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Growing up, I always loved driving through the Karangahake Gorge on road trips to Mount Maunganui. The steep sides of the gorge are stunning, making the drive a beautiful experience, and it’s also an excellent place for a walk.
The gorge also has an interesting gold mining history and you can see remains of that industry scattered around. Some buildings are abandoned long ago giving a mystical feel when exploring them.
Karangahake Gorge is a must-visit in the Coromandel Peninsula. It is the perfect place to go hiking, cycling and see some local history. So let’s get started and find out all about Karangahake Gorge!
Entrance to Karangahake Gorge is free! 🤠
Brief History of Karangahake Gorge
During the late 1800’s there was a gold rush worldwide. Because of the money to be made from gold, European settlers were scrambling to find new gold mines.
In 1867 a settler found some gold in the Karangahake Gorge. The discovery encouraged thousands of people to migrate to the area. At its peak, the local town had around 3000 residents.
Over the next few decades, the gorge was extensively mined and the gold was quickly used up. Once gold mining ceased, the buildings in the area were abandoned. Which was a good thing for the local environment as the mining caused terrible pollution in the local rivers.
There is still some mining in the gorge today but using less invasive methods. So the natural beauty of the area has been restored.
Some tunnels and train tracks from the gold mining form some of the paths through the gorge. They make a walk through the gorge interesting because you can see the natural beauty of the gorge and the gold mining past at the same time.
Karangahake Gorge Map
How to get to Karangahake Gorge
To get to the Karangahake Gorge you will need to drive. It is a 1.5-hour drive from Auckland and a 1-hour drive from Tauranga. If you need to rent a car in New Zealand, Rentalcars.com has cars from 17 USD per day.
Karangahake Gorge Walks & Hikes
Karangahake Gorge has a few walks that are suitable for all fitness levels. They can all be accessed from the Karangahake Gorge Car Park. Most of the walks are quite short so you do not need serious hiking gear.
1. Windows Walk
The Windows Walk is my favorite walk in the gorge. If you only have time to do one walk then I think this should be the one. The walk takes 1 hour to complete and is appropriate for all fitness levels.
It is called the Windows Walk because it takes you through a tunnel carved into the side of the gorge with windows scattered along the tunnel. The tunnel is quite dark so a flashlight could be useful. Otherwise, your phone will be fine.
To get to the windows walk you need to cross the first suspension bridge from the car park. You will then need to cross a second bridge on your left.
The path takes you up a hill and at one point there will be an option to take a side track. I would recommend taking the side path as there are some interesting remains from the mining operations.
The mining remains here were a massive building at one point. It is interesting to see how it has been taken over by nature. It almost feels like you are exploring an ancient Mayan pyramid, although nowhere near as impressive!
Entering the Tunnel
Up the hill from the mining remains you will arrive at the train tracks that will take you through the Windows walk.
There is an old cart that used to be used to transport material in the mines. But surprisingly it can still be moved.
We thought it was stuck in place but a family was pushing their kids in it when we returned. It looked like good fun for kids.
The train tracks soon enter the tunnel carved into the side of the cliff. There are beautiful views of the gorge from the track high up on the cliff.
As you go through the tunnel you will see the windows the track is named after. The windows were carved out of the rock and used by the miners to dump material into the river.
Fortunately, they stopped doing that long ago and the river is nice and clean. The windows now give you beautiful portals to look out across the gorge.
Returning to the Car park
When we completed the Windows Walk in February 2024 part of it was closed. This means that you will reach a bridge that is closed off and you will have to double back to the car park.
This section of the walk is closed due to damage from the floods in 2023. But if it re-opens in the future you can cross the river and loop back on the other side. Check the DOC website for information on track closure.
2. The Karangahake Gorge Tunnel
My second favorite walk in the gorge is the Karangahake Gorge tunnel walk. This trail takes you through an old train tunnel that is over 1km long.
To get to the tunnel after finishing the Windows Walk, take a right along the river. The trail follows the river and passes through some beautiful bush.
You will eventually reach a bridge to cross the river and the tunnel is on the other side.
As a kid, I used to love coming to this tunnel because it seems to stretch on forever. Today the tunnel is well lit but in the past, there were no lights. It’s less of an adventure being able to see where you are walking but it is a much pleasanter experience.
The tunnel does get surprisingly cold in the middle. So make sure you have some warm clothes if you get cold easily.
After the tunnel, you will cross another bridge and there is a path through some bush back to the car park. Along the path, there are also some remains of mining buildings to check out.
3. Crown Track to Dickey Flats
The Crown Track to Dickey Flats walk is a 3 km walk each way that takes you to the Dickey Flat waterfalls.
This trail takes 2 hours in total to complete and is great if you feel like a longer walk. To get to this track simply keep following the river at the end of the Windows Walk.
The track winds along the gorge and there are several beautiful swimming holes. At the end, you will reach the Dicky Flat Falls. There is a campsite here and it is a nice spot to relax before returning to the starting point.
Karangahake Gorge Waterfall
In the Karangahake Gorge, the Owharoa Falls are some waterfalls close to the main road. It is just a couple of minute walk to the falls so you should definitely check them out. The pool at the bottom of the falls is also a great place for a swim if it is a hot day.
Cycling Karangahake Gorge
In recent years the Karangahake Gorge has become a popular place to cycle. The Hauraki Rail Trail is a part of the reason for this. This is a 197 km cycling trail that takes you across the Hauraki Plans.
Section C of the trail takes you from Paeroa to Waihi and passes through the gorge. It is a beautiful ride and will allow you to see more of the countryside than walking.
For Karangahake Gorge bike hire I recommend adventurebikehire.co.nz. They have a good range of bikes and a shuttle to drop you off and pick you up from the Hauraki Trail.
Karangahake Gorge Train
If you have cycled to the Karangahake Gorge from Waihi then you can catch the train back to Waihi. Waihi Rail operates a historic train that takes passengers between Waikino and Waihi. This railway used to be part of a railway that stretched all the way to Auckland.
A one-way ticket on the train costs 15 NZD and a return costs 20 NZD. There is space on the train for bikes so it is a unique way to make your way back to Waihi.
Waihi Gold Mine
If you are not tired of mining attractions after visiting the gorge then I recommend having a quick look at the Martha Mine in Waihi.
It is a huge open-air gold mine that has been in operation since the 1880s. You do not need to pay to have a look and it is located right next to the Waihi town center.
Cafes and Restaurants nearby
The Falls Retreat – is a restaurant and retreat next to Owharoa Falls that offers high-end cuisine using locally grown ingredients.
The restaurant is only open Friday and Saturday but the food is very good if you are looking to splash out. If you are just looking for a coffee you can visit anytime and it is a lovely place to stop for a drink as we did.
Accommodation Karangahake Gorge
If you would like to stay the night in the Karangahake Gorge there are some excellent options available.
🏡 Crown Ridge Miners Cottage – has cute cottages with your own outdoor seating area. There are sheep on the property so you will have a full New Zealand experience! Rooms start from as low as 100 USD per night in the peak season.
🏡 Rest and Relax – is a beautiful bed and breakfast in the gorge. Rooms start from 100 USD per night.
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Have fun exploring Karangahake Gorge!
Karangahake Gorge has been a favorite area of mine to explore my whole life. The Coromandel is a beautiful part of New Zealand and the gorge is a nice change from the beaches that are the main draw.
Let me know in the comments if you go visit which parts you are thinking of exploring. Also, make sure to check out our other New Zealand articles below.
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