Matamata
Hobbiton
The North Island's Waikato region stands as one of New Zealand's most fertile agricultural domains. As you travel south on State Highway One, the urban expanse of Auckland yields to open paddocks and hedgerows. Amidst these landscapes, Matamata emerges as a charming district, a fragment of England transplanted across the world. In Maori, Matamata signifies a point or headland, a name born from Te Waharoa Pa, an enclave extending into a swamp, rendering it impregnable.
The district's growth owes much to an Englishman, Josiah Clifton Firth, who journeyed from Yorkshire in 1855. His business sojourn south forged deep bonds with local Maori, leading to the acquisition of 56,000 acres of marshy terrain by 1884. With a resolute vision, Firth embarked on ambitious fen drainage, replacing the mire with expansive fields of grass, barley, wheat, and oats. Over time, hedges grew alongside oaks and elms, and prosperity arrived with the extension of the railway from Auckland. Presently, Matamata stands as a rural service hub, but its lush grasslands have diversified into a flourishing trade – the Waikato now reigns as New Zealand's premier racehorse-breeding district.
Journeying to this town of broad streets and welcoming countenances can be achieved by diverging before Pokeno and proceeding on SH27, or continuing through Hamilton on SH1, then veering left towards Piarere. Venturing south of Matamata along Hinuera Road (SH27) swiftly reveals the rationale behind Hobbiton's establishment here, thousands of kilometers away from Sarehole and Tolkien's rural England. Hedgerow-fringed lanes unveil glimpses of paddocks and grassy downs that echo the essence of the Shire.
Pausing at Piarere, the intriguing rock formations tell the tale of a past riverbed, with rocky escarpments now perched high on hillsides that once coursed water. Known as the Hinuera Formation, these rocks are a sedimentary mixture of sands, gravels, and silts deposited in the basin during the Last Glaciation (50,000 to 15,000 years ago). In 1999, these tranquil fields morphed into the lush Green Hill Country of the Shire, Middle-earth.
Guided daily tours to Hobbiton, bookable at the Matamata Visitor Information Centre, offer the portal into Middle-earth. As you board your mini-van, your guide unravels the story of Alexander's sheep farm's metamorphosis into the Shire. Ascending a specially constructed road by the New Zealand Army, the enchanting Hobbiton set comes into view atop a hill.
During your stroll around Hobbiton, your guide narrates the evolution of the set, offering numerous photo opportunities. Display boards illustrate the area's appearance during filming and the meticulous craftsmanship of set designers. The tour's zenith involves a walk along Bagshot Row to Bag End, where you stand beside Middle-earth's most renowned Hobbit hole.
At the entrance of Hobbiton, The Shires Rest, a converted woolshed, houses three reception rooms. Adjacent to it, a sheep shearing and working dog demonstration takes place. Upon returning to town, the Workman's Cafe on the main street stands as a local gem. With its eclectic decor and charmingly offbeat staff, it offers a delightful haven for lunch or dinner.
The district's growth owes much to an Englishman, Josiah Clifton Firth, who journeyed from Yorkshire in 1855. His business sojourn south forged deep bonds with local Maori, leading to the acquisition of 56,000 acres of marshy terrain by 1884. With a resolute vision, Firth embarked on ambitious fen drainage, replacing the mire with expansive fields of grass, barley, wheat, and oats. Over time, hedges grew alongside oaks and elms, and prosperity arrived with the extension of the railway from Auckland. Presently, Matamata stands as a rural service hub, but its lush grasslands have diversified into a flourishing trade – the Waikato now reigns as New Zealand's premier racehorse-breeding district.
Journeying to this town of broad streets and welcoming countenances can be achieved by diverging before Pokeno and proceeding on SH27, or continuing through Hamilton on SH1, then veering left towards Piarere. Venturing south of Matamata along Hinuera Road (SH27) swiftly reveals the rationale behind Hobbiton's establishment here, thousands of kilometers away from Sarehole and Tolkien's rural England. Hedgerow-fringed lanes unveil glimpses of paddocks and grassy downs that echo the essence of the Shire.
Pausing at Piarere, the intriguing rock formations tell the tale of a past riverbed, with rocky escarpments now perched high on hillsides that once coursed water. Known as the Hinuera Formation, these rocks are a sedimentary mixture of sands, gravels, and silts deposited in the basin during the Last Glaciation (50,000 to 15,000 years ago). In 1999, these tranquil fields morphed into the lush Green Hill Country of the Shire, Middle-earth.
Guided daily tours to Hobbiton, bookable at the Matamata Visitor Information Centre, offer the portal into Middle-earth. As you board your mini-van, your guide unravels the story of Alexander's sheep farm's metamorphosis into the Shire. Ascending a specially constructed road by the New Zealand Army, the enchanting Hobbiton set comes into view atop a hill.
During your stroll around Hobbiton, your guide narrates the evolution of the set, offering numerous photo opportunities. Display boards illustrate the area's appearance during filming and the meticulous craftsmanship of set designers. The tour's zenith involves a walk along Bagshot Row to Bag End, where you stand beside Middle-earth's most renowned Hobbit hole.
At the entrance of Hobbiton, The Shires Rest, a converted woolshed, houses three reception rooms. Adjacent to it, a sheep shearing and working dog demonstration takes place. Upon returning to town, the Workman's Cafe on the main street stands as a local gem. With its eclectic decor and charmingly offbeat staff, it offers a delightful haven for lunch or dinner.