Who we are
About Matamata Guide
An independent visitor and food guide to Matamata and the wider Waikato — written by people who actually live here, not a faraway aggregator.
Last updated: June 2026
Who we are
Matamata Guide is a small, locally-run guide based right here in Matamata — the town next door to the Hobbiton Movie Set. We started it because the search results for "things to do in Matamata", "Matamata restaurants" and "getting to Hobbiton" were dominated by thin, out-of-date listings from overseas sites that have never set foot in town. We can do better, because we're here.
Why you can trust it
- Local, first-hand knowledge. We know which café is worth the wait, how long the Hobbiton walk really takes, and where to park.
- We verify the details. Hours, addresses and prices are checked against the venues and operators themselves — and we update pages when things change.
- Independent. Our recommendations aren't for sale. Businesses can partner with us to be featured, but that never changes the honest write-up of a place.
How we're funded
Keeping the guide free for visitors costs time, so the guide is supported in two honest ways: local tourism operators and venues can partner with us to be featured, and we help visitors connect with vetted local operators (for example, Hobbiton tours and transfers). It never changes what we'd genuinely recommend.
Get in touch
Spotted something out of date, run a local business, or want help planning a visit? Send us a message — we read every one.
Photo credits
Photos on this site are by Zac Smith, Thomas Schweighofer, Ahmet Yüksek ✪, Neil Duan on Unsplash.