Waihi accommodation from AU$146

Waihi has been a mining town since John McCombie and Robert Lee discovered gold there in 1878, on a Maori burial ground that became the Martha Mine. The original Martha Mine was closed in 1952, and the modern was one has been an open-pit mine since 1987. Since 1988, the mine has produced about 100,000 ounces of gold and 700,000 ounces of silver. Relics of the old gold mining days, like the Cornish Pumphouse, still abound in Waihi.

Things to do

Stand right at the edge of the Martha Mine. Follow the Pit Rim Walkway from town to get there and you’ll be greeted by a staggering view into the open mine’s deep pit, surrounded by countryside. To learn more about gold mining, take a guided tour.

Waihi Beach, a particularly blissful slice of the Coromandel Peninsula, offers nine kms of white sand, safe surfing and the chance for a relaxing dip. It’s not the only beach worth visiting in the Waihi region either. Anzac Bay has nice parks and calm waters, and Whiritoa Beach has a small swimming lagoon and views of the Bowentown headland.

Waihi’s ultimate nature walk is the Karangahake Gorge. Here you can cross a suspension bridge over the Ohinemuri River, take a dip in a swimming hole, explore gold mining relics like ore roasting kilns and even take a one-kilometre walk through an old brick-lined railway tunnel. A couple of hour’s drive away you’ll find Owharoa Falls, three waterfalls surrounded by lovely bush.

Shopping and dining

If you want to get some shopping, Waihi has decent fashion and swimwear stores. Dine out in beachside cafes, fancy restaurants or wineries in the countryside.

Getting here

Waihi is one hour and 40 minutes from Auckland and our flights to Auckland will take you part of the way so that you can hire a car or catch a bus to Waihi. Book your Waihi accommodation with us and dig a little deeper in New Zealand.

Image credit Pseudopanax under Creative Commons