Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's a pretty name for a settlement on the swampy Firth of Thames, just an hour's drive
from Auckland. The two reasons to come here are splashing around in the thermal pools
and
bird-watching
.
This is one of the most accessible spots for studying waders or shorebirds all year
round. The vast mudflat is teeming with aquatic worms and crustaceans, which attract
thousands of Arctic-nesting shorebirds over the winter - 43 species of wader have been
spotted here. The two main species are the bar-tailed godwit and the lesser or red knot,
but it isn't unusual to see turnstones, sandpipers and the odd vagrant red-necked stint.
One godwit tagged here was tracked making an 11,570km nonstop flight from Alaska.
Short-haul travellers include the pied oystercatcher and the threatened wrybill from the
South Island, and banded dotterels and pied stilts.
Coast Rd; 9am-5pm)
has bird-life displays, hires out binoculars and sells useful bird-
watching pamphlets ($2). Nearby are a
hide
and several
walks
(30 minutes to two
hours). The centre offers clean bunk-style accommodation (dorm beds/rooms $25/95)
with a kitchen.
Miranda Hot Springs
(
www.mirandahotsprings.co.nz
;
Front Miranda Rd; adult/child $13/6;
9am-9.30pm)
, 5km south, has a large thermal swimming pool (reputedly the largest in the
southern hemisphere), a toasty sauna pool and private spas ($10 extra).
Front Miranda Rd; campsites per adult/child $23/11, units $89-189; )
, with
sparkling-clean units and facilities, its own thermally heated pool and a floodlit tennis -
court.
THE HAURAKI RAIL TRAIL
The cycle trail running from Thames south to Paeroa, and then further south to Te
Aroha, or east to Waihi, the Hauraki Rail Trail, is growing in popularity due to its
proximity to the bigger cities of Auckland and Hamilton. Two- and three-day itiner-
aries are most popular, but shorter sections of the trail can be very rewarding too.
The spur from Paeroa east through the Karangahake Gorge via Waikino to Waihi is
spectacular as it skirts a picturesque river valley. The key centres of Thames,
Paeroa, Te Aroha and Waihi have an expanding range of related services including
bike hire, shuttles and accommodation. See
www.haurakirailtrail.co.nz
for detailed
information including trail maps and recommendations for day rides.
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