Karangahake Gorge Walks: A Guide for Families

Situated between Waihi and Paeroa on State Highway 2 is Karangahake Gorge Walks. We take this road everytime we head to Auckland from Papamoa or when we head up to the Coromandel.

Now we have passed through Karangahake Gorge on numerous occasions, often looking out the car window at the spectacular scenery and the people taking walks along the trails of the Ohinemuri River.

Well finally after countless drive-bys we decided to make a family day out of it and explore Karangahake Gorge, its gold mining era and its trails.

The stunning scenary of the Karangahake gorge

Brief History 

Gold was discovered here in the 1880s and it wasn’t long before big companies started mining in the area and mining batteries were set up along the rivers of Ohinemuri and Waitawheta.

Karangahake township at that time had a population of around 2000 people as mining batteries such as the Woodstock, Talismans, Crown and Victoria grew.

Here, the batteries would crush the ore that was collected by the miners from either the mountainsides of the gorge or from the tunnels that were mined.

This area produced 60% of New Zealand’s gold at the time. The last battery closed in the 1950s. 

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Your welcome to Karangahake sign

The Victoria Battery 

The leftover ruins from the Victoria Battery are along the Historic Walkway or you can park on the grass across the road from the Waikino Hotel. From there you can make your way across the Waikino Memorial bridge and make your way down the path.

The Victoria Battery was constructed in 1896 and by the early 1900’s it became one of the world’s biggest processing plants. It would process 800 tons of ore every day. The ore came from the nearby Martha mine in Waihi.

This was a 24hr operation and over 200 men were employed and were one of the largest producers of gold. It closed in 1954. 

Family photo in the ruins of the Victoria Battery

Today you can walk around the old ruins, not much remains especially when you look at the old photos. The transformer house how houses the museum which shows the history of this once great battery.

You can also book a tour from here and take a ride on one of the old electric trams that used to transport the ore. 

Our boys loved running around through the ruins and explore the different areas. 

There are a couple of information boards around the ruins explaining how the battery worked as well as stories from the people who once lived and were employed here.

To get the best out of your time you should visit the museum, you will learn a lot. 

The electric tram takes you around the outside of the Victoria Battery ruins

Karangahake Gorge Walks  And Trails To Explore

Shorter Karangahake Gorge Walks

Rail Tunnel Loop (45min-1hr)

We started this trail from the main carpark, first we headed across the first swing bridge and then walk up and to the right. You will pass through the foundations of the Crown Battery.

After a few minutes, you’ll arrive at a fork in the path, either way still gets you to the Western Portal Bridge that crosses over the Ohinemuri river and State Highway 2.

The views up and down the Ohinemuri river from the bridge are pretty impressive.

The boys head across the Western Portal Bridge and into the old railway tunnel

At the end of the bridge is the entrance to the Karangahake Gorge walks tunnel. It stretches 1100m and it is well lit. It’s also used by cyclists so just be careful with little ones.

You will emerge at the Eastern Portal Bridge which again crossed the Ohinemuri River and is a great spot for photos. From there you head right, back along the river towards the main carpark.

Both our boys loved this trail, especially the walk through the tunnel. 

Quick photo in the middle of the old railway tunnel

Windows Walk (30min- 1hr)

This walk starts in the same area as the Rail Tunnel Loop, just follow the signs. This trail has you walking through tunnels that were left by the miners who carved these into the cliffs.

The Windows walk gets its name from the holes that were carved out to allow air and light for the miners. These holes, now called windows, give some stunning views of the gorge below.

The trail takes you along the Waitewheta river and this trail connects to the Crown track that takes you to Dickey’s Flat around an hour and a half walk there. 

The view from the Eastern Portal bridge looking down the Ohinemuri river

Longer Karangahake Gorge Walks

The Historic Walkway (4hrs round trip if walking)

There are 2 ways to start this trail, either from the main carpark or from the Waikino Station cafe.

The trail pretty much follows the old railway line that used to go between Waihi and Paeroa. This trail is around 6.5kms and is very popular with walkers and cyclists as the trail is wide and pretty flat.

If you are walking the trip takes around 4 hours round trip.

The Rail Tunnel Loop trail

You will see the rich history along the trail especially the old mining batteries and the stories that go with them.

The Historic walkway follows the Ohinemuru river, leading you past the Victoria Battery which is very impressive for what is left of the ruins, the Waikino Hotel and the impressive scenery.

You can also visit the Owharoa Falls along the trail however you will need to leave the trail slightly to see this. It is well signposted so you can’t miss it.

You will also connect to the Rail Tunnel Loop as you pass over the Eastern Portal Bridge and into the old rail tunnel. 

First footbridge from the main carpark. Leads you to the trails around Karangahake Gorge

Karangahake Mountain (4hr return)

If you are looking to head to the summit then this could be the hike for you.

We haven’t done this trail before but have heard that it gets steeper and exposed as you near the top. The height of Karangahake Mountain is 544 metres.

Again you can start this trail from the main carpark once you cross over the first footbridge.

The beautiful Owharoa Falls, just off the Historic Walkway trail

Owharoa Falls

Again these are located just off the Historic Walkway trail, there is space here to park your car. Turn onto Waitawheta Road and over the oneway bridge.

The entrance to Owharoa Falls is on your right. From the road, it’s a 50m walk to the falls. 

These falls are spectacular though not very tall at around 6 metres. It’s a great place to cool off if you are keen on a swim or the perfect spot for a picnic.

Just up the road is the Falls Retreat where you can pick up some takeaways before returning to the falls. 

Best Karangahake Gorge cafes

Waikino Station Cafe 

This is a great cafe and the setting is perfect. It’s set in the original station building and platform and offers a great range of food to eat everyone’s needs.

From burgers, toasted sandwiches, salads, meat dishes and vegan options. The coffee here is great too and the is a lovely selection of cabinet food.

The front of the Waikino Station Cafe, plenty of places to park your bike at the beginning of the Karangahake gorge

On the day we visited it was really busy however the staff were so friendly and helpful. Inside the cafe, you will find a range of old photos, while you wait for your food you can learn more about the history of the area.

Otherwise, you can sit outside on the platform and watch the train leave or arrive depending on the time you are there.

Falls Retreat

A very picturesque spot to stop and eat and the food here is amazing. Everything is made from scratch and most of their food is grown right in their own organic veggie garden.

What can’t be grown they’ll try and use a local supplier.

The pizzas are so good and freshly made in their wood oven fire. They offer other dishes such as; pasta, salads, a grazing board as well as a kids menu.

The menu here is seasonal.

They also offer different dining experiences and for those reservations would be a good idea.

The trail along the Rail Tunnel Loop following the Ohinemuri river

Goldfields Heritage Railway

A wonderful way to travel back in time. Whether you and the family are looking for a little adventure or are experiencing the train ride as part of the Hauraki Rail Trail. 

The train departs from Waihi and ends at the Waikino Station Cafe and then returns. Click here for train times and prices.

Waikino Station Cafe Platform

We didn’t have time to do this but there were certainly plenty of people taking advantage of the train ride.

Note: The Hauraki Rail Trail stretches 197 km and is broken up into 5 sections. One section is from Paeroa to Waihi and vice versa which also incorporates the Historic Walkway trail.

The Waikino Hotel

One of the oldest buildings in the area. This hotel was once known as the Mackaytown Hotel. It was moved to Waikino in 1926.

Previous to this, two other hotels once used this site. The first hotel was constructed in 1893 but burnt down in 1906.

The second hotel (Waitekauri Hotel) was moved to the site within four months. This became known as the Waikino Hotel. However, in 1920 it was sold and demolished.

Waikino Hotel, sits in the middle of Karangahake Gorge

It was another 6 years before the current ‘Waikino Hotel’ was moved into the site.

In 2017 it was restored to its glory and is a perfect place to stop grab a drink or dine in and eat one of the delicious meals. Maybe have a game of pool.

It really is worth stopping here and checking the history of this hotel.  

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Final Thoughts

We wish we had come here earlier! We had such a great day learning about the history of this place. The trails are awesome and the scenery is spectacular.

It’s perfect for families of any age, the trails are pretty much flat and an easy walk. We saw plenty of families with prams though there were a couple of spots where they had to carry their prams due to the trail.

Our boys loved the walk through the old railway tunnel as well as running around the old ruins of the Victoria Battery. No doubt we will return here soon as we had such a cool day.

Lukas looking for Sawyer as the boys explore the old Victoria Battery ruins

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get to Karanghake Gorge?

Karangahake Gorge is situated between the towns of Paeroa to Waihi. The nearest major cities are Tauranga and Hamilton and it’s roughly an hour from there. From Auckland, it’s around one and a half hours. So it makes for an easy day trip.

Best time of the year to visit?

Karangahake Gorge is great to visit all year round. Summer is obviously the most popular time of the year. Just make sure you are prepared.

Can you swim at Karanghake Gorge?

Yes, you can swim here however, you must be careful due to potential strong currents, slippery rocks and deep holes.

How long are the Karanghake Gorge walks?

The walks range from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on how fast you are walking.

Are dogs allowed at Karangahake Gorge? 

Yes, dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash. They are only allowed on the Historic Walkway and Crown Track to Dicky Flats trails. 

Are the Karangahake Gorge walks and trails pram friendly? 

All of the walks are accessible with a pram except for the Windows walk.

Lukas and Sawyer posing for a photo on Waikino Memorial Bridge