When you arrive at Hot Water Beach car park, it's not immediately obvious where you need to go. Today, it's an eerie hiking . Check out the peculiar remains of the Victoria Battery, and be sure to bring a torch to guide you through the spooky tunnel. The soot crusted walls were damp with moisture and drops fell from the arch of the roof making puddles on the path or collecting to flow swiftly downward in the channels on either side ultimately to reach the clear Ohinemuri River as it changed from reflecting pools to scintillating stretches over pebbly shallows - so different from the days when it was polluted as a designated sludge channel discoloured by the tailings from the mining batteries and poisoned by cyanide. As children, in the days before Paeroa possessed a manual school, we journeyed by rail, through that three-quarter mile tunnel to Waihi tech for woodwork and cookery classes. We shook this up a little bit by incorporating the rail tunnel track at the western end of the trail. Getting there. Run or walk from Paeroa to Waihi on the most scenic and varied section of the Hauraki Rail Trail. It takes between 90 minutes and two hours to complete depending on your level of fitness, or there is a shorter track that takes about one hour. Status: on leash As I’m sure is the case with many people at this time of year, I find myself becoming increasingly grumpy and frustrated the deeper we go into the winter months. State Highway 2 passes through this gorge between the towns of Paeroa, Waikino and Waihi.This road is the main link between the Waikato region and the Bay of Plenty. The Tunnel Loop is part of the Hauraki rail trail that starts back in Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula, although this section is an off shoot of the main rail trail as the trail goes to the Waihi gold mining village and you need to return back to the main trail that goes on to Te Aroha and trail end. The cafe is also the railway link to Waihi, which, we have on good authority, is also a must-do in this region – so why not start out a bit earlier and incorporate this into your day trip. This 1100 metre tunnel is electrically lit along its length. The one across from the Tailsman Cafe is the closest to the start of the Window Walk. Don't forget to take a torch to explore the old tunnels! The tunnel is powered by lights but they are not that bright and you need to watch for mountain bikes approaching from both directions, the tunnel was built in 1905 to transport the gold ore and building materials along the gorge, the tunnel is over one km long and lined with bricks the entire length. Hauraki Rail Trail tunnel. But oh! Along the tunnel, miners dug holes in the cliffs through . Ironically, when we set out to hike the Karangahake Gorge, we didn’t do it with the premeditated intention of going on a winter hike. The official opening was on 9 November 1905, when Paeroa and Waihi were linked by passenger rail service. We simply wanted an escape from the cabin fever which was setting in as a result of the long wintry winter weekends. In this volume the authors translate and annotate key passages from ancient authors to provide a history and an analysis of the origins and development of technology. Bluff Stream Kauri Loop Track - from Franklin Rd, Waitawheta. The swing bridge takes you to the tunnel. The Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway is a hiking trail between the village of Karangahake and Waikino and passes through the Karangahake Gorge. Walk through old railway tunnels, over swingbridges, alongside mining relics and to Owharoa Falls on the two walks at Karangahake Gorge: the Rail Tunnel Loop (45mins return) and Historic Walkway (4 hours return). Karangahake Gorge Crown Track to Dickey's Flat. Karangahake Gorge Walkway The western portal of the former railway tunnel. The track takes you through native bush, across bridges, into a 1070m rail tunnel and along the Ohinemuri River where you'll discover lots of places for the kids to explore the rocks and go in for a swim. Please note that sections of this track are also used by walkers and cyclists so please share with care. To help matters, the tunnel is well lit. Long story short, there is little to look forward to, except for the few crisp and fresh winter mornings that we are treated to being in a semi-alpine community. The Dazzler crew visits one of New Zealand's most spectacular scenic areas.The Karangahake Gorge. However it indicates where the railway track climbs or descends or runs on the level and indicates the grades that exist between Paeroa and Waihi. Location - On state highway 2 near Paeroa on the North Island at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula. Found inside – Page 179The gorge is an exceedingly wild and precipitous The first bluff will require a tunnel of 500ft . in length driven through it ; so the first cost of this ... Location: Karangahake Gorge, SH2, ca. Found inside – Page 38The whole length should be ready for handing over at an early date . ... miles in length , and the driving of a double - track tunnel , 27 chains in length ... The Tunnel Loop is part of the Hauraki rail trail that starts back in Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula, although this section is an off shoot of the main rail trail as the trail goes to the Waihi gold mining village and you need to return back to the main trail that goes on to Te Aroha and trail end. Tunnel loop is 2.5km and the Windows Walk is 2.5km. Tunnel loop is 2.5km and the Windows Walk is 2.5km. You can choose to incorporate the full railway tunnel loop track for a grant total hike of approximately 4hr10min. Windows Walk, Karangahake Gorge. EQUITY AND TRUSTS IN NEW ZEALAND 2ND EDITION is the authoritative reference for lawyers, the judiciary and law students seeking to find and understand the law relating to equity and trusts in New Zealand. Situated at the base of the Coromandel Range, the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway follows the old railway line between Paeroa and Waihī, giving access to impressive remains from the mining and railway eras. What terrible boring rail journeys these were compared with the exciting trip by river and mountain, through tunnel and gorge, round squealing curves and past foaming waterfalls to Waihi! Karangahake Gorge Windows Walk is a great easy walk of 2kms, it'll take you around 1 hour allowing for time to take photos. Riders can take their bike on the vintage steam . The entire length of the walkway begins at the Karangahake Domain Carpark only 10mins drive from Waikino Cabins, passing by Owharoa Falls, The Victoria Battery and concluding at the Waikino Station . It includes historic mining remains following the old railway line and Ohinimuri river, including a 1km old rail tunnel and steel truss bridges. Karangahake River Lodge & Campervan Park, Paeroa: See traveler reviews, candid photos, and great deals for Karangahake River Lodge & Campervan Park, ranked #4 of 4 specialty lodging in Paeroa and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Parnell Tunnel - single track, on the Auckland - Newmarket Line, adjacent to the current double-track tunnel. We did a lot more distance as we also did the walk to Waikino which you can read about here. When we emerged from the Waikino end of the tunnel we were 71.4 feet higher than when we entered it at the Karangahake end! First photo; bridge crosses river, in second photo, across a main highway (see red truck bottom left) and straight into a 1 mile tunnel. This edition is completed revised, with a refreshed selection of walks, new text, photography and maps. The tunnel feels a little eerie and endless, but happened to take us right back to the winery where we left the car! The DOC website states this is a 4hr return trip, but most hikers will be able to complete this within 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 hours. It is an easy walk but not suitable for wheelchairs. The reason it's called Windows Walk is there are 'windows' in the tunnel, windows you can look out of directly down at the river. 3. Visitors told of their childhood days when they actually played about the surface of the shaft and how, on at least one occasion, boys dropped a large boulder listening for its fall on the tunnel floor at the bottom of the long shaft. I had to wonder at the lasting impact this form of mining has had on the environment and ecology in the Waihi region, however unfortunately have been unable to find any information online since completing the hike alluding to this. After visiting the waterfall, we continued to make our way east along the track towards the Waikino Station Cafe. The line between Paeroa and Waihi opened in November 1905. that tunnel! Park by the Karangahake Hall, or in the Karangahake Domain car park on SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi. There is something sad about an abandoned railway. 1190 yards in length, with a rise of two feet in every hundred feet travelled! About | Karangahake Tunnel Walk. Tramlines clung to steep mountainsides, and smoke belched from ore-crushing batteries built beside Waitawheta River. Need to know. In addition, snow is a rare occurrence in the north island, so that marvel also often passes us by. Karangahake to Dickey Flat - 4.7km, 1 hour 25 minutes. Distance: Total distance I walked was 16.9km, as we explored most of the tracks. No wonder the trains made it a panting, laborious climb, filling the passenger carriages with suffocating sulphurous fumes from the blast of the steam locomotive's exhaust beating against the roof in the confined space of the tunnel. Drawing upon original documents, including orders, field messages, and the letters and memoirs of the soldiers themselves, Fax tells the engrossing story of the 79th Division's bloody involvement in the final months of World War I. A 1.5-hour loop walk . A 2.5km loop takes you through the kilometre-long rail tunnel (lighting is provided) along the gorgeous river‚Äôs edge and through the remains of 19th century mine buildings. It was difficult to imagine the tunnel and the Walkway as part of the old picturesque Paeroa - Waihi railway line. Karangahake offers a window on New Zealand's social and cultural identity, through the voices and stories of the people of Karangahake's past and present. About 5 minutes later we happened upon a side-trail to what is labeled on Google Maps as “Karangahake Waterfall”. Length: 5 km each way Configuration: There-and-back; or can be made into 20 km round walk by linking with Karangahake Gorge walkway, and completing circuit on Waitawheta and Dickey Flat roads Grade: Undulating; informal and well-formed paths, and a dark rough section of ca. For example, winter hiking offers more opportunities for the warmth and inviting atmosphere of camp cooking. We visited Karangahake Gorge during Christmas and New Year eve of 2020. When we emerged from the Waikino end of the tunnel we were 71.4 feet higher than when we entered it at the Karangahake end! Karangahake Gorge. Voted as one of the 101 Must Do's for Kiwis. This adventure explores remnants from these challenging endeavours.Play Video. After emerging from the tunnel, it’s a relatively short walk along more traditional NZ bush track back to the Karangahake Gorge car park. Click to read about this interesting and beautiful place. The next exciting part of the Hauraki Rail Trail is the 1 km long, original railway tunnel. The first 1.2km are a narrow fun trail alongside the river. If you start from Paeroa you cross farmland for a while but soon you're in the stunning Karangahake Gorge with Mount Karangahake towering above. Waikino—Karangahake Gorge (return) 18km, easy, 3-4 hours. A great cure for my winter ennui has always been to get out into the outdoors at this time of year: properly, and at least once. Karangahake Gorge Crown Track to Dickey's Flat. Karangahake Gorge is known for its forest walk. The name of the Windows Walk comes from the holes that were cut in the sides of the tunnels to shovel out rock into the river in the gold mining days. This walkway features historic railway remains in a stunning natural gorge setting, including two steel truss . Karangahake Railway Tunnel Walk Length and walk time of Railway Tunnel Loop. A well illustrated practical guide to 13 of the historic goldfields of Coromandel Peninsula. Then you meet the rail trail as it exits the tunnel and crosses the river, and you follow this to Waitawheta Road at 4.7km. Found inside – Page 732The traffic on the line best route , but it necessitates a tunnel over being at ... of Karangahake , where there is a very abrupt angle in the gorge . Hike through remnants of gold mining pumps, glow worm inhabited tunnels, and old railways in this gorge carved out by the power of the Ohinemuri River. Bring a torch for the old rail and mining tunnels. We just asked a fellow camper which way to head. The first time we walked the Windows Walk it was a loop and we got right around without having to carry the 4 year old. 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