Karangahake Gorge @ Top Tracks.info

Recommended times:

Waikino to Tunnel 90 minutes each way

Where is it? When you drive east from Paeroa after a few kilometres the road goes beneath the former railway bridge. A couple of hundred metres further, on your right, is the starting place for the loop walk, a parking area and toilets. The loop begins and ends at the historic gold mining remains at Karangahake. The loop can be walked in either direction. This guide is for anti clockwise walking. Leave the parking area and cross a substantial foot swing bridge over the Ohinemuri river, then go left or right. Going left immediately brings you in contact with some of the remains of gold mining buildings, some of which were substantial. Several sidetracks can be taken from here. The loop continues up the river, up a staircase then along a well graveled path. Where the path is low, it is concreted to preserve the track surface when the river floods. At around half way you will encounter the old railway bridge. This you cross. Going to the right will take you at least another hour and you will end up at Waikino, and then you will have to walk back! Across the bridge is the one kilometre long tunnel that has overhead lights. Don’t assume they’ll all be working, go prepared with a torch. When you exit the tunnel you cross the bridge over the main road and descend to find more gold mine building relics, before continuing to the swing bridge and the end of the loop.
Mountain biking is permitted from Waikino to the tunnel only. It is easy riding, but once reaching the tunnel you have to return the same way. After leaving Waikino the underpass takes you to the other side of the road and some more gold relics that are well worth inspecting. Cyanide was used here to separate the gold. Info boards explain some of the operation, and if you are lucky enough, you may get a tour aboard the miniature railway. Otherwise you can bike around. The building at the top of the hill that looks like sheep yards is more interesting than it looks. It covers the huge kilns used in the gold mining days. The tunnels where the wagons are went to the bottom of the kilns! Imagine the firewood needed! Anyway, from here continue downstream, there’s a gate to negotiate at one point, a road to cross, and a detour to a quarry and waterfall at another interest point. From station to tunnel it is around six kilometres.

Features Gold mining remains, railway remains. Waikino Station has a café and info centre. Even if you have nothing to eat or drink, go and have a look at the photos. Track Surface Smooth gravel, some steps Accessibility Easy, all ages. Steps on the loop are steep but there are very few. Dangers Care needed where the track is narrow beside the river. Additional Notes A pamphlet has been produced to go with these walks. It is worth having if you can locate one. They cost $1. This information gathered while on site in 2006.

Where is it?

When you drive east from Paeroa after a few kilometres the road goes beneath the former railway bridge. A couple of hundred metres further, on your right, is the starting place for the loop walk, a parking area and toilets.

The loop begins and ends at the historic gold mining remains at Karangahake. The loop can be walked in either direction. This guide is for anti clockwise walking.

Leave the parking area and cross a substantial foot swing bridge over the Ohinemuri river, then go left or right. Going left immediately brings you in contact with some of the remains of gold mining buildings, some of which were substantial. Several sidetracks can be taken from here. The loop continues up the river, up a staircase then along a well graveled path. Where the path is low, it is concreted to preserve the track surface when the river floods.

At around half way you will encounter the old railway bridge. This you cross. Going to the right will take you at least another hour and you will end up at Waikino, and then you will have to walk back! Across the bridge is the one kilometre long tunnel that has overhead lights. Don’t assume they’ll all be working, go prepared with a torch. When you exit the tunnel you cross the bridge over the main road and descend to find more gold mine building relics, before continuing to the swing bridge and the end of the loop.

Mountain biking is permitted from Waikino to the tunnel only. It is easy riding, but once reaching the tunnel you have to return the same way.

After leaving Waikino the underpass takes you to the other side of the road and some more gold relics that are well worth inspecting. Cyanide was used here to separate the gold. Info boards explain some of the operation, and if you are lucky enough, you may get a tour aboard the miniature railway. Otherwise you can bike around. The building at the top of the hill that looks like sheep yards is more interesting than it looks. It covers the huge kilns used in the gold mining days. The tunnels where the wagons are went to the bottom of the kilns! Imagine the firewood needed!

Anyway, from here continue downstream, there’s a gate to negotiate at one point, a road to cross, and a detour to a quarry and waterfall at another interest point.

From station to tunnel it is around six kilometres.


Karangahake Gorge
Recommended times:
Loop 60 minutes
Waikino to Tunnel 90 minutes each way
This gorge was the main route for the road and railway between Waikato and Bay of Plenty, running between the towns of Paeroa and Waihi until 1978. Much of this walk takes place on the former railway foundations. At the western or Paeroa end of the gorge is the loop walk that includes the one kilometre tunnel. The walk takes in the historical remains of a significant gold extraction crushing plant.