Explore Thames NZ

14/07/2025

Thames was shrouded in a beautiful mist this morning.

09/07/2025

Here is our event list for next week in Thames.

Ruaumoko – Restless Land a fantastic interactive display at Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga well worth checking out.

The Thames Market - Every Saturday runs on Saturday.

On Sunday we have another concert put on by Thames Music Group , Musical husband and wife duo, Andrew Atkins (piano) and Caitlin Morris (cello), in the beautiful Thames Anglican The St George Church has excellent acoustics.

Next Friday we have Bingo night at Thames Rugby Club, raising money for SNR Mixed Touch

Next Sunday we have Karaka Trailhead working bee, run by Thames Environmental Alliance - TEA come along and help make one of our great tracks even more beautiful.

Here at Explore Thames we are aiming to list all Thames Ward events.

https://explorethames.nz/list-an-event/

03/07/2025

Seagull Centre - Thames is celebrating their 19th birthday on Saturday 5th. The fun starts from 9.30am, with a live auction at 1pm.

I thought I would take a look at the many 2nd hand/ recycled goodies on display. You can meander there for hours through the aisles of unique items with something for everyone.

The Seagull Centre is one of Thames' great success stories,
It is an award-winning, registered charitable trust and has been operating from the Thames site since 2004.

The Seagull Centre is now self-sustaining and not reliant on grants or subsidies for ongoing operations.

The Seagull Centre provides grants back into the community.

01/07/2025

The explorethames.nz website runs an event guide, and we will be sharing what's on in the Thames Ward each week.

https://explorethames.nz/thames-events/

This week there's plenty on for the School holidays, with programmes run by the Thames Scouts and Thames Coromandel District Libraries

On Saturday, Seagull Centre - Thames is having their 19th birthday with the fun kicking off at 9.30am.

If you are running an event in the Thames ward, then please share it with us.

https://explorethames.nz/list-an-event/

01/07/2025

Great to see our local micro distiller taking on and beating the best Gins in the world.

Arrowtown Distillery also won an accolade.

28/06/2025

Hi everyone – Brent here 👋

Just a quick note to say this is my last post before handing over content creation for Explore Thames to the Thames Business Association!

Thanks so much for following along and sharing your kind words over the past 18 months – it’s been a real privilege to help tell the stories of this place, and showcase the many beautiful and interesting corners of Thames.

Moving here was a chance to slow down, get involved, and discover what makes Thames truly special – its tracks and trails, rivers and valleys, beaches, shops, cafes, museums, and most of all, its people!

People often ask, “Why did you move to Thames?” Well I think the photos speak for themselves. Here are a 'few' of my faves. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

📷 All photos Brent Courtney
Explore Thames brand, info centre refit and more by www.brandmatter.co.nz

26/06/2025

MĀORI PLACE NAMES OF THAMES & THEIR MEANINGS

Te Kauaeranga, Thames features numerous Māori place names - understanding their meanings provides insight into the historic significance of these locations. This list is what we could collate and check, and note there are many more Māori block and whanau names on maps past and present that tell an even deeper story.

HAPE Named after Ngāti Maru ancestor and chief, Te Hape, who gifted land for the Shortland Cemetery.

HAURAKI “The North Wind.” Refers to the strong wind that blew off the Firth of Thames.

HEREWAKA ST “A safe mooring place for waka.” At the mouth of the Herewaka Stream was a sizable inlet that joined the Waiwhakaurunga River. This bend was a popular mooring place for waka, cutters, and larger boats from the 1830s.

HIKUTAIA “The tail of the taia (large eel).” Hiku means tail and taia refers to a rare species of very large eel particular to this region, often regarded as a taniwha of the Hauraki waterways.

KAITARAKIHI “The place where tarakihi (cicada) were consumed.” Ngāti Maru's principal maunga (mountain).

KIRIKIRI “river stones, shingle.” The surrounding area is littered with smooth river-worn stones deposited by the stream. A favourable area for cultivation with access to the sea via the rivers. Occupied by earlier Ngāti Hako and Ngāti Huarere, now the Marutūāhu people. Adjacent to at the nearby Oruarangi pā.

KŌPŪ 1. Belly. 2. The planet Venus. The area was formerly swampy wetland with many taniwha, likened to bellies (Kōpū). Venus appears as the morning star.

KŌPŪ-ĀRAHI 1. A large deep pool. 2. Guidance by Venus. Probably refers to a large pool in the Piako River which adjoins and old pā. The path of Venus.

KURANUI “Large red head plume.” Likely named after blooming Pōhutukawa trees along the coast and also an important ancestor.

MANGA-KIRIKIRI “The tributary of river stones.” The Mangakirikiri Stream, is a branch of the Waiwhakaurunga River. The valley was favoured for its prolific bird life and magnificent stand of trees. A tribal dispute once arose over the felling of one particular tree that had been made into a waka. Dragging the waka down to the main river was proving difficult as the skids had not been properly prepared. They were attacked by an opposing tribe who took possession of the waka and completed the haul, made easier by the bodies of their enemies as rollers.

MARAMARAHI “The moon in great fullness.”

MARATOTO 1. “Outspread apron of blood.” 2. “Blood-soaked ground.” This rugged peak became the last stand for Ngāti Hako warriors, with blood-soaked rocks from both sides.

MARUTŪĀHU 1. Maru. Shelter for kumara. 2. Tuahu. Mounds for growing kumara. The Tainui waka brought the first kumara tuber from Hawaiki to Aotearoa. Marutūāhu is the great ancestor of the Tainui Hauraki tribes.

MĀTAI-WHETŪ “The observation place of the stars.” On moonless nights a planetarium emerges with 'the flight of Kōpū' (Venus rising) glowing over the darkened hills, passing along Kōpūārahi (its ancient path), before dropping beyond Maramarua (double moons) and setting in Meremere (Venus descending).

MATATOKI “A small adze, a meteorite.” To commemorate the flakes of hard rock that where fashioned into adzes in the pursuit of the taniwha Kōpuku.

MOANA-TAIARI “Waters of the taiari.” Named after the plentiful small shark (dogfish) in the coastal waters.

NGARIMU BAY Named after 2nd Lieutenant Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu of Ngāti Porou, who was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross in 1943. It was previously called Ōtohi, meaning ‘the place of baptismal rights’.

PAHAU ST Named after land-owner Pahau Ngatawa, who lived and cultivated the land.

PĀRĀWAI 1. River sediment and silt. 2. “Finely woven flax cloak.” Tidal waters of the Waiwhakaurunga often appeared as a patterned cloak after floods, mottled with forest debris.

PIAKO "The emptying waters." The river flowed into the interior through vast swamp lands which where renowned for natural resources such as birds, fish, flax and timber.

PUKE'O'RAKA "The Hill of Raka" Puke'o'Raka lies in the middle of the legendary waka of Hauraki that extends from Mt Moehau (the stern), to Mt Te Aroha (the prow). According to Ngāti Maru tradition, when there is a local death nearby, the person is said to have fallen in the midst of the waka under the shadow of Te Puke-O-Rakamaomao.

PŪRIRI A native hardwood tree with year-round fruit, popular among Tui.

TE ANAPUTA-O-TAINUI "The perforated rock of the Tainui canoe." Around 1350, the Tainui waka migrated from Hawaiki to Aotearoa. As the crew of the Tainui waka rounded the Coromandel Peninsula during a storm, there was at risk of their guide Pane-iraira (a whale) stranding in the shallow waters of Tīkapa Moana, so they summoned the taniwha Ureia, who, in the form of a dolphin, guided the waka into the safe anchorage of Tainui Cove. The crew moored their waka by passing ropes through a natural aperture in an arched rock - Te Anaputa-o-Tainui - and sheltered in one of Ureia’s nearby caves from the storm, before continuing their journey.

TE HOE-O-TAINUI “The paddle of the Tainui waka.” As the Tainui waka explored up Piako River it got marooned on a shallow sandbank. A paddle stuck fast, which later freed and floated upstream to this location. It is said a large rock was laid in it's place.

TE KARAKA “The stream along whose banks grew a profusion of Karaka trees.” Karaka trees are still found along the stream today.

TE KAUAERANGA “The stacked row of jawbones.” Ngāti Huarere named it based on “He ripanga paraoa ki Kauaeranga” - “a heap of s***m whales at Kauaeranga,” possibly referring to whales stranded in the area.

TE MATĀ “the heaped layer of shells.” The prevailing westerlies heaped the shells up at the high-tide mark in a glittering white wall.

TE-MAUNGA-MAU-PAKI "the mountain that entraps fair skies." Maumaupaki (Camel's Rock) is visible from the Tapu Valley.

TE PUKE-RAKAMAOMAO “The hill of Rakamaomao.” Puke-o-Raka is significant as being the middle of the legendary canoe of Hauraki within the Ngāti Maru tribal boundaries with the stern at Moehau and the prow at Te Aroha. Rakamaomao was five generations removed from Chief Hoturoa of the Tainui waka

TE PURU “The blockage, the plug.” Previously named Te Āputa (‘wide open flat land’), the stream was diverted to its present position after a landslip upstream caused a blockage.

TE TARA-O-TE-IKA-A-Māui “the barb of the fish of Māui.” Hauraki tradition likens the North Island to a whai (stingray) with it’s head in Wellington, tail in North Auckland and it’s barb as the Coromandel Peninsula.

TE TARARU-O-HINETEKAKARA (Tararu) “Exposed p***s of the lady of intoxicating fragrance.” The hills were mined for sandstone, and the name was given by Te Arawa chief Kahumatamoemoe, likening the exposed hill sides to physical features of his daughter Hinetekakara.

TE TŌTARA “The native red pine.” Site of an old stronghold pā which is now tapu.

Te WHARAU (THORNTON BAY) “A shelter built for travelers.” The area is the physical boundary of Ngāti Maru to the south and Ngāti Tamaterā to the north.

TĪKAPA MOANA (Hauraki Gulf) Refers to ceremonies protecting the Tainui and Te Arawa tribes, held at a small island off Cape Colville known as Tīkapa or Takapū, meaning gannet.

TURUA "A place of great beauty." Turua is built on an old pā site beside the Waihou River which was once a great Kahikatea forest.

WAI-KAWAU “The waters of the (cormorant) shag”. A favoured seasonal fishing village of Ngāti Tamaterā with tribal hapū in constant occupation.

WAIKEIKIE The stream where abundant stands of keikie, or weaving flax, were found.

WAIOKARAKA The waters of the Karaka tree.

WAI-Ō-TAHE (Waiotahi) “The waters in which the me**es were cleaned away.” The stream’s waters were used by wahine experiencing their first menstruation to cleanse themselves, in a state of strict tapu.

WAI-Ō-UMU (Waiomu) “The sea waters are shaped like a cooking oven.”

WAIPATUKAHU “where fine garments were washed on the river stones.” (NOW Tapu) “Sacred/restricted land.” In 1839, Ngāti Tamaterā's Aorangi pā was attacked by a Tauranga raiding party, and the area became known as Tapu due to the slaughter and burial of Ngāti Tamaterā there.

WAIWHAKAURUNGA "The many bathing pools of the upper reaches".

WHAKATĪWAI “A place of permanent settlement.” Chief Hotunui resided in the pā after leaving Kawhia. Marutūāhu conquered the occupants and made it his home and eventually died there.

Source: Te Takoto o te Whenua o Hauraki: Hauraki Landmarks – Taimoana Turoa (2000)
Source: Nga Taonga of Te Kauaeranga - Taimoana Turoa (1993)

26/06/2025

Proud as punch! 🍸

Awildian Gin has again taken top accolades at the World Drinks Awards, this time for it's Awildian Mānuka Gin took out the 'World's Best Matured Gin'. With its 18th Century roots and distinctive smoked Coromandel Mānuka wood and honey flavours, it beat out the competition. This award follows up on previous years 'World's Best Classic Gin' for Awildian.

You can find Awildian Gin and The Coromandel Distilling Co. located at the back of the Depot (behind Cafe Melbourne) where you can sample and purchase all of their Gins.

Awildian Gin

26/06/2025

We popped into our favourite Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga yesterday to check out the amazing 'Rūaumoko - Restless Land' an interactive exhibition that is on loan/tour from our national museum - Te Papa.

It's a great hands-on exhibit, with both high and low-tech features and perfect for all ages. Find out how volcanos and earthquakes happen, the geology of our land, and what to prepare for in an emergency. It was also awesome to see an activity showing the ingenuity of māori as they bound their whares strong and safe from earthquakes. The team at the museum have also added additional local information and a great rock and mineral display.

Rūaumoko - Restless Land is at the Thames Museum from Thursday 19th June - Tuesday 19th August. The museum is open daily from 10am-1pm, closed Sunday, cnr Cochrane and Pollen Street. Entry Adults $5, kids $2. 2 adults and 2 children $10.

All this talk of volcanos is super relevant to Coromandel and Thames as the formation of our landscape led to the conditions conducive to producing gold and reminded me of some of the information we wrote below for the Thames Info Centre information boards.

🧈 How Thames Gold Came to Be 🧈

The story of gold in Thames begins over 80 million years ago, when the land we now call New Zealand was part of a vast supercontinent called Gondwana. As Zealandia started to peel away and drift into the Pacific, enormous layers of silt and clay settled deep beneath the sea, building a hidden continent below the waves.

Then, around 23 million years ago, all that weight caused a shift, literally. The land sank, tectonic plates buckled, and volcanic chaos followed. Lava erupted, mountains rose, and the Coromandel landscape was born in fire and force.

Those first volcanic blasts spewed out a dark lava called andesite, the foundation of what would become the Hauraki goldfields. Deep underground, hot water and steam moved through the fractured rock, picking up minerals as they went. As they cooled, the minerals, including gold, silver, copper, and more, crystallised in cracks and crevices, forming quartz veins like hidden treasure maps beneath the hills.
But unlike the South Island, where gold was often found glinting in riverbeds, Thames gold stayed buried in rock. It had to be dug out.

Miners searched for rusty, iron-stained quartz, a telltale sign that gold might be close. When they found a promising outcrop, they would stake a claim, mark out a patch of ground, and start chipping away with pickaxes, chasing veins of quartz underground.

Most reefs angled down into the earth, and even a narrow vein, called a “leader,” could spark a gold rush. Miners followed these threadlike clues, hoping they would lead to a thicker reef packed with riches. Even if they couldn’t see gold with the naked eye, they knew it might still be there. Once crushed and processed, both gold and silver could be chemically drawn out of the rock.

It was backbreaking work, with no guarantees, but every sparkle in the stone, every reddish streak, was a whisper of something deeper. In Thames, the gold wasn’t given freely. You had to earn it.

⛏️ The 1867 Gold Rush to the Thames ⛏️

Gold was discovered in Thames in July 1867, along the banks of the Karaka Stream. The find was made by Ngāti Maru Chief Taipari, alongside Paratene Whakautu and Hamiora Te Nana. Shortly after, Chief Taipari offered to open 3,000 acres of land to European prospectors.

News travelled fast. In Auckland, Deputy Superintendent Dr Daniel Pollen sent James Mackay to oversee the new goldfield as its appointed warden. Mackay returned by ship with fifty eager prospectors. On 10 August 1867, gold was struck again, this time in a rock face beneath a waterfall in the Kuranui Stream. It would become the site of the world-famous Shotover claim.

There was one problem. The discovery sat outside the official goldfield boundary set by the government. Mackay urged everyone to stay quiet while he negotiated with Ngāti Maru to expand the mining area. The deal was made, and the rush was on.

Within a year, Thames had exploded with activity. Eighteen thousand people had poured into the area. Over 1,200 mining claims were registered, and 27 crushing batteries were in operation, with another 13 under construction. The field had already produced over 83,000 ounces (2.35 tonnes) of gold. On average, one tonne of quartz would yield 28 grams of gold, though mines yielding over 84 grams per tonne were considered truly profitable.

From 1868 to 1871, the gold rush reached its peak. The Thames field generated almost one million pounds sterling in gold. That wealth helped pull Auckland and the wider colony out of economic depression and even kickstarted New Zealand’s first stock market boom.

At the start, Thames was not a town, but a flat expanse of Māori land, home to cultivated gardens, kāinga, and the Te Kauaeranga Pā. The arrival of prospectors transformed the land. Military bell tents stretched across the flats. Shanties went up overnight. So did the first pubs, butchers, and grocers. Ngāti Maru constructed raupō huts for the miners, often with iron roofs and outdoor cooking spaces.

Mining was hard, heavy work. Quartz had to be hauled from deep inside tunnels to crushing batteries further down the hills. Some miners laid tracks underground for carts and horses. Outside, they built roads, chutes, tramlines, and hauling systems, often dragging down a tonne of rock at a time.

By 1870, the government stepped in and built tramways up the Moanataiari, Karaka, and Waiotahi Streams, though much of the groundwork had already been done by the miners themselves.

Soon after, another gold strike hit. The Manukau, Golden Crown, and Caledonian claims between Moanataiari and Waiotahi uncovered a massive lode, leaving behind what is now a hollowed-out hill.

The goldfield peaked in the early 1870s. As the rich reefs dried up, a slow decline began. By the turn of the century, mining companies were consolidating smaller claims, attracting fresh investors, and digging deeper in hope. One final bonanza came in 1904, when the Waiotahi claim hit a rich vein. It became the second richest claim in the field and continued operating until 1907.

The gold rush left a deep imprint. The bustling towns of Shortland and Grahamstown grew over the land once cultivated by Ngāti Maru. Market gardens were displaced, and the rhythms of the whenua were changed forever.

25/06/2025

Explore Interesting Markets, Antique & Op-Shops in Thames!

Thames has an amazing selection of quirky and interesting antique, secondhand shops and markets in town! Worth a special trip for! Head down on a Saturday morning to time your visit with the Grahamstown Markets and make a day of it! The perfect roadie.

Here is a rundown of them all!

Crown Lynn and More Store • 756 Pollen St, Thames
Crown Lynn ceramics became a household name in New Zealand in the 1950s and have continued to have a place in many Kiwis hearts. You can find all these memories and more at Crown Lynn and More Store where you can pick up sets of Crown Lynn plates, saucers, cups, glasses, vases, swans as well a mandatory tea towel for the kitchen. Retro bliss! Owner Monica knows her stuff and prices are very reasonable.
The Crown Lynn and More Store

Thames Trading Post • 724 Pollen Street, Thames
The Trading post is a hive for local industrial collectables like old motoring and industrial signs, tools and hardware, as well as coins and notes, model cars, bottles, jewellery and clothing, bric a brac and Kiwiana souvenirs. It’s probably got one of the best selection of tools and old signs out of all the options on the list (they dont make em like the old days!).
Thames Trading Post - Pollen Street

Antiques in Thames • 638 Pollen Street, Thames
The family-run Callaway business started as a small antique shop forty years ago by Jon’s parents who imported a container of antiques overseas. Now Antiques in Thames boasts 5000 square feet of space and houses a treasure trove of antiques sourced nationally and internationally. It’s a treasure emporium; with quality antiques, vintage and retro eras, ceramics, smalls, country, collectables, salvage and architecture. There’s a vast amount of stock to explore, in a wide range of price points. If you’re looking for furniture in oak, kauri, walnut, or mahogany woods, this is definitely where you want to shop.
Antiques In Thames

Outcasts and Dusty Jackets • Corner of Albert Street & Queens Street
Named after the goods that people cast out, owner Shane sources his stock from ‘everywhere and anywhere’. You’re always welcome to drop off any treasures that you’re ready to relinquish too. There’s no prices on anything, and everything is negotiable and often a bargain. It’s the kind of place where quirky lives, and you never know what treasure you might stumble upon. Outcasts has just recently linked up with Dust Jackets to bring you an ever revolving selection of second-hand books! Keep an eye out when you’re driving the highway through Thames, and if it’s a sunny day and goods are spilling out onto the grass verge on the corner of Queens Street and Albert Street, stop the car, park up, and have a fossick.

Zen and Revolver Records • 714 Pollen Street, Thames
One of the biggest stores in Thames and one of the quirkiest! Enter the bazaar! It just keeps going back room after room, all with a different theme or feel. Expect quality clothes, everyday items, amps and turntables, books, cameras, retro stuff, cups, plates, glasses and kitchenware and more! The records on the shelf are high quality rock and pop - think Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi and more.

Underdogs • 734 Pollen Street, Thames
A one-of-it’s-kind in Thames, and possibly the whole country. Where else can you see stuffed dogs arranged at tables, drinking coffee or playing cards? Don’t get distracted by the various stuffed dog displays – there’s plenty of collectibles available in the shop including music vinyl, leather jackets and riding gear, stereo gear, kauri gum and various collectibles.

The Hospice Shop • 402 Pollen Street, Thames
This is one of eight op-shops that Hospice Waikato operates in the Waikato. It’s deceptively large, and always has a great window display out front. Clothing is helpfully organised into cool and vintage pieces in the front, and then high-fashion and designer items next to the counter. These items are priced according to quality and label. The rest of the clothing is on racks in the back half of the shop and priced at anywhere from $2 an item. There's also plenty of furniture, household items, artwork, toys, linen and it’s the only Thames op-shop with a special section dedicated to men.

The St John Op Shop • 101 Pahau Street, Thames
This Thames op-shop has an active page where they often post photos of new items in stock – that means you can keep an eye out before you even get to the store. The store stuffed with quality stock and its regular customers often comment that it’s like a ’boutique op-shop’. It’s well-laid out, easy to browse, and the staff are always helpful.

The SPCA Op Shop • 738 Pollen Street, Thames
A neat selection of second hand goods that supports the local SPCA.

Mainly Books • 533 Pollen Street, Thames
A large selection of second hand books and puzzles. In fact there are a lot of puzzles! Perfect for those long slow afternoons at the bach!

The Salvation Army • 711 Pollen Street, Thames
Active in Thames for 140 years now, this is a spacious and well-stocked op-shop with all the usual treasures on offer. There’s a good selection of artwork, books, household items, clothes, furniture and jewellery. Plus the staff are lovely, and always happy to help you search out that special item you’re hunting for.

The Seagull Centre • 104 Burke Street, Thames
This is the last stop before items end up in landfill, located beside the Thames Transfer Station. It’s blessed with a large indoor and outdoor space, which means there’s room for all kinds of things that other secondhand shops don’t have space for – including plywood sheets or kitchen fixtures. Often there is literally the kitchen sink on offer! Other items sold include furniture, electronics, whiteware, clothing, household goods and toys. The Seagull was founded in 2004 with a mission to drive the circular economy. If you can time it right, show up for one of their fortnightly auctions – this is where the unusual, collectible, or rare items feature.
Seagull Centre - Thames

Thames Saturday Market (Grahamstown)
The Thames Market has been an amazing asset for the town bringing in weekend visitors for over 25 years! Fees are low for stallholders, and many long-time locals host stalls for interactions and connections, not necessarily to sell squillions. That means there’s a plethora of local and creative goods including everything from vegetable seedlings, homemade baking and plants to bric-a-brac and clothing, or handcrafted jewellery and homemade soaps to eggs and avocados. The markets, which run every Saturday from 8am-12 noon have a beautiful community feel, and there’s always live music to listen to, food stalls, and plenty of people to connect with.
Thames Market - Every Saturday

Puriri Markets • 8872 State Highway 26, Puriri
This market happens on the first Sunday of every month. It’s a small, community-orientated market and all funds generated by the stalls are used for maintaining the community hall. The markets run from 10am – 1:30pm at the Puriri Community Hall.


Photos Brent Courtney

23/06/2025

📍Chasing Waterfalls on the Coromandel Loop? Start in Thames.

Thames is the perfect place to start your waterfall wanderings for some of the most easily accessible and stunning waterfalls on the Coromandel Peninsula.

A key geographical feature of the Peninsula is the Coromandel Ranges, or Te Paeroa-a-Toi "the long ridgeline of Toi," which poetically describes the backbone-like spine of the Coromandel Peninsula. From this watershed, the large valley catchments flow down stream towards Thames and off cliffside cascades, or small valley drops.

Here's your guide to the best waterfalls to explore in and around Thames:

💧 Karaka Stream Waterfall – Thames
It’s right behind town! A short (50m) walk from the Karaka Trailhead carpark on Irishtown Road leads you up a historic packhorse track to this small, but sweet, waterfall nestled in the bush. Take a walk, take five and relax before continuing on your roadie!

💧 Tararu Waterfalls
Tucked away in Tararu Valley just 5 mins north of Thames is two of Thames’ best - a hydro-slide-esque chute into a crystal clear pool (kids love it) and some cascading falls into a deep pool below. Go exploring!

💧 Kauaeranga Valley Waterfalls
A whole valley of options! Head up Kauaeranga Valley Road and explore trails like the Nature Trail, Billygoat Track, Kauaeranga Kauri Trail and Webb Creek Track to discover multiple small cascades into pools along the Waiwhakarewaunga (Kauaeranga) River. There are literally dozens of amazing swimming holes to explore!

💧 Billygoat Falls – Kauaeranga Valley
It is claimed as one of the highest falls in the North Island at 180m. Visible from the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail and partially from Billygoat Track. It’s especially spectacular after heavy rain. Access to the falls itself is probably best made with the team at Canyonz, who’ll give you the ultimate adventure as you abseil down the falls.

💧The Seven Stairs to Heaven Waterfall – Tapu Valley
A visit to Rapaura Watergardens in Tapu is not complete without a 10-15 min nature walk up to the amazing Seven Stairs to Heaven Waterfall. A real place to find some peace!

💧 Waiau Falls – 309 Road, Tapu Valley
A short stroll from the roadside on the infamous 309 Road which crosses the peninsula (a long windy gravel road btw). A picturesque spot, and perfect for a dip on a hot day. You can head through the kauri grove, and also access the top of the falls.

💧 Wairere Falls – Te Aroha
Just over an hour South from Thames in the amazing Wairere Falls. The lush, but steep walk is worth every step to get to the top where you are greeted with a stunning view back over Hauraki.🛑 Note track is closed at the moment. See more info on the DOC Website.

💧 Owharoa Falls – Waikino, Karangahake Gorge
A classic fan-shaped fall right off SH2 in the Karangahake Gorge. Easy access, beautiful for a picnic stop or photo. Stop into the highly-recommended The Falls restaurant while you are there!
Go exploring!


Photos Brent Courtney