Undiscovered Waihı¯
Hidden treasures of a gold-mining town
Bookended with coffee and culinary treats from two excellent cafes, time spent exploring the heritage goldmining town of Waihı¯ includes a shaded riverside gorge on two feet or two wheels, descending into a stillactive goldmine, and dinner with Bay of Plenty and island views.
Morning Coffee and vintage vinyl at The Refinery
On your way to Waihı¯, stop at one of regional New Zealand’s best cafes for a coffee and to fire up the stereo with a record from The Refinery’s overflowing bins crammed with the best music from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Furniture last seen in a Pakuranga rumpus room reinforces the retro vibe, and the concise food menu, includes great homestyle baking and grilled sourdough sandwiches. Try the Cubano, crammed with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese and pickles.
5 Willoughby St, Paeroa
Shop at Amberjack Candle Company
Next door to The Refinery, the Amberjack Candle Company specialises in the kind of aromatic specialties more likely sold in hip overseas destinations like Australia’s Byron Bay or California’s Paso Robles. All the candles are handpoured and made with 100 per cent pure soy wax, and enlivened with cosmopolitan fragrance blends, including cedarwood and ash or tobacco flower, and oak. Liquid diffusers are also available, and the entire range is available online at amberjack. co.nz.
5a Willoughby St, Paeroa
Explore Karangahake Gorge
The full 197km cycling network of the Hauraki Rail Trail takes in destinations as diverse as Thames, Kaiaua, Paeroa and Te Aroha, but the bush-shaded, riverside stretch through the Karangahake Gorge is undoubtedly the most picturesque. Check out haurakicycletrail.co.nz for bike hire options. The gorge can also be explored on two feet on the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway. Options include a short 45-minute stroll, or a longer 7km return track (around four hours). See doc.govt.nz for details.
State Highway 2, Karangahake Gorge
Midday Wood-fired dining at The Falls Retreat Bistro
Tucked away in a sylvan glade a short drive from SH2 through the gorge, The Falls Retreat is the perfect place for a relaxing post-exercise lunch. The wood-fired oven is harnessed for much of the menu, including excellent pizza and more sophisticated mains of lamb, fish or free-range pork belly. Team the kimchi-spiced chicken pizza with a pale ale from Hamilton brewers Good George. There’s also country-style cottage accommodation available.
25 Waitawheta Rd, Karangahake Gorge
Afternoon Goldmining with Waihı¯ Gold Mine Tours
Gold from Martha Mine has been the biggest game in town since the 1880s, and Waihı¯’s grand main avenue, lined with phoenix palms, hints at the region’s gold-flecked prosperity. Walk uphill past the skeletal remains of the Cornish Pumphouse, to stare down into the 250-metre-deep mine, or join a mini-bus tour to explore 21st-century mining activity. Currently, tours leave at 1pm on weekdays and at 10.30am and 1pm on weekends. Check golddiscoverycentre.co.nz/tours for more. 126 Seddon St, Waihı¯
History at Waihı¯ Gold Discovery Centre
In the same building as Waihi’s i-Site tourist information office, the Gold Discovery Centre is the place to learn about the area’s goldmining heritage. The centre’s attractions are a seamless
blend of historic curios and smart use of interactive technology. Ways to get involved include working a replica air drill or pushing down on a plunger to trigger a virtual explosion, and there’s also the chance to test your gambling skills playing two-up against a hologram of a grizzled 19th-century miner.
126 Seddon St, Waihı¯
Stylish shopping at Waihı¯ Beach
A popular weekend destination for Hamilton residents, the main street of nearby Waihı¯ Beach is punctuated with a few surprising shopping opportunities. During spring and summer, the Balinese-inspired courtyard of the Secret Garden combines options for fashion, homewares and coffee, while authentic Swiss-style artisan chocolates are crafted by Ines and Adrien at Chez Moi, the Swiss Chocolate Shop.
Wilson Rd, Waihi Beach
Evening Dinner at Flatwhite
With an absolute waterfront location just metres from Waihı¯ Beach, Flatwhite is a versatile all-day spot for eating and drinking. Secure a table on the deck for views of the surf and the low-slung profile of Mayor Island/Tu¯hua. Hearty dishes include macadamia-crusted salmon and Asian-style confit duck leg, while fish tacos and steamed pork buns go well with beers from Riverhead’s Hallertau Brewery. Head back for coffee the following morning, and it’s the perfect place for a Waihı¯ Beach sunrise.
21 Shaw Rd, Waihı¯ Beach
Morning Swimming at Bowentown
After coffee, make the short drive south along Seaforth Rd to the carpark near the Bowentown Beach Holiday Park. A pathway leads through the dunes to good swimming on the southern edge of Waihı¯ Beach. If the surf is too strong, consider the more sheltered waters of nearby Anzac Bay at the northern entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Seaforth Rd, Bowentown
Brilliant burgers at Surf Shack Eatery
Lauded by Lonely Planet for ‘‘quite possibly the best burgers in New Zealand’’, it’s definitely worth making the short journey to the Surf Shack near Waihı¯’s low-key airstrip. The El Sid Mexicano burger combines pulled pork, cheese, pineapple, and jalapeno corn chips, and there are also global street food classics and excellent salads. For a sustaining breakfast, try the crunchy granola or the breakfast burrito.
123 Emerton Rd, Waihı¯ Beach