Author Archives: nzartig

Mount Eliza Mine and Summit

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The Mt Eliza Mine Track connects the North South Track in the Kaimai Range to Thompsons Track, south-west of Katikati. Thompsons Track consists of two major parts: a road from SH2 south of Katikati to the boundary of the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, an impassable 4WD track crossing over the Kaimai Range to Thompsons Road, off Te Aroha – Gordon Rd on the western side of the Kaimai Range. The Mt Eliza Mine Track passes the old, abandoned Mt Eliza gold mine, with part of the track consisting of the pack track used to transport supplies to the mine. Continue reading →

Karaponga Reserve and Dam

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For an addition and an update to this post, see the later post Karaponga Reserve, Waterfall and Dam.

Karaponga Reserve is located at the end of Symond Rd, off Braemar Rd, between Matata and Kawerau. The reserve has one of the earliest hydro-electric power stations in New Zealand, with a dam on the Karaponga Stream supplying water to the power station.

The power station was first constructed in 1922 to supply power to Whakatane. It was expanded with a second generator in 1928, but closed down in 1939. Reconstruction and recommissioning started in 1996, and the power station is now operational. The light pumice soils in the area quickly filled up the dam, so it contains almost no water reserve, with the power station relying on the flow of the Karaponga Stream alone for its supply. About 800m of pipeline transports the water from the dam to the power station, with a fall from about 120m above sea level at the dam to about 40m at the power station. Continue reading →

North South Track – SH29 to North Henderson Tramline

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The North South Track in the Kaimai Range is a total of 82 km long, with the northern end in the Karangahake Gorge, and the southern end near the summit of SH29 across the Kaimai Range. Accessible directly from SH29 is also a short Kaimai Summit Loop Track, about 700m long, with two stream crossings and numerous steps.

This post covers the Summit Loop Track and the North South Track between SH29 and the North Henderson Tramline Track. For more details of the Henderson Tramline Tracks see the Henderson Tramline Loop post. This also includes the North South Track between the two tramline track branches.

There is a parking area by the northern side of SH29 near the summit. The Summit Loop track forms the first part of the North South track, with both starting at the parking area. Directly across the road from the parking area is a small spring where people often stop and collect drinking water. Continue reading →

Aongatete Walking Tracks

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There are several walking tracks starting near Aongatete Lodge, on a short access road near the end of Wright Rd south of Katikati. The tracks are in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park. One of the tracks provides access to the North South Track, which runs along almost the whole length of the Kaimai Range. The other tracks provide walks through regenerating native forest, and access to a popular swimming hole in a local stream.

There is a parking area on the lodge access road, and a toilet nearby. Access to the lodge itself, and the road from the parking area to the lodge, is for users of the lodge only, and should not be used for access to the tracks. Continue reading →

Bowentown Domain

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Bowentown Domain, at the end of the peninsula at the southern end of Waihi Beach, and bordering the Katikati Entrance to Tauranga Harbour, has a number of walking tracks on the two hills which comprise the majority of the 128 hectare reserve. Remains of several pa sites are clearly visible on the hills.

The shoreline consists mainly of rocks, but with a few sandy beaches on the harbour side, by the harbour entrance, and on the ocean side. There are two car parking areas. The headland car park gives easy access to Te Ho Pa and Te Kura a Maia, and the other at Anzac Bay has toilet facilities, boat launching access, and an area available for freedom camping in self-contained campervans. Continue reading →

Mt Te Aroha summit

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Mount Te Aroha in the Kaimai Range at the edge of the Hauraki Plains towers above the town of Te Aroha. At a height of 953m it is the highest mountain in the area, with the summit being used for a transmission and communication tower. Previously the mountain has seen mining (gold, silver, tin, etc) and forestry activity.

There is a road leading from Tui Rd to the summit, but this is not open to the public. Several walking and tramping tracks also lead to the summit, with the shortest and most direct being the track from the Te Aroha Domain. This is the most frequently used track. With the Domain only being about 35 metres above sea level, there is a more or less direct climb of about 920 metres to reach the summit. Continue reading →

Omanawa Falls

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NOTE – December 2023: For an update post with information access and new facilities see the post Te Rere o Ōmanawa/Ōmanawa Falls (Update).

NOTE: There is no longer any public access to the falls viewing area, and there has never been public access to the base of the falls. The access track has been closed for safety reasons, and will remain closed until safe access can be provided, including, hopefully, to the base of the falls. Please see the comments at the end of this post, which remains as a historical record, and please do not attempt to access the Omanawa Falls.

Omanawa Falls and the plunge pool below it can be seen from a viewing area above the falls, about 15 minutes easy walk from Omanawa Rd. The falls are about 20km by road south-west of Tauranga.

There is a small parking area by the road, but no facilities or information except for a small sign pointing to the access track.

The Omanawa River plunges about 35m in a single fall. The water from the river is partially diverted through the Omanawa Falls Power Station, the first underground power station to be built in the Southern Hemisphere. The original power station was built in about 1915, and rebuilt and restarted in 2008 after being closed for some years.

Unfortunately with the power station running again there is less water in the waterfall, being reduced to almost a trickle despite ample recent rainfall.

Continue reading →

Bluff Stream Kauri Loop

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Two of the largest Kauri trees in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park can be seen alongside the Bluff Stream Kauri Loop Track. The track is accessible from the end of Franklin Rd, off Waitawheta Rd, between Waihi and Karangahake. The loop track passes around Maungawhio, a 366m high dome-shaped knoll. The large Kauri trees are on the south-eastern side of Maungawhio.

The most difficult part of the walk are the river crossings, especially during winter or after heavy rainfall. The track crosses the Waitawheta River twice, and Bluff Stream, a tributary to Waitawheta River, once. Both were about knee deep at all 3 crossing locations during this walk.

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Lindemann Loop Track and Wairoa Shelter

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The Lindemann Loop Track, accessible from the end of Lindemann Rd just north of Katikati, consists of two parts: the southern Ridge Track, and the northern Pack Track. These rejoin at a junction a short distance from the Wairoa Shelter. The track continues on past the Wairoa Shelter, joining up with the Upper Waitawheta Track and Cashmores Clearing Track. The Wairoa Stream Track also joins up with the Lindemann Loop Pack Track.

The Pack Track is more than twice as long as the Ridge Track, but has a gentle gradient except where crossing streams where the original track has been washed away. The Ridge Track has some steep sections as it follows a ridgeline from Lindemann Rd to the junction with the Pack Track.

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Karangahake Tunnel Loop to Owharoa Falls

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There are several walking and mountain biking tracks in the Karangahake Gorge between Waihi and Paeroa. The Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway mostly follows the route of the old railway running through the gorge. The railway was closed and the rails removed in the 1970s, but some of the rail bridges still exist, and the rail line between Waikino and Waihi has been reopened for passengers on the Goldfields Railway.

The walkway/cycleway is now open from Waihi to Karangahake Hall as the western end of the gorge. Parking is available by the Karangahake Reserve, accessible directly from SH2, and further west by the Western Portal Bridge, which crosses SH2. The lower level of the bridge is a one-lane road bridge.

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