Two hours south of Auckland lies the lush farmland of Hobbiton Movie Set(opens in new window); it has more than 44 unique hobbit holes, including Bag End (Bilbo's house). As you wander through the heart of the Shire, you'll get to hear the fascinating commentary about how it was all created.

Along your journey you'll see the mill, the double arched bridge and the famous Party Tree before stopping for a drink at the Green Dragon™ Inn. Evening tours are also available, and they include a feast fit for a hobbit!

A number of great farmstays are also on offer in Matamata. Just east of town you can discover the North Island’s highest waterfalls, Wairere Falls, which are a spectacular sight plunging 153m. The Wairere Falls walking track showcases a diverse range of natural scenery and from the lookout you can enjoy magnificent views over the valley and the Waikato Plains.

Matamata is situated 2 hours' drive from Auckland, 45 minutes from Hamilton and 1 hour from Rotorua.