Queen's Birthday weekend 2014 saw us needing a trip away. Hawaii called, Sydney loomed near, however the Bay of Plenty won. The Hauraki Rail Trail between Paeroa and Waihi became the challenge.
We picked up our rental bikes in Paeroa and set off through the local dairy farms on a dedicated cycle trail.
The trail followed farm tracks through the outskirts of the pretty town of Paeroa.
We rode to the Karangahake Gorge. Here the 100 year old rail line (now only occupied by cyclists and walkers) went through a 1km bricked tunnel.
Lots of riders and walkers congregated at the entrance/exit of the tunnel as it then met a bridge over the Ohinemuri River.
The cycle trail followed the old rail line down the river edge.
We stopped at the historic Victoria battery which was one of the many sites on the river that a century ago were industrial plants processing ore to produce gold. The batterys smashed the rocks, to gravel and eventually fine powder before processing using huge towers of pottasiun cyanide and mercury to extract the gold (not so many greenies then ...)
We stopped in the 'rocket park' in Waihi to eat our sandwiches and rest our nethers.
After lunch we set back on the return 24km to Paeroa.
The ride back seemed quicker and easier (we think it was somewhat more downhill), however the views were just as stunning.
Headlights on and back through the rail tunnel at Karangahake.
Finally back to Paeroa after a 50km round trip.,
We stopped at Karangahake gorge on the way home for a walk around the DOC trails. This area was and industrial centre for the Talisman, Victoria and Crown batteries.
The 'Windows walk' talk us over a suspension bridge ad up to the ruins of the Talisman battery. Beyond that we went into tunnels carved into the cliffs with 'windows' back out into the gorge. In one gold mine tunnel we met some part-time miners chiselling quartz and who gave us some pieces containing gold.
An old tramline led us in and out of tunnels.
The walks around the old mine sites and the river were stunning.
The scenery here was very different that from 100 years ago
We picked up our rental bikes in Paeroa and set off through the local dairy farms on a dedicated cycle trail.
We rode to the Karangahake Gorge. Here the 100 year old rail line (now only occupied by cyclists and walkers) went through a 1km bricked tunnel.
Overhead lights kept us safe
The cycle trail followed the old rail line down the river edge.
We stopped at the historic Victoria battery which was one of the many sites on the river that a century ago were industrial plants processing ore to produce gold. The batterys smashed the rocks, to gravel and eventually fine powder before processing using huge towers of pottasiun cyanide and mercury to extract the gold (not so many greenies then ...)
We stopped in the 'rocket park' in Waihi to eat our sandwiches and rest our nethers.
The ride back seemed quicker and easier (we think it was somewhat more downhill), however the views were just as stunning.
We stopped at Karangahake gorge on the way home for a walk around the DOC trails. This area was and industrial centre for the Talisman, Victoria and Crown batteries.
An old tramline led us in and out of tunnels.
The walks around the old mine sites and the river were stunning.
The scenery here was very different that from 100 years ago
Some of us took different ways of getting round.
The Hauraki Plains Rail Trail and Karangahake Gorge are definitely worth a look
