Matamata offers short walks in town, a longer cycling route, and cultural and scenic destinations nearby. When choosing a place to stay, it helps to first consider the different scales: the Hawes Bush Walk is a 400 m loop, while the Hauraki Rail Trail extends through several towns to Matamata.

Cycling and Short Walks

The Hauraki Rail Trail runs from Kaiaua in the north through several towns and the Karangahake Gorge to Matamata in the south. It is rated “Grade One – Easiest” and is suitable as a Great Ride for people of all ages and with a range of fitness levels and abilities. The section between Te Aroha and Matamata is 37 km long and takes two to four hours. Travel time varies depending on the person and conditions, so this section is planned quite differently from a short walk.

The Hawes Bush Walk is a loop track through a stand of mature kahikatea trees. At 400 m, it is a short walking option that is clearly distinct from the longer cycling section. For a different kind of cycling, Swap Park in southeast Matamata has the Matamata BMX track.

Parks and Walkways in Town

Centennial Drive is a botanical park running through the centre of Matamata. It can be accessed from Broadway or Tainui Street. At the entrance on Tainui Street, a 13-tonne rock and a surrounding basin form a memorial to Māori, missionaries and Matamata’s early settlers. The path through the park therefore connects with a specific place of remembrance.

The routes of two walkways can also be distinguished: the Stanley Farm Walkway connects Peria Road with Dawson Street. The 2 km Tower Road Walkway connects the edge of Matamata with the Firth Tower Reserve and Museum. The museum itself is 2 km along Tower Road from the town centre. These two details describe different points of reference: the length of the walkway and the museum’s location from the centre.

Culture and Nearby Destinations

Firth Tower Museum and Reserve is located outside the town centre. Its exhibits are housed in 13 buildings. The Firth Tower was built in 1882 by Josiah Clifton Firth as a lookout tower over the landscape. Both the history of the tower and the museum’s buildings are cultural points of interest around Matamata.

In the centre, at the western end of Broadway, is the Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre. It opened as an information office on 12 May 1988. East of Matamata are Wairere Falls, which plunge 153 m. The Hobbiton Movie Set is also near Matamata, about a 15-minute drive from the town centre. Actual driving time depends on road conditions.

These differences offer practical guidance when choosing a hotel in Matamata: short walks and parks in town sit alongside a longer cycling section and nearby cultural and scenic destinations. The right base for your trip depends on whether you want to focus on the town, cycling or destinations outside the centre.

Discover more destinations: Te Poi, Te Aroha West, Te Aroha, Morrinsville.

For the wider travel overview: Matamata-Piako District.