Waiorongomai Valley Historic Area
Waiorongomai Valley has many old goldmining sites and the Piako County Tramway built in 1882-83. It is New Zealand's oldest known railway with the original rail still in place. It was built to support a historic gold mining site, and features three self-acting inclines, of which Butlers Incline is 400m long and at a steep 25o angle.
The area has a number of other historic sites to explore following old mining trails.
See the website for access and walking track details.
Image: Equipment at Hardies Mine.
organisation:
Department of Conservation (DOC)
cost:
Free
dates:
Always on
venue:
Waiorongomai Valley Historic Area, at the end of Waiorongomai Loop Road, 4km south of Te Aroha, Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park
region:
Bay of Plenty, New Zealand



