Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Goldmine Experience
MAP
MINE
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.goldmine-experience.co.nz
;
cnr Moanataiari Rd & Pollen St; adult/child $15/5; 10am-4pm daily Jan-Mar, to
1pm Apr, May & Sep-Dec)
Walk through a mine tunnel, watch a stamper battery crush rock,
learn about the history of the Cornish miners and try your hand at panning for gold ($2 ex-
tra).
School of Mines & Mineralogical Museum
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.historicplaces.org.nz
; 101 Cochrane St; adult/child $5/free; 11am-3pm Wed-Sun Mar-Dec, daily Jan-Feb)
The Historic Places Trust runs tours of these buildings, which house an extensive collec-
tion of NZ rocks, minerals and fossils. The oldest section (1868) was part of a Methodist
Sunday school, situated on a Maori burial ground. The Trust has a free self-tour pamphlet
taking in Thames' significant buildings.
Butterfly & Orchid Garden
(
www.butterfly.co.nz
;
Victoria St; adult/child $12/6; 9.30am-4.30pm)
Around 3km north of town within
the Dickson Holiday Park is this enclosed jungle full of hundreds of exotic flappers.
GARDENS
Historical Museum
MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
1-4pm)
Pioneer relics, rocks and old photographs of
(cnr Cochrane & Pollen Sts; adult/child $5/2;
the town.
Activities
Karaka Bird Hide
MAP
BIRDWATCHING
GOOGLE MAP
Built with compensation funds from the
Rainbow Warrior
bombing, this hide
can be reached by a boardwalk through the mangroves just off Brown St.
Thames Small Gauge Railway
MAP
NARROW-GAUGE RAILWAY
GOOGLE MAP