Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Goldmine Experience
MINE
(
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 bat-
tery crush rock, learn about the history of the Cornish miners and try your hand at pan-
ning for gold ($2 extra).
School of Mines &
Mineralogical Museum
MUSEUM
(
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 ex-
tensive collection 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
GARDENS
(
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.
1-4pm)
Pioneer relics, rocks and old photo-
graphs of the town.
Activities
Karaka Bird Hide
BIRDWATCHING
OFFLINE MAP
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.
