MATAMATA

Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours
One of Matamata’s newest visitor attractions is the Hobbiton movie set which was featured in Lord of the Rings. Although the site has now been returned to its original state, there are still a number of Hobbiton holes that remain.
The tours start with a drive through a picturesque working sheep farm which offers spectacular views of the Kaimai Ranges. Your tour guide will escort you through the 4 hectare site recounting fascinating details on how Hobbiton was created.
Tours depart daily from the Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre. Bookings are essential.

Centennial Drive
Beginning with the memorial entrance near Bedford Park, a lily pond and plaque commemorates the Maori missionaries and the early settlers of the district. Other features of this delightful drive include paved areas, stone seats, fernery, waterfalls, sun dial and a native plant section.

Firth Tower Historical Reserve
More than a century old, Firth Tower and homestead stand on their original site. Other old buildings relocated and restored are the Okoroire Post Office, Selwyn School, an old jail and the old Methodist Church built in 1914. A replica of an old two storey barn houses examples of early transport and there is an excellent static display and audio visual of the construction of the Kaimai Tunnel. A diarama of the Stanley Landing is on display. Open daily, 10am to 4pm.

Founder’s Memorial Park
Situated at the north end of Arawa St is 1.2 hectares of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs with a beautiful rockery and waterfall. Tables and seats are placed in strategic places for use by local residents and passing motorists.

Horahora Domain
Lake Karapiro. Water skiing, boating, picnic/barbecue area.

Longlands Farm/Restaurant
Visit a working farm. Groups are welcome. Meals, morning and afternoon teas available in the restaurant (bookings essential). Winners in the 1998 NZ Tourism Awards.

Kaimai Cheese Ltd
Café and store situated 5km north of Matamata in the township of Waharoa. Newly established café and cheese producing company producing speciality cheeses. Open daily 9am - 5pm.

Matamata Airfield
Venue for some of NZ’s top gliding and parachuting competitions. Glider rides available weekends and Wednesday afternoons. Also experience tandem skydiving. SH 27 just north of Matamata at Waharoa. Information and bookings through Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre.

Matamata Racing Club
With over 400 horses trained at the racecourse, the Matamata Racing Centre is one of the busiest training tracks in NZ.
Located in the centre of the Waikato, Australasia’s premier thoroughbred breeding centre, Matamata is recognised as one of two major areas of horse concentration in the country. There are more than 20 studs within a 15kms radius of the township and the area is well represented by leading stallions. Eight meetings a year are held at the track.
Early morning training may be viewed by visitors.

Okoroire Hot Springs
A beautiful old country hotel at Okoroire is an excellent base for sightseeing. Relax in the hot thermal pools, enjoy the river walk, rapids and falls of the Waihou River, try fishing or enjoy a round of golf on the nine hole golf course.

Opal Hot Springs
6kms from Matamata, Opal Hot Springs is set in 6ha. Open 7 days. Public mineral pools, private spa pools, barbecues, motel units, cabins, caravan and tent sites.

Oraka Wapiti Deer Park
Visit a working deer farm with a beautiful, expansive garden and its own restaurant and tourist centre. Hand feed the deer. Open all year round, bookings essential.

Skydiving
Feel the adrenalin rush, experience the thrill. Tandem jumps, first jump courses, plus exit photos and freefall videos. Matamata Airfield on SH 27 8kms north of Matamata. Book with Matamata i-SITE Visitor Centre.

Sport/Recreation Facilities
There are two 18 hole golf courses in the district, one in Matamata, another in Walton and a 9 hole public course at Okoroire.
The Matamata Sports Centre has full training and competition facilities including an indoor pool, diving pool and toddlers’ pool, spa and sauna, therapeutic pool and barbecue.
Squash, tennis and netball are well catered for with an eight court centre at Matamata Domain. Domain Park also caters for soccer and athletics and houses a children’s playground.
Pohlen Park is the venue for cricket and soccer with the adjacent Headon Stadium catering for indoor sports.
There are three bowling greens and a croquet green in the town centre as well as bowling facilities at Hinuera, Waharoa and Walton.

Tangata Marae
Marae visits and bush tours are available.

Totara Springs
A camping complex and conference centre. Hot pool, modern facilities and a wide range of activities. Host to the popular Parachute Festival.

Trout Fishing
Local streams provide trout fishing. Lake Karapiro also provides excellent fishing.

Wairere Falls
The Wairere Falls, set amongst the beautiful bush of the Kaimai Range, drop over the Okauia fault in two stages – 80m and 73m. A walking track, leads to a lookout and then to the top of the falls.

Walking and Tramping
The Kaimai-Mamaku Range offers numerous walking tracks. Old Maori trails and historical sites, early horse and coach routes, gold mining relics and logging remains contribute to an interesting network of tracks.

MORRINSVILLE

The best way to find out what is happening in Morrinsville is to call into the Morrinsville Information Centre in Thames St, where the staff can direct you to the local attractions or events that may be on at the time of your visit.
Morrinsville is basically a service centre for the large number of farms in the district. It does, however, have many talented people within the community, making or producing a great variety of craft, including pottery, stone work, paintings and many other items of interest.
A stroll down the refurbished main street, with its many cafés, is an experience in itself.

Bell Cottage Crafts
Rock art. Phone 887 1877.

Garden Tours
Morrinsville offers a wonderful selection of town and country gardens to view. The information centre can provide you with further details. Phone 889 5575.

Howie Park
This attractive park in Waverley Ave is set aside as a ‘passive area’. The park features a war memorial obelisk and an impressive rhododendron dell.

Information Morrinsville
Thames St Morrinsville, for information, brochures, maps. Phone 889 5575.

Morrinsville Golf Club
One of Waikato’s finest. Phone 889 6696.

Morrinsville Heritage Trail
Includes 21 sites to visit. Allow yourself 11/4 hrs hours to enjoy this wonderful journey into history. Information brochure available from Information Morrinsville, Thames St, Morrinsville.

Morrin Museum
This museum complex is located on the corner of Anderson and Lorne Sts. Hours 1.30 - 4pm except Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are three buildings, including McDonald Cottage.
To visit the museum outside the above hours phone 0-21-677 455 or 889 5472 after hours.

Morrinsville Offroaders
For fun and thrills, have a go at outdoor offroading. Phone 0-21-545 996.

Morrinsville Arts Trail
Take time to relax and enjoy travelling from site to site, discovering eight artists in Morrinsville absorbed in producing quality original work.
Gain an insight into the many techniques used and the inspiration required to produce a variety of art and craft.
This trail has something for everyone. Pick up a tour map from Information Morrinsville.

Nottingham Castle Hotel
Built in the early 1900s to replace the first hotel which was burnt down. The building is distinctive, with its second storey verandah around two sides. It has an interesting history and retains its old world charm. A great place for lunch, with a garden bar for those warm sunny days.

Paintball
Simulated combat games, the ultimate challenge! For bookings phone 887 5549.

Play Parks
The largest is adjacent to the Olympic Pool at the Recreation Ground and the other is on the corner of Moorhouse and Anderson Sts (Thomas Park).
Picnic area Thames St by the information centre.

Recreation Ground and Olympic Pool
This 22ha reserve at the end of Cureton St is home to many sports clubs and ideal for picnics and general recreation. There is an Olympic size heated swimming pool (summer only). Phone 889 7295 after hours.

River Walk
Enjoy some peaceful time beside the Piako River as it passes through the southern edge of Morrinsville. Walk amongst mature trees from the entrance off Studholme St to the Avenue Rd exit beside the polo ground. A walk around the polo field and back to your transport is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

Rose Gardens
A popular attraction to be found in Moorhouse St.

Saleyards
Auctions start about 11am every Friday and finish about 1.30pm.

Sculptor/Artist
Jude Dobson, phone 887 3866.

Top Notch Macadamia Farm
Orchard tours, gift shop, café (Devonshire teas). Phone 887 8879.

Trotting
The Morrinsville Trotting Club conducts race trials at the Scott Reserve every Tuesday 2.30pm, weather permitting.

Westpac Events Centre
Located in Moorhouse St, the events centre caters for numerous sports and events and is available for exhibitions, concerts, flower shows, etc. For bookings phone 889 5575.

Parks & Reserves

Campbell Park
Thames St/North St, Morrinsville. Sports grounds, rugby.
Howie Park
Waverley Ave.
Lockerbie Park
Coronation Rd, George St.
Pakeke Park
This recent addition to the many peaceful parks around Morrinsville is worth a visit.
Recreation Ground
Cureton St. Heated Olympic swimming pool, play park and provision for polo, cricket, tennis and soccer.
Rose Garden
Moorhouse St.
Thomas Park
Moorhouse St. Play park.
Wiseley Reserve
Rushton Rd. Hockey ground.

Marae

Rukumoana
Morrinsville-Walton Rd Phone 889 7757
Kai-Te-Mata
Kereone Rd Maureen Maaka 889 5565
Waiti
Waiti Rd Ngaire Manga 887 7863

TE AROHA

Te Aroha is a beautiful, historic Edwardian spa town, nestled at the base of Mt Te Aroha (952m).
Famous for its Hot Springs Domain, Te Aroha attracts visitors from all over the world to its spas and the world’s only hot soda water geyser.  The 44ha domain in the centre of the town includes bush walking tracks, lawns, gardens, barbecue and picnic areas.
The lovely old Cadman House bath house is now a museum, open weekends and public holidays and containing fascinating displays of Te Aroha’s colourful past.
Te Aroha serves as the centre for an extensive farming district and seat of local government.

Galleries
A selection of local art and craft retailers.  Phone Te Aroha i-Site, 884 8052, for further details.

Gardens
The gardens of the Te Aroha area are beautiful, varied and individual. 

Hot Mineral Spa
The famed waters of the Te Aroha Hot Springs Domain are situated at the top of the park and enjoyed by people of all ages. 
Te Aroha’s mineral water rates as some of the softest in NZ.  Open every day 9am - 10pm (except Christmas Day).  The spas are very popular, bookings are advisable, phone 884 8717.

Information Service
There is so much to see and do that it is best to contact the Te Aroha i-Site Visitor Centre on 884 8052 for details – located at the southern end of Whitaker St and open Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm, weekends and public holidays 9.30am - 4pm (closed Christmas Day).
The centre stocks postcards, souvenirs, DOC maps and hut passes and is the town’s agency for Intercity, Interislander and Tranzscenic.

Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park
Extending from Karangahake Gorge near Paeroa, southward to the Mamaku Plateau, the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park gives protection to the rugged bush covered ranges.  Activity throughout the ranges from early Maori to the present has left a vast historical legacy including old Maori trails and sites, early coach routes, gold mining relics and logging remains, amongst others.  Many of these remains contribute to a developed network of walking tracks and sites offering a variety of places to visit.
Activities available include short walks, picnic sites, swimming, camping, sightseeing, tramping, huts, outdoor education, hunting.  People may freely enter the park at any time but hut fees are payable and permits required when taking in animals and for hunting.  Detailed information about the park is available from Te Aroha i-Site in Whitaker St, phone 884 8052.

Mount Te Aroha
In Maori legend, Kahu-Mata-Momoe, son of a Bay of Plenty chief, climbed to the summit of the mountain.  He was overjoyed to see in the distance the familiar landmarks of his tribal home.  He uttered the words, “This mountain shall be called the Mountain of Aroha.  Herein shall repose forever the great love of Kahu-Mata-Momoe”.
The legend continues that in time the spirit of Kahu-Mata-Momoe caused a stream of crystal water to flow from the heart of his mountain.  Where the stream emerged there appeared hot springs with healing qualities.  A clear pool in the cleft of a rock was known as the “Mirror of Te Mamoe” and became a wishing well for newly married couples.
When the curative value of the spring water was discovered by Europeans, a bore was sunk on the site of this pool, resulting in a geyser of hot soda water . . . the only one of its kind in the world.
It has been named the Mokena Geyser, in honour of the Maori chief who once owned the land on which Te Aroha grew.
The mountain summit can be reached by tracks.  The panoramic views from the summit are some of the most spectacular in the country.
On a clear day Mt Taranaki, the peaks of the Tongariro National Park, the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, White Island, Mt Maunganui and stretches of the Bay of Plenty can be seen clearly.  The mountain is now part of the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park.

St Mark’s Pipe Organ
Built in 1712 for Queen Anne, Renatus Harris’ masterpiece was one of 10 commissioned by the queen and is the oldest pipe organ in the southern hemisphere.  It is the only one of the ten still fully operational and features beautiful oak carving by Grinling Gibbons on the casework.  Brought to New Zealand in 1927 by Maud Elizabeth St Barbe Wayne as a gift for St Mark’s Church, the organ was restored to its original grandeur in 1985.  For tours and recitals phone 884 6631 after hours.

Te Aroha and District Museum
Cadman Bath House, Te Aroha Domain.  Extensive collection of Te Aroha memorabilia, photos, hydrotherapy equipment and Lemon and Te Aroha bottle collection.  Phone 884 4427 or 884 8052.

The Trunk
Unique ‘hardanger’ Dutch handiwork and crafts.  Phone 884 7181.

Waihou River
This beautiful waterway passes through the centre of Te Aroha and was once a busy means of transport especially during the gold mining days.  Today the Waihou is a popular fishing river and is unique as the only place where trout can be taken using bait.

Waiorongomai Goldfield
Gold was discovered in the Waiorongomai Valley just south of Te Aroha in 1880 and a gold rush ensued.  Although the early enthusiasm faded and little is left to show present day visitors the large scale of mining operations, the atmosphere and relics remain.
Today the area is renowned for its walking tracks and breathtaking scenery.  Maps and information can be obtained from Te Aroha i-SITE phone 884 8052 or from DOC 0-7-578 7677.

Te Aroha Leisure Pools
New in 1999, heated swimming pools in picturesque domain setting.  Phone 884 4498.

Short Walks

Howarth Memorial Wetland Reserve
A one hour loop walk around wetland flora and fauna.  Access from Spur St or the railway bridge over the Waihou River.  A pleasant walk for all ages and fitness levels.

Karangahake Walkway
Situated in the Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi, this easy walking track features many historic relics from the area’s gold mining past and passes through a spectacular river gorge.

Rapurapu Kauri Walk
(1 hour each way)The track is signposted from SH 29, 1km past Rapurapu Rd.  It passes through farmland for 1⁄2km, then enters easy bush country descending gently to the Rapurapu Stream, which it crosses eight times to reach this very southern kauri stand.  Crossings are easy but caution is required during periods of heavy rain.

Te Aroha Mountain
Six to 80 year olds have climbed Mt Te Aroha.  It also boasts one of NZ’s top 10 mountain bike tracks.  Easy lowland walks taking in Te Aroha’s early history, to  more arduous climbs to the top for a magnificent view.  Access from Te Aroha Domain or Tui Rd.  Afterwards you can soothe your tired muscles at the base of the mountain in the Te Aroha Mineral Spas, phone 884 8717.

Waiorongomai Goldfields
This extensively developed goldfield (1880-1946) is situated 3kms south of Te Aroha and contains NZ’s oldest existing historic tracks and sites, tramlines, inclines, tunnels, mines, battery sites.  Easy and arduous walks.

Wairere Falls View Track
(3⁄4 hour one way)From the end of Goodwin Rd the track follows the fast flowing boulder strewn Wairere Stream, through attractive bush to the towering Wairere Falls, the highest waterfall in the North Island  (153m).