Waihī is known as Aotearoa New Zealand's 'Heart of Gold', with a gold mining history spanning three centuries and a local open-pit mine that is still fully operational. The main street is reminiscent of pioneering days with bustling cafes and rural businesses in heritage buildings. The heritage railway into the Karangahake Gorge traces the pathway of gold from the township.

The Ohinemuri River flows through Waihī to the ‘must-do’ Karangahake Gorge where you can fish for trout, take nature walks through old mining tunnels and relics, and cycle the Hauraki Rail Trail. Waihī Beach, just 10km from the main town of Waihī, offers 9km of sweeping white sand and is one of the safest surf beaches in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Stay & Explore

Waihī offers plenty of opportunities to explore, with old wooden buildings, museums and history aplenty in town and a beautiful white sand beach just a short drive away where you can relax or enjoy fishing and collecting shellfish. And best of all - there's not a shopping mall in sight!

Tips & Suggestions For Your Time in Waihi

  • Cornish Pump House Waihi

    There's gold in them hills

    The Coromandel’s history is flecked with gold. Its discovery made a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economic growth in the late 19th and…
  • Orokawa Bay 2

    Orokawa Bay with Rach Stewart

    By Rach Stewart , a New Zealand photographer who specialises in landscape and coastal images (although she loves the mountains too). From what we had…
  • 20160201-IMG-403

    Karangahake Gorge with Wildboy

    By Brando Yelavich, Explorer Into the Gorge i went, i was looking for a great time and a big adventure! Only fifteen minutes from Paeroa and Waihi…

Worth Visiting, Not To Be Missed