Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Start/Finish
Kauaeranga Valley Rd
Nearest Town
Thames (
Click here
)
Transport
Shuttle bus
Summary
A tramp up the popular Kauaeranga Valley, featuring a large number of logging
and gold-mining relics, plus a side trip to the lofty Pinnacles.
The 719 sq km of rugged, forested reserves that make up the Coromandel Forest Park are
spread across the Coromandel Peninsula. The highest point in the park is Mt Moehau
(892m), located near the northern tip of the peninsula; Table Mountain (846m) is the highest
point around Kauaeranga Valley.
There are more than 30 tramps through Coromandel Forest Park, covering the area from
Karangahake Gorge (near Paeroa) to Cape Colville. The most popular region is the Kauaer-
anga Valley, which cuts into the Coromandel Range behind Thames.
A logging boom took place in the Coromandel Range during the late 19th century, when
stands of massive kauri were extracted. Today, like Great Barrier Island, the Kauaeranga
Valley is filled with deteriorating reminders of its lumbering past: packhorse trails, tramway
clearings and many old kauri dams, including Tarawaere, Waterfalls, Dancing Camp,
Kauaeranga Main, Moss Creek and Waterfalls Creek.
Due to the valley's popularity and proximity to Auckland, DOC has upgraded the tracks
and added campsites to what is now called the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail. For the more adven-
turous it is possible to hike from Pinnacles Hut to the Moss Creek campsites, and then to
Kauaeranga Valley Rd for a three-day circuit. This is a demanding tramp that involves
steeper climbs and considerable mire.
