The flat, well-developed path of the Thames Coastal Walkway runs along the foreshore of Thames from Shortland Wharf to Kuranui Bay, taking in wharves, railway stations and many historic sites.

There is plenty of scope to cut into town at numerous points to either stop for food and drink, take in the sights, or make a loop by taking a shortcut back to your starting point. Or, park in the middle at Victoria Park and take in one section at a time. Whichever way you go whether you’re walking, cycling, rollerblading, riding a mobility scooter or a skateboard, please share this increasingly busy path with all users. Dogs must be on a lead.

From Shortland Wharf head through the boatyard and follow the path along the stopbank, past mangroves to Danby Field and then behind Goldfields Shopping Centre.

Victoria Park begins here, where you’ll pass the Karaka Bird Hide, Thames Small Gauge Railway and the old Grahamstown Railway Station. Opposite the railway station is the Thames School of Mines – run by Heritage New Zealand and open to the public – where the miners went to learn about rocks. To learn more about the history of Thames and its gold-mining heritage, divert up Cochrane St to Thames Museum and further on to the Bella St Pumphouse, which still houses some of the giant machinery used to pump water out of the deep mine shafts.

Back in Victoria Park, continue north past the Croquet Club and then turn left to follow the Coastal Pathway around the now-capped former landfill site to Moanataiari and the off-leash dog park. At the foot of Burke St are the old pilings from the Burke St Wharf, a failed project which saw the town on the brink of bankruptcy. Continue along the path on top of the stopbank to Kuranui Bay Reserve Thames Coastal Pathway where there is a sheltered BBQ, toilets and parking.

From here you can follow Tararu Rd (State Highway 25) back towards town past the sites of the first gold bonanza and the richest mine in the Thames Goldfields before stopping at the Goldmine Experience to tour the mine shafts and see how a stamper battery worked.

The Thames foreshore used to stop at Beach Road, and the path of the current Coastal Walkway is on reclaimed land, built up from gold mining tailings. Traditionally the foreshore area was Māori customary fishing grounds, whose borders extended into the foreshore from their land blocks.