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Did you know? Waihi's Cornish Pumphouse was moved to its present site in 2006. Since then thousands of people have visited this special reminder of a bygone era. The Pit Rim Walkway around the Martha Mine provides an easy-moderate walk for all ages and features spectacular views. The Karangahake Gorge between Waihi and Paeroa was the site of early mining activity. You can walk inside the mountain into old workings and into history, or walk through the old railway tunnel. The Goldfields Railway train operates every day. You can take a ride to Waikino Station and then visit the historic Victoria Battery where ore from Waihi was crushed and processed to extract the gold and silver. The Waihi Arts Centre and Museum features a wide range of early gold mining displays. |
Tourism
We are told that it's either tourism or mining, you can't have both, that any mining activity will be the death of tourism on the Coromandel, and that our '100% Pure' image will be destroyed and overseas tourists will go elsewhere. The facts say otherwise. Around the world operating and rehabilitated mines are tourist attractions. In New Zealand the relics of gold mining from 100 years ago continue to attract tourists in large numbers. In Waihi they keep coming in their thousands ...
Mining and tourism can co-exist, both during mining and after the operation is rehabilitated. Overseas there are many examples of operating and rehabilitated mine sites that are tourism drawcards, from Ballarat and Bendigo to Canada and Kalgoorlie. The Eden Project in the United Kingdom is an excellent example of a mine site being developed for a whole new use once mining finished. Much closer to home, the Te Puna Quarry Park on State Highway 2 just north of Tauranga is now home to a wide range of cultural and artistic events.
The Victoria Battery in the Karangahake Gorge is a fantastic tourist attraction, as is the gorge itself where you can explore old mining tunnels and tramways.
Over 40,000 tourists visited Waihi's Gold Story mine interpretation centre in 2009.
Find out more:
Mining and Tourism in Waihi (0.7MB PDF)
Newmont Waihi Gold ran mine tours for many years. They are now operated by the Vision Waihi Trust which employs two tour guides. If you haven't ever been on tour, we recommend it. Contact Norm or Murray on 0 7 863 9015 or email them at bookings@waihi.org.nz.
