2025 Karangahake Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

📍 Location Located between Paeroa and Waihi on the North Island, it takes about 2 hours to drive from Auckland. 🚗 Transportation It is recommended to drive by yourself and navigate to "Karangahake Gorge Walkway". Drive to the end of SH2 and you will see the parking lot, with toilets and signs next to it. 📝 Experience Sharing This is one of the most "story-telling" hiking routes I think. Walking on the abandoned railway and stone bridge, there is a primitive forest in front of you, the sound of the river in your ears, and the traces of the railway tracks left by history under your feet. I took the classic "Windows Walk", which will pass through the dark miner's tunnel, overlook the valley, and see the gold mining equipment of the old era. The whole road is not too difficult, and it is also very interesting to take pictures. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to walk around, which is just the right time. Karangahake Gorge is not just a walking exercise, but more like an adventure through history and nature. If you like the sense of adventure and don't want to be too tired, this place is highly recommended. #JulyDestinations2025 #NewZealandAttractions #AucklandAttractions

📍 Location Karangahake Gorge trail, located near Paeroa, North Island, about 2 hours drive from Auckland. ⸻ 🚗 Transportation Navigate to "Karangahake Gorge Car Park", park the car and walk about 10 minutes according to the signs to reach the starting point of the tunnel. ⸻ 📝 Experience Sharing Karangahake Tunnel is an old tunnel with a sense of history, about 1 kilometer long, and completely pitch dark. It used to be a railway used by miners and trains to transport ore, and now it has become a popular hiking attraction. Walking inside, the cool air, the sound of dripping water and the echo of footsteps really give people goose bumps, like walking into a time machine. I especially like the moment when I walked out of the tunnel. The feeling of sunlight shining down is very healing. It feels like I have come out of the darkness and reconnected with nature. It is perfect for taking pictures! ⸻ 🔦 Tips • There is no light in the tunnel, be sure to bring a flashlight or mobile phone light • The ground is slippery, please wear non-slip shoes • It is recommended to hold hands with children, it is safer to explore together ⸻ Karangahake Tunnel is the most classic section of Karangahake Gorge. It has both historical atmosphere and a sense of mysterious adventure. It is definitely worth a visit! #JulyGoodDestinations2025 #NewZealandAttractions #AucklandAttractions

The Ohinemuri river is on the northern island of New Zealand at the base of the Coromandel peninsula, I stopped off during a visit for Chinese New Year. The river is stunning with calm, clear waters that meander around the hills and mountains in the area. The road that follows the river is a beautiful scenic journey but the corners can be quite scary, so drive slow! The river is famous for its historical role as a gold mining area, helping to fuel the development of the local area. The Karangahake Gorge Historic walkway allows you to see what remains of this industry. There are ruins of buildings, leftover equipment and of course the infamous railway bridges and tunnel. The railway tunnel is now a walking trial and links many of the local walking trail, but be careful the tunnel can be cold, wet and dark and is also popular with local cyclists! The gorge is well signposted on local roads, has car parks and toilets and has varying degrees of hikes so there’s something for everyone! #celebrateit #newyear #travel #naturalwonders #thingstodo #newzealand #northisland #hiking #nature #history