Karangahake Gorge & the Gold Coast — Paeroa to Whangamata(SH2/SH25).
Distance
80 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
600 m
Karangahake Gorge & the Gold Coast — Paeroa to Whangamata (SH2/SH25).
A compact loop through the goldfields of the Hauraki. SH2 threads the walled Karangahake Gorge along the Ohinemuri River past 1800s stamper-battery ruins and a kilometre-long rail tunnel, then runs out to the open-cut Martha gold mine at Waihi and the surf beaches of the northern Bay of Plenty. Twisty, scenic and greasy after rain.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance80 km
Days1
Total climb600 m
DifficultyModerate
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The route.
PaeroaStart · Home of Lemon & Paeroa (L&P) — the giant bottle is the classic photo. Fuel up and head east into the gorge on SH2.
Karangahake GorgeScenic Point · A tight, rock-walled canyon along the Ohinemuri River strewn with 1800s gold-mining ruins and a 1km rail tunnel. Ride to the conditions — it gets greasy after rain.
Owharoa Falls, WaikinoPhoto Spot · A tiered waterfall a few metres off the road near Waikino; an easy stop and a summer swim.
Waihi — Martha MineScenic Point · The Martha open-pit gold mine sits right in the town centre; the pit-rim lookout is free and startlingly deep.
Waihi BeachRestaurant · A long white-sand surf beach with good cafés at the northern tip of the Bay of Plenty.
WhangamataEnd · A classic Coromandel surf town and the end of the run — or push on north up SH25.
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