Waikato & Coromandel Peninsula - New Zealand's North Island - page 424

Waihi is serviced by InterCity ( www.intercity.co.nz ) buses and seasonal Go Kiwi (

0800 446

549; www.go-kiwi.co.nz ) shuttles.

TOP OF CHAPTER

Karangahake Gorge
The road between Waihi and Paeroa, through the bush-lined ramparts of the Karangahake
Gorge, is one of the best short drives in the country. Walking and biking tracks take in old
Maori trails, historic mining and rail detritus, and spookily dense bush. In Maori legend
the area is said to be protected by a taniwha , a supernatural creature. The local iwi man-
aged to keep this area closed to miners until 1875, aligning themselves with the militant
Te Kooti.
The very worthwhile 4.5km Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway takes 1½ hours (each way)
and starts from the car park 14km west of Waihi. It follows the disused railway line and
the Ohinemuri River Waikino station, where you can pick up the vintage train to Waihi,
stopping in at Waikino Station Cafe (SH2; mains $10-18; 9.30am-3pm) while you wait. The eastern
spur of the Hauraki Rail Trail also passes through, and it's possible to combine a ride on
the train from Waihi with a spin on the trail through the most spectacular stage of the
gorge. Bikes can also be rented from the Waikino Station Cafe (per day $45). Across the
river from the cafe, the Victoria Battery Tramway & Museum ( www.vbts.org.nz ; 10am-3pm Wed &
Sun) is the former site of the biggest quartz-ore processing plant in Australasia. There's a
dinky tram ride and guided tours of the underground kilns.
A few kilometres further west, Waitawheta Rd leads across the river from SH2 to
Owharoa Falls . Opposite the falls the Bistro at The Falls Retreat ( www.fallsretreat.co.nz ; 25 Waitawheta Rd;
pizza $20, mains $20-36; 10am-10pm) is located in a wooden cottage under a shaded canopy of
trees. Gourmet pizzas and rustic meat dishes emerge from the wood-fired oven on a regu-
lar basis, and there's a great little playground for the kids.
There are a range of shorter walks and loop tracks leading from the main car park at
Karangahake Gorge; bring a torch as some pass through tunnels. A two-hour tramp will
bring you to Dickey's Flat , where there's a free DOC campsite (Dickey's Flat Rd) and a decent
swimming hole. River water will need to be boiled for drinking. You'll find DOC inform-
ation boards about the walks and the area's history at both the station and the main car
park.