Waihi Martha Mine Pit Rim Walkway
Waihi Martha Mine Pit Rim Walkway
Waihi Martha Mine Pit Rim Walkway
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Top ways to experience Waihi Martha Mine Pit Rim Walkway and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
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25 within 3 miles
Attractions
12 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
212 reviews
Excellent
80
Very good
99
Average
28
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Dean BJ Martin
Hobart, Australia273 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Wife loves gold so to the mine we went. Located in the center of Waihi it’s easy the access and find. When we visited there had been a landslide in the pit and so mining was only underground. Interesting history and still working. Good views from the walk way
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,891 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
Close to the centre of Waihi is the Martha Mine Pit which is an open pit mine and is colossal. Originally the mining at the site was carried out underground until 1952, later the open pit approach was adopted.
A Cornish Pumphouse was built in 1904 with a large steam engine which pumped water out of the mine, it was similar to those used in the Tin Mines in Cornwall and although stripped away of it's original machinery is a must see while at the mine.
There was major rockfall in April 2016 when about two million tonnes of rock and rubble collapsed from the north wall and this can be seen when looking over the rim. This is a must see whilst in the area
A Cornish Pumphouse was built in 1904 with a large steam engine which pumped water out of the mine, it was similar to those used in the Tin Mines in Cornwall and although stripped away of it's original machinery is a must see while at the mine.
There was major rockfall in April 2016 when about two million tonnes of rock and rubble collapsed from the north wall and this can be seen when looking over the rim. This is a must see whilst in the area
Written January 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann B
Sydney, Australia57 contributions
Jul 2013 • Solo
It is free, you walk around the mine during one hour. The path is nice, the hole is amazing. You learn about Waihi gold of hearts past. The hole's deep is very surprising, because it is so deep ! About 300 meters. A good activity to do in family, with friends or alone.
Written July 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol
Auckland, New Zealand63 contributions
Sep 2020
The walk around Martha Gold Mine is not hard, only a few hilly bits, which takes about an hour at a steady pace. We did it in an hour 30 minutes as we stopped a lot to take in the mine and read the information signs along the way.
Written October 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baeleet
Auckland, New Zealand3 contributions
May 2018 • Family
Economically and Environmentally useless. Provides nothing to the local people of Waihi even though they claim to directly employ 350 people. View isn't even nice. If you want a great view, take a hike around the ranges that haven't been destroyed by mines and greedy companies.
Written May 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SandQ
Tauranga, New Zealand12 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
Lovely lady at the isite sent us off anticlockwise which took us everywhere but near the mine until the last quarter. There was also a diversion in place which was poorly signposted and not mentioned!
My advice, top of the steps turn left and when you reach the big earthmover and viewing platform, then head back as there’s not much more to see. There were info posts up along the way but no info on them.
Overall great up close view of the pit but not worth the full walk round.
My advice, top of the steps turn left and when you reach the big earthmover and viewing platform, then head back as there’s not much more to see. There were info posts up along the way but no info on them.
Overall great up close view of the pit but not worth the full walk round.
Written December 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard F
Waitakere City, New Zealand571 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
Any trip through Waihi should allow ample time to explore the largest gold mine in New Zealand; the open cast pit, the remains of the pump station (which are often mistaken by tourists for a castle ruins).....and the rim walkway which runs close to the edge of the open-cast pit in places, but away from the rim and through regenerating bush in others. Good walk regardless, open from sunrise to dusk and perhaps best of all the historic Sterling Hotel positioned perfectly at the end. Recommended for locals and tourists alike.
Written February 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penelope P
Auckland, New Zealand197 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
It was very interesting to walk the rim of the pit and learn a lot about local history and also what is happening now with the Gold mine. A great walk to take children on as they get a bit of exercise with the easy walk but it is also very educational
Written January 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
murrayg929
Auckland9 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
The walkway was well maintained and had very good information panels detailing the history of the pumphouse, which is the main feature on the walkway. We were there late in the afternoon and it was very attractive with the low sun. Waihi really makes an effort to showcase its gold mining heritage and was very clean and tidy.
Written May 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grovelled
Waiheke Island, New Zealand34 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
How many times have we passed through Waihi and just noted the old pump house on the hill? The other day, we needed to kill some time, so dropped in to the pump house area. Although we had heard about the active gold and silver mine there, we were unprepared for the size of the hole; 250m deep is deep. Huge trucks are tiny at the bottom. The operator has conducted a smooth PR job, and planted 1000s of native plants that follow the general area of the rim. Informative plaques advise in a perhaps, too positive way, of the benefits of digging a huge hole and extracting the resulting gold/silver. (3 grams per tonne of rock). The pit will become a lake in a few years.
It takes perhaps 45 mins to do the 4Km walk, but it is recommended if you are passing through. There is an information centre nearby.
It takes perhaps 45 mins to do the 4Km walk, but it is recommended if you are passing through. There is an information centre nearby.
Written April 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Which is the closest entry point with car park where you can get the best view of the mine?
Written February 15, 2019
Agree with above. There are quite a few places where you can get quite close to the rim with a car. You could park near the old Cornish Engine House and walk from there.
Written February 22, 2019
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