Historic Karangahake Gorge

Situated between Paeroa and Waikino, access to the Karangahake Gorge historic site is via State Highway 2. There are three entry points:

• Karangahake Hall, Karangahake Reserve
• Owharoa Falls off Whaitawheta Road
• Waikino Historic Station and Visitor Information Centre and café at Waikino

The mining heritage sites are concentrated at both ends of the walkway. At the western end they are centred round the confluence of the Waitawheta River at Karangahake, whereas the eastern approach is dominated by the site of the Waihi Gold Mining Company’s massive battery complex (1896-1952) at Waikino.

Bridge on Karangahake Gorge
Historic Walkway

In the 1890s three large batteries were built at Karangahake to service the Woodstock, Talisman and Crown mines.

The Woodstock Gold Mining Company (GMC) was formed in 1885. It met with little success because of the difficult, refractory nature of the ore despite its high grade. It wasn’t until the introduction of the ‘cyanide’ process in 1894 (developed by the nearby Crown Gold Mining Co in 1889) which greatly improved returns, that the mine developed.

In 1895 the company erected a 40 stamp battery and cyanide plant, as did the Crown (1893), and Talisman Companies (1901).

Because of their heritage significance, impressive structural remains and easy access, the Waikato Conservancy has embarked on a multi-year development plan.

The first stage was completed in 2006 - the extension of a dead-end mining tunnel to create a circuit walkway around the main heritage sites in the lower Waitawheta Gorge. As part of the project tram track was re-laid on the Woodstock tramway to create a new visitor feature.

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