Take a train ride through goldmining ruins

Train wagons once used for carrying mined ore have been adapted to take tourists through the Waikino historic gold and silver extraction battery site in the Karangahake Gorge, beside the Paeroa-Waihi highway.

Escorted tours explore the roasting kilns where gold-bearing quartz was heated before being crushed more than 100 years ago. It was the largest quartz-crushing plant for gold extraction in Australasia.

The Victoria Battery Ruins are open on weekends and public holidays and to ride the mining tramway, visit the museum and explore the underground kilns, a family pass for two adults and two children costs $25.

Contact: Victoria at Battery Ruins and Goldfields Railway

ph (07) 863 8640

Goldfields Railway in Waihi

ph (07) 863 8251

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