Matamata is a rural town in the Hamilton & Waikato Region. The thriving farming district is set at near the base of the scenic Kaimai Ranges, with a rich thoroughbred and dairy farming heritage.

Famous for its role as The Shire in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy Hobbiton Movie Set, just outside of Matamata, is a popular stop for domestic and international visitors alike.

While enough of the set remains so that the visitor today can imagine hobbits going about their business, the set is also being rebuilt for the filming of the story that started it all, The Hobbit.

Visit the official Hamilton and Waikato Regional Tourism website »