Discover Matamata-Piako District
Accommodation in Matamata-Piako District
In Matamata-Piako District, varied cycle trails meet bushland, forests and historic discoveries. This means you can shape your holiday in many different ways: with longer bike rides, short nature walks or visits to cultural sites. When choosing your holiday rental, consider which experiences and places you would like to focus on.
Cycling between forest and towns
Te Miro Mountain Bike Park offers more than 27 kilometres of hand-built trails through native bush, pine forest and rolling farmland. The landscape therefore changes even within this trail network. In Te Aroha, a one-way loop winds through bushland past waterfalls and small streams; additional options are more challenging and include fast descents. If you are weighing up different styles of cycling, you will find a contrast here between a network of trails through several landscape types and a route with explicitly more challenging options.
The Hauraki Rail Trail connects Matamata and Te Aroha with Paeroa, Waihi, Thames and Kaiaua. It is graded as a Grade 1 cycle trail and is suitable for all ages, fitness levels and abilities. For your holiday planning, you can use the places listed and the section you want to ride as a guide. This way, cycling is not the only focus; you can also consider which places you would like to centre your trip around.
Short walks and nature watching
The region also offers a variety of landscapes on foot. The Morrinsville River Walk links sections of the Waitukaruru Stream and the Piako River. The route includes a 45-metre-long suspension bridge, and there are also opportunities to watch waterbirds. The Wetlands Walk is a loop through the Howarth Memorial Wetlands, a wildlife sanctuary. If you prefer walking through forest, you can explore the short Hawes Bush Walk through a mature stand of kahikatea. The remaining native forest in the park is considered ecologically significant.
The Neil Algar Reserve offers a different walking surface: a flat gravel path. The Tui Domain Track passes through bushland and along shallow mountain streams; on the way, it passes historic remnants such as reservoirs, pipelines and mine shafts. For a view, the Whakapipi or Bald Spur Track leads to the Whakapipi Lookout, about one-third of the way up the summit track. From there, the view extends over Te Aroha, the Waihou River and the wetlands. These walks each have a different focus: forest, water, historic traces or views.
Discover history and art
The Piako County Tramway, New Zealand's oldest bush tramway, is located in Waiorongomai Valley. The original rails are still in place. Another historic landmark is Firth Tower: Josiah Clifton Firth had it built in 1882 as a lookout tower over the surrounding landscape. Art lovers can see New Zealand art, both local and national, at the Morrinsville Gallery, which has four exhibition rooms.
The Matamata-Piako District Heritage Trail connects Matamata, Te Aroha and Morrinsville, passing historically significant places along the way. A stay focused on history and art offers different interests from a trip centred mainly on cycling or nature walks. The Mokena Geyser is a natural soda-water geyser accessible via a short path, adding a distinctive natural feature to the range of things to discover.
Places to consider when planning your trip
Places in the district include Morrinsville, Matamata, Te Aroha West, Te Aroha and Te Poi. The right holiday rental for you depends on which of these places and which types of outings you prefer during your stay. Compare your planned priorities: cycle trails, short nature walks, viewpoints or cultural history.
For the broader travel overview: Waikato.
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