Guests raise a glass at the welcoming bar, challenge themselves in the arcade game room, or simply relax at this countryside retreat with helpful staff
Horse and Jockey Inn offers a warm welcome and on-site dining for travelers. Visitors enjoy in-room WiFi and unwind in the arcade/game room after exploring nearby attractions. Free self-parking makes coming and going easy, while the attentive staff consistently impresses guests.
Matamata is home to Horse and Jockey Inn. Founders Park and Wairere Falls reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Hobbiton Movie Set and Te Aroha Leisure Pools. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Grassroots Trust Velodrome, or consider a night out at The Red Barn. Visit our Matamata travel guide
85 Arawa St, Matamata, Waikato, 3400
What's nearby
Hobbiton Movie Set
20 min drive - 17.6 km
Mount Maunganui
55 min drive - 73.6 km
Founders Park
2 min walk - 0.2 km
Wairere Falls
2 min drive - 1.8 km
University of Waikato
43 min drive - 68.8 km
Getting around
Hamilton (HLZ-Hamilton Intl.)
49 min drive
Restaurants
The Green Dragon
24 min drive
Te Poi
8 min drive
Sweet Painted Lady Cafe
5 min drive
KFC
4 min walk
McDonald's
4 min walk
About this property
Horse and Jockey Inn
Property highlights
You can look forward to a terrace, an arcade/games room and a bar at Horse and Jockey Inn. The on-site restaurant, Horse and Jockey Inn, serves dinner. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks at this hotel include:
Free self-parking
Express check-out, luggage storage and a banquet hall
Smoke-free property, a billiards/pool table and a vending machine
Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All guest rooms at Horse and Jockey Inn feature perks, such as premium bedding and pillow menus, in addition to amenities, such as free WiFi.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
Heating and portable fans
Shared bathrooms with in-room sink with hydromassage showers
Check-in start time: 1 PM; check-in end time: 8:30 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18
Check-out
Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 11 AM - 9 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 8:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Payment types at the property
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and a first aid kit
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
National rating
Property class, provided by our rating system, is based on property type, amenities and services.
Property is also known as
Horse and Jockey Inn Hotel
Horse and Jockey Inn Matamata
Horse and Jockey Inn Hotel Matamata
Frequently asked questions
Is Horse and Jockey Inn pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Horse and Jockey Inn?
As of 13 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Horse and Jockey Inn on 14 Mar 2026 start from HK$462, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Horse and Jockey Inn?
Self-parking is free at this property; nearby parking is also free.
What time is check-in at Horse and Jockey Inn?
Check-in start time: 1 PM; check-in end time: 8:30 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.
What time is check-out at Horse and Jockey Inn?
Checkout is at 10 AM.
Where is Horse and Jockey Inn located?
Situated in Matamata, this hotel is within 1 mile (2 km) of Founders Park and Wairere Falls. Firth Tower Museum is 2.3 mi (3.6 km) away.
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Reviews
Horse and Jockey Inn Reviews
6.4
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
Cosy rooms that had clean linen. The communal bathrooms was also very clean. Older place but added bonus of having bar downstairs a good stop over for the night.
Staff very friendly! Craig and Sunny were amazing! Great food, the cheese garlic toasties were my fav ☺️ great walking distance for Matamata info center for Hobbiton tour. Got back late and felt safe walking back in the dark.
The food at the Horse and Jockey restaurant was excellent.
So far, my favorite fish and chips, ever.
There was no AC but the oscillating fan overcame that.
The town was lively and lovely.
Great stay.
Dewey
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
8/10 Good
Scott
4 Mar 2025
Bike lock up and access could be more accessible. The food in the restaurant was delicious and fair portions.
Nice comfortable beds Would have been nice to have a glass in the bathroom
Graeme
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Sue
17 Mar 2025
Tired facilities but comfortable. We had a two bedroom unit with ensuite. It was a bit noisy ( traffic and people outside). Lovely meal in the restaurant. Great checkin, pleasant and helpful staff.
Sue
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
6/10 Okay
Dan
23 Mar 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Pros: beds were nice, bathroom was very basic but met our needs
Cons: no tv, no phone, no A/C (although it wasn't needed), no bedside lamps, no safety latch on door, noise from bar below (not too bad though)
Just meets the bare minimum.
The staff were nice.
Dan
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
6/10 Okay
David
24 Mar 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Staff were friendly and helpful. Rooms were basic and a little dated, but clean. Was fine for the overnight we needed
The room and bathrooms were to be as expected for backpacking. When I checked in I was told that I would get new towles the next day but didn't. I asked around 4pm for new towels and was told they would let housekeeping know. When leaving around 5pm I was again told I'd have new towels. When I returned around 8:30pm I still did NOT have towels and staff were no longer available as the restaurant was closed.
The staff were otherwise very pleasant and welcoming. Food in the restaurant was fenomenal! I had the lamb shank and it was my 1st time having lamb. It did not disappoint
Sophia
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
6/10 Okay
Gregory
28 May 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
It was fine - relatively safe - a bit loud till late at night - but expected for being just above a pub. Rooms are pretty austere. I think a complementary water bottle or two would have been helpful during my late night search for water.
Gregory
Stayed 1 night in May 2025
6/10 Okay
Katie
5 Aug 2024
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
This was a very basic accommodation, stiff beds and no frills in the room (no tv, extra linens, coffee pot etc). Safe and clean, though with writing on the walls and lots of dust. Staff were kind.
Katie
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
8/10 Good
Kelly
31 May 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great location, friendly staff. On the older side of things, but ok for our needs. Staff really helpful, took us to the door to showed us how to use entry lock, then took us upstairs explaining things on the way. Also found an extension lead for us to be able to use the heater. Suggest a blind in the bathroom for privacy and keeping warlth in.
Kelly
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
4/10 Poor
Shaktisinh
12 May 2024
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
lights were gone, shower hardly working.
Motel is cheap $82 is not bad but good shower needed after work
The place was bare bones and simple, but clean, comfortable, and quiet. There was no heat so I had to use the extra blanket they provided. A cross between a motel and a hostel is a great way to describe it. Private room with shared everything else. That’s all I needed.
No TV, poor wifi, hot water ran out very quickly, no lift, doors hard to open with only 1 key, windows easily accessed from outside.
On positive side, cleanish and quieter than expected. Close to restaurant and cafes.
John
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
6/10 Okay
Amy
9 Jan 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
It was clean and tidy in the room but only a fan that didnt move around. It was hot in the room and the linen looked aged.
It was great walking distance to shops and good customer service
Amy
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
6/10 Okay
Gail
23 Apr 2024
Liked: Staff & service
The bedroom and ensuite were moderately comfortable and clean.
The communal kitchen needed a good clean, especially the table. The kitchen tea towels and dishcloth were filthy and need regular/daily replacement, if you want guests to complete the job of cleaning and putting away their own dishes,
The family woke up early the next morning because the beds were uncomfortable and they were ready to get out of there. The rooms were very dated and there were limited amenities. It was definitely a reminder for us to read the reviews better next time.
Stacey
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024
6/10 Okay
Alexandra
2 Mar 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness
Not great but not many options
Room wasn’t quite ready at the stated check in time — cleaners were still working upstairs. Also wasn’t an elevator that I was made aware of. Room was fine but had an odd smell to it, so I opened the window and turned on the fan. Communal fridge clearly hadn’t been cleaned. There was an open container of milk, crusty remains of a spill, and spoiled food. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options in town. Stayed here after an evening at Hobbiton and met several others staying at the hotel who had booked the same tour as me, so it was convenient to hang in the bar below until it closed.
The advert is all lies. There was no wifi. No kid friendly area. No climate controlled heating. No cleanliness. Its above an R18 casino bar with live music all night. The heating consists of a 4 fin oil heater. The shower hadnt been cleaned. And my kids found vaping device's and used covid tests under the bed.