum offers an insight into the town's rich past that is not easily forgotten. Also available for exploration is Wairere Falls' breathtaking beauty which will leave you spellbound at every turn of your adventure or take a leisurely stroll around the vivacious and lively cafes, restaurants as well as boutiques shops known about yonder at Matmata Town Center!
In totality, Matamata proves to be an optimal location for individuals seeking a distinctive voyage that amalgamates environmental magnificence, chronicles of the past and modern-day mass media.
Rapurapu Kauri Track
Matamata
Walks
Explore the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park by following the Rapurapu Kauri Track as it winds around mature podocarp forest and visits three massive kauri trees. Located past the Kaimai Summit towards the Waikato side, Rapurapu Kauri Track is an advanced tramping track stretching 5 kilometres return.
Reserved for experienced trampers, the trail takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete one way before returning back on the same trail. The trail crosses through multiple rivers that are relatively easy to traverse with good weather, however if there has been heavy rain in the area the rivers may become impassable and a hazard.
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Te Tapui Loop Track
Matamata
Walks
The Te Tapui Scenic Reserve includes the two peaks of Te Tapui at 492m and Maungakawa at 495m. The Te Tapui Loop Track to the summit of Maungakawa starts at Piakonui Rd, west of Matamata, northeast of Cambridge and southeast of Morrinsville. It can be walked in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, although the DoC description recommends the anticlockwise direction.
However, the times and distances on the DoC site do not entirely agree with my experience. The distance is close to 6.5km measured by GPS instead of 4km, and the time of 3 hours should be ample even with a long break at the summit.
Piakonui Rd is mostly a narrow gravel road, but slightly better from the northern end than the southern end. There is a parking area at the start of the track, but no toilet facilities anywhere on the walk.
Walking the loop anticlockwise gives a fairly direct and not very steep route to the summit, on a well-marked track on forest floor, with numerous exposed tree roots. The distance is about 3km, and took about 1h 10m to walk. Total climb is from about 130m to the summit at 495m.
The downward section of the track is very similar to the upward, but slightly longer at about 3.5km, and has some short uphill parts as well as downhill. Total time was almost 1h 10m, or about the same as the ascent.
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