Waihi: Discover Gold History and Mining

In Waihi, you can explore its gold history in different ways: the Gold Story Tour explores the search for gold over three centuries, the Waihi Gold Mine Tours bring you close to modern mining, and the Waihi Arts Centre and Museum dedicates rooms to underground mining and the town’s social history. There is also the Ghost Theatre, the historic heritage of Seddon Street, and cycling on the Hauraki Rail Trail. This lets you choose the focus of your stay in Waihi according to your interests.

Gold history and modern mining

The Gold Discovery Centre offers a Gold Story Tour that explores Waihi’s search for gold over three centuries. The Waihi Gold Mine Tours offer a different perspective: they take visitors inside the security fence, close to modern gold mining, which is otherwise not accessible to the public. This brings two different perspectives together—the long history of the search and modern mining. Check before your trip whether the Gold Story Tour is available. Routes and operating days for the Waihi Gold Mine Tours may change; take this information into account when planning.

Museum, theatre and town heritage

The Waihi Arts Centre and Museum dedicates several rooms to the history of underground mining and features exhibitions on the town’s social history. A recreated underground tunnel adds a three-dimensional exhibit to the exploration of mining. The museum brings together mining history and the history of town life.

The Ghost Theatre at Waihi Gold Experience offers a different way of telling stories: 3D holograms bring residents’ stories of love, conflict and social change to life. Seddon Street features bronze statues, restored historic buildings and displays about Waihi’s heritage. Exploring the museum, theatre and streetscape reveals different facets—from the history of underground mining to personal stories and visible traces of the town’s history.

Information and cycling

The Gold Discovery Centre also houses an isite Visitor Centre and Waihi Bicycle Hire, a bicycle rental service for cycling on the Hauraki Rail Trail. Visitor information and bicycle rental add another focus to the mining themes. When looking for a hotel in Waihi, consider which themes interest you during your stay: mining history and the town museum offer different experiences from cycling on the Hauraki Rail Trail.

Regional context: Hauraki District

The Hauraki District stretches from the shellfish beaches of Kaiaua and Pūkorokoro/Miranda on the Firth of Thames in Tīkapa Moana (Hauraki Gulf) to the white-sand beaches of Whiritoa on the Pacific coast. This regional setting encompasses a variety of coastal landscapes.

Thousands of wading birds can be seen on the shellfish beds and tidal flats of Pūkorokoro on the Firth of Thames. How well you can see the wading birds depends on the tides. The Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway offers another perspective on the history of the Hauraki District: it follows the former railway line between Paeroa and Waihi and provides access to mining and railway heritage. The walkway includes two steel truss bridges and a 1 km railway tunnel.

Victoria Battery is also among the regional attractions in the Hauraki District. It was built between 1897 and 1898; surviving features include ore roasting kilns, access tunnels and a site museum in the former transformer house. Visitor experiences include a tram, a site museum, tours of underground kilns and a walkway above the ore roasting kilns. These experiences may vary according to the operating schedule. Check which ones are available before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Paeroa, Waikino, Awaiti

Back to the main travel overview: Hauraki District.