The Waitawheta Tramway

Today saw us boarding a coach at 8am and heading down to the Karangahake Gorge near the old mining town of Waihi. We were with our Auckland Natural History Walking Club and we walked part of the old Waitawheta Tramway Track, which operated between 1898 and 1928 and was one of the most spectacular bush tramways ever built.  Whilst relatively flat, we needed to be careful as the ground was uneven, and there were rocks and muddy, wet patches to navigate.  It was an interesting walk and there were lots of signboards along the track that gave information about the mining and logging activities that took place in the region.  It must have been extremely hard and dangerous work back in those days. The main and the extra show views from the walk.