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Town in Waikato Region, New Zealand
Photo: Symac, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Thames is an old gold mining town on the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand. Thames has a rich history and is the great place to start any visit to the Coromandel Pensinsula.
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You can go deep underground into the 100 year old Golden Crown Mine and also see the old stamper battery actually working. Check out the photo history room and try your hand at panning for gold.
The school opened in 1886 offering practical instruction to goldminers working the quartz fields and closed 1954. Today as one of the most significant museums of its type in Australasia, it is administered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. If antique buildings is your thing don’t miss the old laboratory classroom, untouched since the last student went off home.
Displays of early European settlement, the days of the famous 19th-century gold rush and of 20th-century development. The remarkable history and production of the Thames foundries is also covered; timber jacks, logging locos and even cast iron houses! The museum is in a garden setting.
The facilities include a heritage style station, steaming bays, sidings and turntable hydraulically operated to rise and fall, tunnel and three bridges.
Overlooking the township from a great viewpoint, take Waiotahi Creek Rd to the top at the north end of Thames.
13 km to the east in behind the town. This Forest Park has many campgrounds nestled beside the Kauaeranga River, which flows down from the Coromandel Ranges through the valley. The valley has a choice of walks, swimming spots and historic relics from kauri logging days.
A 197 km cycle trail from Kaiaua to Matamata. This is one of the Great Rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, using former railways.
Established more than half a century ago the vineyard is primarily devoted to the production of fortified wines and liqueurs (Totara Café and Totara Kiwifruit Liqueur), but also produce a range of table wines that includes Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and a fruity, off-dry blend of Müller-Thurgau and Muscat.
Motel with 5 rooms, most have a kitchenette.
Historic hotel established 1869 offering clean, comfortable, affordable rooms. In 2010, it was completely renovated and reopened with a new public bar called "The Local", patronised by both locals and travellers.
Campsite with static caravans, huts and dormitory beds.
Over 30 specialist stores and a foodcourt.
A great supermarket with some of New Zealand’s lowest food prices.
There are two main routes for driving from Auckland. The fastest is via State Highways 1, 2 and 25. A more scenic route is via the Seabird Coast (Kawakawa Bay, Kaiaua and Miranda).
Read in the guideThere are a variety of ways to get around including bus, taxi and hiring your own car or bike.
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Auckland · International · AKL
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