The Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway is a loved and very popular walk located at the southern end of the Coromandel Ranges. It follows an old railway line between Paeroa and Waihi. It runs alongside the Ohinemuri River, where you’ll see two bridges, a 1km rail tunnel, and old gold-mining relics like the Victoria Battery site and Waikino train station.

Track overview

• Difficulty: Easy but long

• Length: 14km return

• Time: 4-5 hours return

Although the entire Historic Walkway to Waikino is long, it’s almost entirely flat and family-friendly. It’s a shared part of the Hauraki Rail Trail, so you can expect to see mountain bikers along the way. It’s also dog-friendly, which is one of the reasons the Karangahake Gorge is so popular.

How to get there

The Karangahake Gorge is located on State Highway 2 between Paeroa and Waihi. It’s approximately 2 hours from Auckland or just over an hour from Tauranga. There’s a large free car park off State Highway 2 with toilets, information signs and a cafe across the road if you want a drink or bite to eat.

The Rail Tunnel Loop starts right from this car park, but if you’re short on time, there are many other walks worth checking out! The Tunnel Loop is only 2.5km long, and although it’s shorter, it still includes both bridges and the historic tunnel!