Sights in Coromandel Region
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Goldmine Experience
Walk through a mine tunnel, watch a stamper battery crush rock, learn about the history of the Cornish miners and try your hand at panning for gold ($2 extra).
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Butterfly & Orchid Garden
Anyone with a fairy complex will adore the Butterfly & Orchid Garden, 3km north of town within the Dickson Holiday Park. It’s an enclosed jungle full of hundreds of exotic flappers.
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C
Waterworks
The Waterworks, 5km from SH25, is a wonderfully bizarre park filled with whimsical water-powered amusements made from old kitchen knives, washing machines, bikes and toilets.
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Passenger Ferry Ride
A five-minute passenger ferry ride will take you across the harbour to Whitianga Rock Scenic & Historical Reserve, Flaxmill Bay, Shakespeare's Lookout, Captain Cook's Memorial, Lonely Bay and Cooks Bay.
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D
Coromandel Goldfield Centre & Stamper Battery
The rock-crushing machine clatters into life during the informative one-hour tours of this 1899 plant; call ahead for times. You can also try panning for gold ($5). Outside of the tours it’s worth stopping for a gander at NZ’s largest working waterwheel.
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Rapaura Water Gardens
At Tapu it’s worth turning inland for a mainly sealed 6km drive to the Rapaura Water Gardens, a marriage of water, greenery, sculpture and platitudes. There’s accommodation on-site (cottage/lodge $165/275) and a well regarded cafe (mains $14 to $29).
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Heritage Museum
The Heritage Museum has an art gallery and displays focusing on the region’s gold-mining history. Prepare to squirm before the collection of miners’ chopped-off thumbs preserved in glass jars.
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E
School of Mines & Mineralogical Museum
The Historic Places Trust runs tours of these buildings, which house an extensive collection of NZ rocks, minerals and fossils. The oldest section (1868) was part of a Methodist Sunday school, situated on a Maori burial ground. The Trust also distributes a free self-tour pamphlet taking in Thames’ significant buildings.
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F
Mercury Bay Museum
A small but interesting museum focusing on local history – especially Whitianga’s most famous visitors, Kupe and Cook.
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Moko Artspace
Near the hot water beach, Moko is full of beautiful things – art, sculpture, jewellery – with a modern Pasifika/Maori bent.
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Waihi Waterlily Gardens
Seven hectares of ponds, peacocks and pretty things, 7km southwest of Waihi. There’s a cafe on-site.
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G
Coromandel Mining & Historic Museum
This small museum provides a glimpse of pioneer life.
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Historical Museum
Pioneer relics, rocks and old photographs of the town.
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Athenree Hot Springs
In those months when the waters of Waihi Beach aren't inviting, retreat to these two small but blissful outdoor hot pools, hidden within a holiday park.
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Buffalo Beach - Southern End
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New Chum's Beach
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Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park
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Dalmeny Corner
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Whare-Taewa Pa
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Wharekaho Pa
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Seddon St
Waihi's main drag has interesting sculptures, information panels about Waihi’s golden past and roundabouts that look like squashed daleks. Opposite the visitor centre, the skeleton of a derelict Cornish Pumphouse (1904) is the town's main landmark, atmospherically lit at night. From here the Pit Rim Walkway has fascinating views into the 250m-deep Martha Mine. If you want to get down into it, the mining company runs 1½-hour Waihi Gold Mine Tours.
The Historic Hauraki Gold Towns pamphlet (free from the visitor centre) outlines walking tours of both Waihi and Paeroa.
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Pit Rim Walkway
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