Horse and Jockey Inn

Hotels
Independent
6.4 (107 reviews)
85 Arawa St, Matamata, Waikato, 3400 , Matamata , NZ

Facilities

Meeting rooms
Express check-out
Arcade/game room
Free WiFi
Terrace
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Wheelchair accessible
ATM/banking
Arcade/game room
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Clean bathrooms
Great food options
Cons:
Poor kitchen amenities
Limited room facilities

Categories

Cleanliness
6.4
Bathrooms clean, but kitchen amenities not up to standard.
Service
7.9
Staff very friendly! Craig and Sunny were amazing!
Location
7.9
Great walking distance for Matamata info center for Hobbiton tour.
Room Quality
5.9
Very old school, room facilities limited.
Amenities
4.4
Kitchen not useful; lack of kettle and fridge.
Value for Money
5.4
Standard for the quality provided.
Food and Beverage
7.4
Great food, cheese garlic toasties were particularly enjoyed.
Overall Experience
5.9
Had a good stay and would stay again.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 07:35

Property Description

Experience the charm of Horse and Jockey Inn, where stunning views and comfort meet in the heart of Matamata.

Relaxation & Dining: Enjoy delectable meals at our onsite restaurant, Horse and Jockey Inn, or grab a quick snack at the deli. Unwind with a refreshing drink in our cozy bar/lounge while soaking in the warm atmosphere.

Convenient Amenities: Stay connected with complimentary wireless internet access and take advantage of our arcade/game room for endless entertainment. For added convenience, our amenities include express check-out and a vending machine.

Proximity to Attractions: Just steps away from Founders Park and a short drive from iconic sites like Hobbiton Movie Set and Wairere Falls, adventure awaits you right outside our doorstep.

Experience comfort like never before and book your stay at Horse and Jockey Inn today!

Important information:

  • Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • Guest type

    Essential workers only - NO

  • Accessibility

    No elevators

  • General

    Professional property host/manager

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

6.4
Based on 107 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.4
Service: 7.9
Location: 7.9
Room Quality: 5.9
Amenities: 4.4
Value for Money: 5.4
Food and Beverage: 7.4
Overall Experience: 5.9
C
Christine friends
8
Pros:

No the kitchen let the over all place down. Staff exellent, bathrooms clean bedding great. Just not useful kitchen no kettle fridge grubby no tea coffee, but had good stay and would stay again

2025-09-27 via Nuitee
J
Joy partner
10
Pros:

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.

2025-09-23 via Nuitee
M
Maurice
6
Pros:

Very old school, room facilities limited, ie towels but no wash cloth.
But clean, restaurant ok

2025-09-21 via Nuitee
D
Douglas
10
Another good stay here
Pros:

Satisfied

2025-09-20 via Nuitee
A
Abel partner
10
Pros:

Best option in Matamata! Really enjoyed our stay! Thank you!

2025-09-16 via Nuitee
G
Gregory
6
Pros:

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.

2025-05-28 via Nuitee
A
Allan
6
Pros:

This property's accommodation needs significant updating, whilst the bedding was clean, the general appearance of the room was shabby, the curtains were halfway down the windows, the window latches were broken, so we could not close them to block out any noise or the street lights right outside the window. The cost didn't not match the accommodation. I'm unlikely to recommend this to anyone, unless they need urgent one night accommodation and there is nothing else available.

2025-04-27 via Nuitee
V
Verified traveler
4
Pros:

Did not feel safe so I didn’t end up staying. There were undesirable people and the shared bathrooms made me not want to have to walk down the hall way by myself. If my husband was there I would put up with it. I didn’t realise this particular room did not have a bathroom. It was clean enough but yeah I didn’t feel safe. My key was put back in the return within 15 minutes and I left. The staff member seemed annoyed by my checking in and I was told she’s leaving in 20 minutes so if I needed something it had to be quick. I ended up on a friends couch back in Morrinsville.

2025-04-02 via Nuitee
D
Des
4
Really?
Pros:

It's what you'd expect of an in modernized 1950s hotel.
The room I was in cost 140 for the night.
Ensuuite with leaking taps,dirty toilet brush water,no bedside lamp,no radio,no television.
Over priced.

2025-03-31 via Nuitee
J
jean-hugues
4
Noisy night
Pros:

If you try to sleep a saturday night, you will be in trouble with the music coming from the bar, very noisy until 12:00PM

2025-03-23 via Nuitee
D
Dan
6
Pros:

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.

2025-03-23 via Nuitee
S
Sue family
10
Pros:

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.

2025-03-17 via Nuitee
S
Scott friends
8
Pros:

Bike lock up and access could be more accessible. The food in the restaurant was delicious and fair portions.

2025-03-04 via Nuitee
A
Alexandra
6
Not great but not many options
Pros:

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.

2025-03-02 via Nuitee
C
Callum
2
Noisy and run down
Pros:

Don't stay here if you want to get a good night's sleep, half the rooms are over inns beer garden which blasts music til gone midnight (like so loud the bass is distorted loud)

2025-02-22 via Nuitee
J
Joseph partner
4
Pros:

The room was extremely tiny with hardly any room for luggage. Bathroom was the same. Never seen a sink so tiny.
There was no bathmat or handtowel, even when I asked for one.
There was also no lid on the toilet - very unhygienic.
For such an expensive room it was a real disappointment.

2025-02-18 via Nuitee
R
Robert partner
6
Pros:

The rooms were very hot and to small, you couldn't swing a cat in them.

2025-02-09 via Nuitee
P
Paul
4
Pros:

They accidentally double charged us but 10 days later, we are still waiting for a refund or even a response to our reminder messages.

2025-02-01 via Nuitee
S
Saikumar family
8
Pros:

Good

2024-12-28 via Nuitee
G
Graeme friends
6
Pros:

Apartment has no TV,fridge chairs and manager was rude

2024-12-21 via Nuitee