gold mine tour waihi

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Waihi Gold Discovery Centre

126 Seddon Street, Waihi

07 863 9015

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Rattle the drill, crank the handles, push the plunger and become immersed in interactive activities at the Waihi Gold Experience.

Waihi has been famous for its gold since 1878 and it has a compelling story to tell. The award-winning Gold Discovery Centre is the place to experience that unique story.

The Gold Discovery Centre is located by the massive Martha Gold Mine and historic Cornish Pumphouse at the top of Waihi’s main street. The Centre is the hub for all visitor activity and “all things gold” in the Waihi area. It’s a place to uncover and discover the area’s fascinating golden journey that now spans three centuries and still continues today.

The Centre is home to the Waihi Gold Experience and Waihi Gold Mine Tours. These hands-on visitor experiences allow you to get up close to this captivating piece of New Zealand’s pioneering industrial heritage.

Get the inside story by rattling the drill, cranking the handles, pushing the plunger and becoming immersed in the interactive activities inside Waihi Gold Experience.

Get inside the fence with Waihi Gold Mine Tours to discover modern-day gold mining up close and on a grand scale. Learn how today’s miners get the gold out of the rock and into gold bars.

Fun and engaging for all ages the Gold Discovery Centre welcomes visitors from New Zealand and all around the world. Allow time in your travels to visit and enjoy this award-winning visitor experience!

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Waihi Gold Mine Tours

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Waihi Gold Mine Tours - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Gold Discovery Centre

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GOLD DISCOVERY CENTRE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Waihi Gold Mine Tours

126 Seddon St, Waihi, Waikato 3610 New Zealand

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted

Learn more about this business on Yelp .

“A modern day working gold mine”

Waihi is a gold town, and we have a fascinating and unique gold story to tell. Although mining operations are ordinarily off-limits to the public, Waihi Gold Mine Tours can take you inside the fence to experience modern-day gold mining up close. You’ll be fitted out with safety gear as you board our 11 seater van, given a safety briefing then taken inside the security fence to view the mine operations from the best available vantage points. You’ll be shown every stage of the process from ore extraction and crushing, through to final processing. There is plenty of massive mining equipment on show too. We’ll relate colourful stories from the mine’s past and answer any questions you may have about the modern operation. • How much gold and silver has the mighty Martha Mine has yielded since 1878? • Why did many miners from yesteryear had no thumbs? • How much gold is likely to be in each 100 tonne truck load of rock? • How has gold mining shaped Waihi’s economic and social landscape?

Reviewed by James V.

As much as I wanted to like this one, I just couldn't. Picture yourself in the middle of nowhere, after having driven countless hours in a car full of kids, now jammed into a people mover van... Read more

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• Sun - Sat: 10:00 am - 2:30 pm

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Waihi Gold Mine Tours

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WAIHI GOLD MINE TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Waihi , Coromandel

By Destination Coromandel

• The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre
• Heritage trail
• Waihi Beach

1 hour 45 mins from Auckland

 10 mins from Waihi Beach

Once a gold town, always a gold town. Since 1878, Waihi has been on a treasure hunt. Come and see the richest gold mine in New Zealand.

Hauraki Rail Trail, Coromandel

Waihi Gold Discovery Centre, Coromandel

Waihi, Coromandel

Waihi Beach, Coromandel

By Management

Waihi is the home of the richest gold mine in New Zealand - still in operation today. The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre  tells the tales of yesteryear, and allows hands on experience with modern mining techniques. You can also take a trip deep into the bowels of the mine pit or walk the pit rim. The Goldfields vintage railway runs between Waihi and Waikino, where you can find relics from the early gold rush days.

Waihi also offers easy access to the iconic Hauraki Rail Trail  and the dramatic Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway . 

Around the town you’ll notice some wonderful old buildings. Waihi is proud of its history and has a heritage trail that points out places of interest. There is an ever-increasing number of cafés and restaurants in the recently revived town centre, as well as a small selection of accommodation.

Waihi Beach is just 10 mins driving away. You can swim or surf anywhere along the 9km of strechy sandy beach.

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Waihi Gold Mine

Think of mines and mine technology and invariably the cry is “boring, boring… let’s move on!”

Do NOT move on before you have seen this place. The very scale of the gold mining operation in this small town will just blow you away. The size of the open cast crater is simply jaw dropping and the tour of the mine is done in a most engaging and entertaining  way.

Tickets for the mine can be purchased from the Gold Discovery Centre and we suggest you purchase the combination ticket which also allows you entry to their award winning interactive Visitor experience – complete with historic film footage , holograph presentations and displays depicting the social and geological story of the mine . Highly recommended.

What our travellers enjoyed about the Wahi Gold Mine…

• The  amazing view from the top of the mine crate
• The passion that the staff have for their subject
• Superb interactive displays

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Martha Mine Pit Rim Walk

• Waihi, New Zealand

The walk (or ride) begins at the Cornish Pumphouse and rises gently to the edge of the open pit for your first overwhelming peek into the vast chasm. The wide gravel path continues west on an easy grade around to the highest point on the north wall where the view is simply breathtaking. Interpretative signs give interesting facts about Martha Mine as you complete the 4km loop back to the Pumphouse.

Where to Find Us

• +6478636715
• [email protected]

Waihi New Zealand

Waihi Gold Mine Tours

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WAIHI GOLD MINE TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Waihi Gold Discovery Centre & Mine Tours

Description.

The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre & Mine Tours is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in the history of gold mining in New Zealand.

Located at 126 Seddon Street, Waihi, the centre offers a range of activities that are both educational and entertaining. Visitors can start their journey with an interactive and award-winning experience at the Waihi Gold Experience. This hands-on experience provides visitors of all ages with unique opportunities to dig into the lives of the early miners and their families. You'll find out what drives this quest for gold and silver, and how we use these precious metals once we’ve extracted them.After setting the scene in the Waihi Gold Experience, visitors can head out onto the modern gold mine site with a local tour guide. Although mining operations are normally off-limits to the public, Waihi Gold Mine Tours has the exclusive rights to take visitors inside the security fence to experience modern-day gold mining up close. Visitors will be shown the complete process and learn how today’s miners extract the gold and silver from the quartz rock and turn it into bars of bullion.The Gold Discovery Centre is easy to find and is located opposite the Cornish Pumphouse. Visitors can also take advantage of the bicycle hire service available at the centre and explore the surrounding area. The centre is also home to the Waihi i-SITE, which provides visitors with information on the local area and other attractions.The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre & Mine Tours is a great place to visit for families, groups, and individuals. The centre offers a range of activities that cater to different interests and ages. Visitors can also take part in the Goldfields Heritage Railway tour, which takes them on a historic train ride from Waihi Station to Waikino Station. Visitors can also bike the wonder section of the Karangahake Gorge among the relics of gold fever and re-trace their route back to Waihi on the Hauraki Rail Trail.The centre has received positive reviews from visitors who have praised the interactive exhibits, friendly and helpful staff, and the overall experience. The Waihi Gold Discovery Centre & Mine Tours is a top-rated attraction in the NZ Lonely Planet and has been recommended by many visitors. Overall, the centre is a great place to learn about the history of gold mining in New Zealand and to experience modern-day gold mining up close.

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Open days/Times: Monday: 10am-4pm, Thursday-Friday: 10am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday: 9am-4pm

Tours: Other tours

126 Seddon St, Waihi NI

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Waihi Gold Mine Tours

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Waihi Gold Mine Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)