We knew that parts of the
South Island have a rich history of Gold mining but the town of Waihi 50km
north of Tauranga came as a big surprise.
The massive open cast mine at Waihi “New Zealand’s Heart of Gold” is simply
breath taking. The huge dumper trucks
become almost invisible as they work at the bottom of the chasm. Apparently the workings will soon close and
will be flooded to produce a very deep lake.
Nearby are the historic
mines in the Karangahake Gorge. The
disused mine tunnels and railway routes have been opened up as a series of
walks and cycle ways. Visitors can walk
through many of the tunnels and along the old tramways in the scenic gorge. The so called ‘Windows Walk’ is particularly
spectacular; where the old shafts break out into the gorge you emerge from
darkness high above the river below.
There are several
suspension bridges across the gorge which add charm to the walks but some are
very flexible so not for the feint hearted.
Don’t miss the nearby waterfall at Owharoa; it's on the map at the car
park but easily overlooked.
Owharoa Falls
With a yield of just 4oz
of Gold for each Tonne of ore, the scale of human endeavour is awe inspiring (no
pun intended!)
Overall this is brilliant
day out and definitely the highlight of our first week. Don’t forget to bring a torch and your head
for heights; both are essential.
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