Visit the Historic & Scenic Karangahake Gorge: Day Trip South of Auckland

Take a drive south of Auckland and you’ll find an excellent destination for nature and gold mining history, Karangahake Gorge. Walk the tracks of Karangahake Gorge and enjoy the beauty of lush bush and beautiful waterfalls, along with historic points from the gold mining era of the 1900s.

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Stops to Make South of Auckland

Pokeno

For a sweet experience, and less than 45 minutes south of Auckland, is the little township of Pokeno. For years, it has been the stopping-off point for travellers, especially at the Original Pokeno Ice Cream Shop. It’s an excellent place to enjoy a break on your drive, no matter where you’re heading.

Of course, there’s more to it than just ice cream. It also offers a takeaway service, including pies, sandwiches, and fried foods, but with 40 delicious ice cream flavours, you’ll be spoilt for choice for dessert.

If you visit on a Sunday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., you can also see the Farmers’ Markets held on the other side of the Original Ice Cream Shop.

How to Get Here

Take the Pokeno turn-off from Highway 1. The Pokeno Ice Cream and Coffee Shop is at 57 Great South Road, 57 km from Auckland City.

Hours

6 am – 6 pm daily

Karangahake Gorge

Nature lovers will rejoice at the abundance of scenic walking and biking trails. At only an hour-and-a-half southeast of Auckland, Karangahake Gorge is the perfect way to spend an afternoon exploring.

You can park your vehicle in a large car park that is on the right-hand side of the road, coming from Auckland. It is from here that you start your walks in the Karangahake Gorge. Click here to find a list of them.

Tracks that take 5 minutes to nearly 3 hours lead you to places of interest, so depending on the track, you can see historic sites, and nature is always at its best.

During the 1800s, this region was buzzing with miners seeking their fortune. You can explore the remnants of the past, such as the old machinery and tunnels, that give insight into what life was like here during the gold rush.

Tunnel Loop Track

I completed the tunnel loop track, which begins just after crossing the bridge. Once you’re on the other side, you can use either route that loops back. I chose to go up first instead of over the second bridge, which followed the river downstream. After crossing another bridge over the main highway, you reach the entrance to the old rail tunnel, which is approximately 1.1 kilometres long.

This tunnel was constructed from 1900 to 1905 to expedite the gold extraction process, as rail was much quicker than the pack horses they had in the early 1900s.

Once you have passed through, turn right, which takes you back to the car park via the loop track. You could also carry on for another 3km to Owharoa Falls.

How to Get Here

Karangahake Gorge is approximately 129 km, or an hour and a half, from Auckland City. From Highway 1, take the State Highway 2 turnoff at Pokeno, and after 80 km (1 hour) from Pokeno, the Gorge car park will be on the right-hand side of the road.

Owharoa Falls, Karangahake Gorge

The beautiful Owharoa Falls are located in the Karangahake Gorge, only a couple of kilometres up the highway from the main car park. They’re only a one-minute walk off the road and two minutes from the falls car park. Turn off the main road when you’re through the Karangahake Gorge, and cross the one-way bridge. You then turn left just after into the car park. Just 100m up the road is the entrance to the track, and a minute down is the falls.

With such an easy walk, it’s hard to believe these Falls can be so beautiful, but they are. You can swim here, but it’s not recommended, as strong currents, deep holes, snags, and slippery rocks can be hazardous and potentially fatal.

How to Get Here

Owharoa Falls car park is a 5-minute drive from Karangahake Gorge car park, with the Falls being a 2-minute walk down a small track on the other side of the road from the car park.

You can also walk from the Karangahake Tunnel Walk.

Paeroa

On your way to Karangahake Gorge is the township of Paeroa, home to the iconic New Zealand carbonated drink L&P.

If you’re after lunch or dinner on your trip, the L&P Café is the place to stop and refresh, where you can try many L&P-inspired dishes, including ice cream.

Only about 10 minutes back toward Auckland from Karangahake Gorge, Paeroa is a great little town. There are plenty of places to eat, including the L & P Café in Thames. You can also have your photo taken with the large L&P bottle.

L & P Cafe Hours

Thursday – Saturday 8 am – 8 pm

Wednesday, Sunday 8 am – 5 pm

Monday, Tuesday 8 am – 3 pm

How to Get Here

Take the turn-off from State Highway 1 at Pokeno onto State Highway 2, and you’ll pass straight through it on your way to Karangahake Gorge.

Conclusion

Whether you’re driving south of Auckland on Sunday to Karangahake Gorge or just visiting the area, there is much more to see and do.

To read my blog on Cathedral Cove nearby on the Coromandel Peninsula, click here.

There is so much to see and do in the Auckland area, and if you want to see more, you can read my blogs on 25 Best Attractions to See in Auckland and Things to See and Do in The 2 Best of Auckland’s Wild Coast Beaches. For other areas of New Zealand, click here.

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Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs about Australia, you can find them at the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art. Alternatively, if you’re interested in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography, you can click on their respective links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
• Car Hire—In Australia, you can use Apex Car Rentals Australia, Budget Car Rentals Australia, or Avis Car Rentals Australia.
• Camper & RV Rentals—Want a quieter pace exploring Australia and New Zealand in your own accommodation? Jucy Rentals and Star RV Rentals will give you an unforgettable travelling experience.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage during your travels.
• Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• SIM cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
• Power Stations—Bluetti Australia and EcoFlow Australia Power Stations are your choices for sustainable, eco-friendly power on the go or at home.

• For more tips, try my Travel Links and Resources page.

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