Moanataiari to Waiotahi Link Track
The Moanataiari Link Track ⛏️ is a great little walk that links up with the Waiotahi Track to form a good little loop walk.
We parked up at the Moanataiari Creek Road end, where we found the track entrance just ahead of us (it’s not marked) and started up the old goldmining tram line.
Only 5 mins up the track we found old gold mining remnants with a few rusted sheds slowly being reclaimed by the bush. We continued along the creek for another 10 mins past the site of the old Rainbow Hotel, before taking a right turn and heading up the hill to the top of the ridge.
At the top, we explore south along the ridge and are rewarded with views back down over Thames and the Waihou River. We also explored north along the ridge, heading up for a fair way, before the track disappeared on us.
Retracing our footsteps back, we found the junction again and dropped down the back of the hill to find ourselves on the Waiotahi track. We continued back down the valley to the main road, past The Goldmine Experience and back up Moanataiari Creek Road to the car.
📍 Moanataiari Creek Road, Thames Coast
🗺️ 1 min north of Thames.
🚶 Walk distance 3km loop, approx 1 hour
🐕 Dog on leash.
🧐 Moanataiari translates to “Waters of the taiari”. Named after the plentiful small shark (dogfish) in the coastal waters
Phone Number:
Email:
Website:
Moanataiari to Waiotahi Link Track
The Moanataiari Link Track ⛏️ is a great little walk that links up with the Waiotahi Track to form a good little loop walk.
We parked up at the Moanataiari Creek Road end, where we found the track entrance just ahead of us (it’s not marked) and started up the old goldmining tram line.
Only 5 mins up the track we found old gold mining remnants with a few rusted sheds slowly being reclaimed by the bush. We continued along the creek for another 10 mins past the site of the old Rainbow Hotel, before taking a right turn and heading up the hill to the top of the ridge.
At the top, we explore south along the ridge and are rewarded with views back down over Thames and the Waihou River. We also explored north along the ridge, heading up for a fair way, before the track disappeared on us.
Retracing our footsteps back, we found the junction again and dropped down the back of the hill to find ourselves on the Waiotahi track. We continued back down the valley to the main road, past The Goldmine Experience and back up Moanataiari Creek Road to the car.
📍 Moanataiari Creek Road, Thames Coast
🗺️ 1 min north of Thames.
🚶 Walk distance 3km loop, approx 1 hour
🐕 Dog on leash.
🧐 Moanataiari translates to “Waters of the taiari”. Named after the plentiful small shark (dogfish) in the coastal waters
Phone Number:
Email:
Website:
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