19kms south of Tairua at Hikuai is a turnoff to the right that takes visitors to a Department of Conservation area called Broken Hills, part of the Puketui Valley. Broken Hills has a number of walking tracks of varying lengths in beautiful New Zealand bush.

Broken Hills was formerly a thriving goldfield in the early 1900s. There are relics of the gold mining past still in evidence, and these are easily accessible via a network of walking tracks in the area. It was also logged for kauri and only a few patches of unmodified forest remains today. The regenerating forest includes Towai, Manuka, Rewarewa, Fivefinger and Totara.

The beautiful river gorge setting provides many opportunities for walking, swimming, canoeing, trout fishing, fossicking, rafting, bird watching, photography, picnicking and camping. Most tracks at Broken Hills are gravel but well formed. Maps of the tracks are placed around the area as a guide. Guided walking in the area is available.

Tip: The Department of Conservation has maps of the walks available in the Broken Hill area. Check out the web link for details on each of the walks.

Directions: Visitors can access Broken Hills via Morrisons Road, which starts from opposite the Pauanui turnoff at Prescotts Mobil service station, (19km south of Tairua and 27km north of Whangamata). After 1km, just before crossing the Tairua River, turn left onto Puketui Road, Broken Hills is 6km along the unsealed road.