The Billygoat Circuit
The Billygoat Circuit flanks a basin with a 180m waterfall and canyoning adventure. It can be walked on the way down from the Pinnacles Hut or as a complete circuit in itself.
At Hydro Camp Junction take the Billygoat Walking Track. There is a steady 30-minute climb to a saddle with excellent views down the Kauaeranga Valley towards the Hauraki Plains. A little further on, a knoll overlooks the Billygoat Basin.
The first attempt to log this basin was made in the 1880s but was abandoned within a few years as driving the logs over the Billygoat Falls smashed them into splinters. The basin was finally successfully logged in the 1920s after the Billygoat incline was constructed to bypass the falls. This method also required the use of a steam haulier.
From the knoll, drop down into Billygoat Basin and cross Billygoat Stream before passing through a clearing with basic camping facilities.
A few minutes further on, a 50-m side track overlooks the site of the collapsed long trestle bridge, which was once part of the bush tramline. The trestle was 160 m long and 11 m above the ground at the highest point.
Back on the main Billygoat walking track, pass the junction for the Tarawaere and Hihi tramping tracks and follow the tramline through deep cuttings past two short trestles. Near the hauler site at the top of the incline, there are good views of Billygoat Falls (180 m). From here, it is another half hour to the Billygoat Track car park, with a 300-m walk back along the road to the road-end car park.
The Billygoat Circuit Location
To reach The Billygoat Circuit from SH25 at the southern entrance to Thames, turn right into Banks Street beside the service station. Banks Street veers right into Parawai Road, which then becomes Kauaeranga Valley Road.
Follow this for 13 km to the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre. This takes approximately 20 minutes. The road continues unsealed a further 9 km to the road end – about another 15 minutes driving. The circuit starts at the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail.
Info
4-5 hours return
10.5km return
Intermediate
No Dogs
Contact
Phone Number: +64 7 867 9080
Email: kauaerangavc@doc.govt.nz
Website:
The Billygoat Circuit
The Billygoat Circuit flanks a basin with a 180m waterfall and canyoning adventure. It can be walked on the way down from the Pinnacles Hut or as a complete circuit in itself.
At Hydro Camp Junction take the Billygoat Walking Track. There is a steady 30-minute climb to a saddle with excellent views down the Kauaeranga Valley towards the Hauraki Plains. A little further on, a knoll overlooks the Billygoat Basin.
The first attempt to log this basin was made in the 1880s but was abandoned within a few years as driving the logs over the Billygoat Falls smashed them into splinters. The basin was finally successfully logged in the 1920s after the Billygoat incline was constructed to bypass the falls. This method also required the use of a steam haulier.
From the knoll, drop down into Billygoat Basin and cross Billygoat Stream before passing through a clearing with basic camping facilities.
A few minutes further on, a 50-m side track overlooks the site of the collapsed long trestle bridge, which was once part of the bush tramline. The trestle was 160 m long and 11 m above the ground at the highest point.
Back on the main Billygoat walking track, pass the junction for the Tarawaere and Hihi tramping tracks and follow the tramline through deep cuttings past two short trestles. Near the hauler site at the top of the incline, there are good views of Billygoat Falls (180 m). From here, it is another half hour to the Billygoat Track car park, with a 300-m walk back along the road to the road-end car park.
The Billygoat Circuit Location
To reach The Billygoat Circuit from SH25 at the southern entrance to Thames, turn right into Banks Street beside the service station. Banks Street veers right into Parawai Road, which then becomes Kauaeranga Valley Road.
Follow this for 13 km to the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre. This takes approximately 20 minutes. The road continues unsealed a further 9 km to the road end – about another 15 minutes driving. The circuit starts at the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail.
Info
4-5 hours return
10.5km return
Intermediate
No Dogs
Contact
Phone Number: +64 7 867 9080
Email: kauaerangavc@doc.govt.nz
Website:
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