Matamata - Main Street - New Zealand

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video Chris, I recommend "the redoubt" as an eatery in matamata, thanks for sharing

[@Chris-NZ]

@@tonymckeage1028 Thanks Tony I’ll have to check that out next time I’m down, always good to have a recommendation 😀

[@FXWalesAnnaAlf]

Hi Chris this did look like a gorgeous place as you drove and the history sounds very interesting. Those falls you mentioned sound great! Hope you're having a good weekend :) ~ Anna 👍

[@Chris-NZ]

Hi Anna , thanks a lot . There is a lot of history (for us 😀) in this area starting with the taking of native trees in the area for ship masts and ship building generally , then there was the gold rush nearby and farming. The early settlers to the area planted a lot of English deciduous trees and in the autumn the Waikato has a lot more colour than up here in Auckland. Its a bit chilly here (mid winter) around 14 degrees at midday, an 6 or 7 at night , personally I prefer that to our humid summers !!

[@changstravel]

Hello, this is a very beautiful place. Thank you for sharing the video😍

[@Chris-NZ]

@@changstravel hi, glad you enjoyed the drive. Matamata is similar to many of our small rural towns with the difference it is growing quite rapidly 😀.

[@kyliehewitt788]

Have watched the Lord of the Rings which was filmed at Matamata. Definitely a great place to visit. ❤❤❤❤❤ in my travel list now 😂

[@Chris-NZ]

Glad you enjoyed the tour , some of my other South Island videos also have places where Peter Jackson did some filming. 😀

[@NorwayHikesTrails]

Nice 👍 😊

[@Chris-NZ]

Thanks a lot 😀

[@wendingourway]

You really were able to find some pretty amazing archival images...always enjoy seeing the contrast between then and now! Awesome!

[@Chris-NZ]

Thanks Bruce, I would have liked to have found more old images but I thought it was cool that at least one building is still very recognisable 😀 . I did a video 10 months ago called “Devonport Museum” where I tired to match a number of old images with the present day.

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

I wish my Google Earth zoom would be smooth like that Chris. It is jary and annoying to watch like that. Underrated gorgeous country town. Love the flash back photos Chris. Enjoyable cruise through town- loved it. 👌🇳🇱🙋‍♀🥝

[@Chris-NZ]

@@IamaDutch-Kiwi Hi Anita, I’m not entirely sure why my Google Earth Studio zooooooms are better than yours. I do find their default speed ( clip length) a bit short , I think its five seconds so I always make it longer so its slower thus more frames and probably smoother. We have fibre internet but not sure the extra speed makes any difference except maybe they throw a bigger better resolution file at me , but that’s pure conjecture 😀. Glad you liked the Matamata vid, my “foster” sister lives there so I’ve spent a reasonable amount of time there over the last few years especially after her brother ( my best mate from primary school) died in 2008. I quite enjoy trying to match those old photos, I had quite a lot of success in my Devonport vid which I think you’ve seen already 😀

[@chilleats7024]

It's really neat to see this town nearby the filming of Hobbiton, I see the visitor centre near the end of the video seems to be themed like it. I enjoyed seeing a historical flashback photo of the town. Nice place! 👍👍📽🏚

[@Chris-NZ]

Hi there , yes very observant of you , indeed the info centre is very “hobbit” in its theme, top marks 😀😀

[@outdoorstours]

An another nice video, just great views from there and tour with you ♥

[@Chris-NZ]

Thanks a lot , Matamata is quite similar in appearance 😢to a number of smaller town in rural Waikato. 😀

[@OSMOneStepMore]

Wow🌞...beautiful scene...wow.🔥.beautiful day for driving...nice scenery around....good video! I love it! Thanks for sharing. 🤗

[@Chris-NZ]

Glad you enjoyed the ride 😀

[@JenniferLupine]

Beautiful drive- and a wonderful Main Street! I like how you added in the old time photos- look at those old cars! Nice to see the shops still vibrant and plenty of people out shopping and enjoying the day!! 😄🌳🌳🌳☀️☀️☀️

[@Chris-NZ]

@@JenniferLupine hi, glad you enjoyed the drive Jennifer😀. Matamata and neighbouring Cambridge are thriving at present in large part I’m sure due to the explosion in the construction of retirement villages in both places. As in most western countries we have an ever expanding retiring boomer population happy to downsize and move away from places like Auckland which isn’t so far away. There is a lot to like about the Waikato with its nice English deciduous trees, rural outlook & relaxed lifestyle and yet not far from a number of bigger centres.

[@JenniferLupine]

@@Chris-NZ Looks like a great place to retire!! Steve and I have about 5 years to go! Haha 👌😄

[@Chris-NZ]

@@JenniferLupine where you might retire could depend on the November election 😀

[@JenniferLupine]

@@Chris-NZ I know!! 👌

[@ScenicWalk]

I think Nova Zelandia is an incredible country, I also record in the same way here in Brazil, I started making videos recently. I'll follow you from now on, I subscribed to your channel, a big hug straight from Barbacena-MG.😊

[@Chris-NZ]

Hi, Glad you enjoyed the brief drive through Matamata. Good luck with your channel you are doing well with over 200 subs in five months. I’ve been following a couple of boating channels in Brazil, one is Sailing Yaba, and the other was Odd life Crafting , very good channels 😀

[@kylie2729]

I wish to visit the Southwest of the town, is the Hobbiton Movie Set created for Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films 😂

[@Chris-NZ]

Hi Kylie, I’m sure you would find it interesting especially if you’ve seen the Lord of Rings films😀

[@lesedwards6562]

do one on raglan

[@Chris-NZ]

@@lesedwards6562 on my eventual ”to do list” but it is 3hrs from home and a 400km round trip. 😀. Raglan is definitely a cool little settlement .