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NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGY www.nzarchaeology.org/cultural_tourist.htm New
Zealand Archaeological Sites A
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THAMES
/ COROMANDEL
|
 What: Kauri
driving dam remains.
Where: Below Pinnacles
Hut Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/ http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/ How to get there: Get a track map for the DOC visitor centre. How long to allow: Half an hour at the site. One hour walk from the visitor centre. What else to do there: Enjoy the bush. There are many other historic features in the valley. |
Whitianga Rock
Pa 
| What: A small pa
on a prominent rock - the palisade posts were set into holes cut
in the rock which may be still seen. Where: Over
the river from Whitianga Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=35893 http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=45643
How to get there: Catch the passenger ferry from Whitianga - it runs regularly - the site is along a well marked track south of the landing. How long to allow: Half an hour. What else to do there: The stone wharf at the ferry landing. |
 What: Pa
Where: Prominent headland at
the east end of Hahei Beach. Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/ How to get there: Drive to Hahei Beach and park near the eastern end. The pa is in a reserve with a clear track. How long to allow: One hour What else to do there: See Hahei pa as well. Enjoy the stunning view over the islands off the coast. |
Opito Point Pa
 What: A prominent
paWhere: At the
eastern end of lovely Opito Beach Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/ How to get there: Walk along the beach from the end of the road - its right in front of you! Driving to Opito How long to allow: 2 hours What else to do there: Enjoy the view! The hill Tahanga that you passed is a volcanic stump - and the source of rock for adzes for the first Maori residents. It was traded widely in northern New Zealand. It is not open for acess. |
Billy Goat incline (Kauaeranga Valley) 
| What: Steam hauler
site used in the kauri industry Where: Kauaeranga
Valley, Thames. Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=34093
How to get there: 40 minute walk from the visitor centre. How long to allow: Half an hour at the site What else to do there: The visitor centre has guides to many other historic features. See the Hoffman pool intake and Dancing Camp dam on this site. |
Puketui, Broken Hills Gorge
| What: Gold mining
site with remains of shafts, a drive you can walk through (take a
torch) and a battery. Where:
Puketui Coromandel. The site is a DOC one close to the road. Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=45646
How to get there: Along Puketui Rd from State highway 25A. How long to allow: Two hours What else to do there: Enjoy the bush. |
Masonry intake structure Hoffman Pool (Kauaeranga Valley) 
 What: A
concrete and masonry intake
from the river that fed water through to Thames through a water
race for hydraulic power and water supply. It went through
tunnels, channel and flumes. Originally had a cunning float
controlled intake gate to stop flood water entering the
race.
Where: Western bank of the river
against the hill slope, where it leaves the narrower part of the
valley Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=34093
How to get there: Ten minutes from Thames up the valley road. Go past the visitor centre to a small carpark signposted 'nature walk'. Its down that path a short way. How long to allow: Half an hour. What else to do there: - see the Kauri dam remains elsewhere in the valley. If you take the model dam walk from the visitor centre carpark you will see part of the water race including a sluice set in the race wall to drain it. |
| What: Prominent
pa on a knoll.
Where: Eastern end of Hahei
Beach Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=45650
How to get there: Drive to Hahei Beach and park near the eastern end. The pa is in a reserve with a clear track. How long to allow: Half an hour What else to do there: See the promontory pa as well. |
Opera Pt
| What: Pa site and
historic sawmill.
Where: North head of
Whangapoua Harbour Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=35891
How to get there: Drive to the western end of the harbour - the site How long to allow: Two hours What else to do there: - |
Whitianga Stone Wharf
| What: Stone faced
wharf built in 1837
Where: At the eastern ferry landing,
Whitianga. Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=35893 How to get there: Catch the passenger ferry across from Whitianga - runs regularly How long to allow: 15 minutes. What else to do there: The adjacent pa on Whitianga rock is a must once you are there. |
Whitianga Stone Store
 What: The
oldest building in Whitianga - from the 1870'sWhere:
The southern extremity of the town on the waterfront,
Robinson Rd. Google
Earth Web Info: http://www.whitianga.co.nz/history.html How to get there: Follow round the estuary waterfront to its southern-most extent - next to the big Norfolk Pine. How long to allow: 10 minutes. What else to do there: - |
HMS Buffalo Wreck
| What: Breaking our own
rule here on not covering shipwrecks and there is usually nothing
to see. However it is a famous 1840 shipwreck for Australia, as in 1836
Buffalo helped found the settlement of South Australia. There is a
replica at Glenelg in Adelaide.
Where: Buffalo Beach Whitianga
Google Earth
Web Info: http://thequay.kiwiclub.com/notes/Buffalo.htm
How to get there: Two minutes north of the town How long to allow: 5 minutes - occasionally the wreck is exposed on the beach. What else to do there: see the rest of Whitianga - see also other listings here. |
Queen of Beauty Shaft Pump, Thames
 What: Mine shaft
(behind building), Thames- Hauraki pump house and quadrants from the mine pump. The shaft is largely
infilled. (Old photo - it is now much better loved)Where: Thames
Google Earth Web Info: How to get there: Cnr. Bella and Campbell Sts. Its in the grounds of the Thames Museum of Technology - open limited hours - but you can see the quadrants from the road behind if it is closed. How long to allow: 15 minutes What else to do there: Enjoy the
atmosphere of Thames, museums, mine experiences - see panel to
right. |
Kauri Dam, Kaiarara Stream (Great Barrier Island)
 What:
Driving dam used to hoosh kauri logs to the sea and the saw mill.
A late example built in the 1920's. This site is fragile - please keep off the
timber structure.
Where: Off the Mt Hobson Track Web Info:
http://www.learnz.org.nz/2001/great_barrier/ http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=36800 http://www.greatbarrier.co.nz/DOC/Places%20to%20visit.htm How to get there: Half day round trip on the track, start from Port Fitzroy. Get a DOC map from their visitor centre at the Ferry Wharf, Auckland or at their weekday only office at Port Fitzroy. How long to allow: 30 minutes at the site. What else to do there: On Great Barrier, wonderful beaches and bush walks, the Oreville Stamping Battery is located alongside the road to Whangaparapara, whaling station remains at Whangaparapara. |
Te Totara Pa
Where: Part of the Totara cemetery,
south of Thames. Google Earth
Web Info:
How to get there: Take the cemetery road to the east of the Kopu - Thames road. The defences can be seen at the end of the cemetery road. How long to allow: 30 minutes at the site. What else to do there: Lots of heritage stuff in Thames. |
The Inch by Inch Guide to the Whitianga Area, Randal Inch. Privately published 2002.
Great Barrier Island. Don Armitage editor, Canterbury University Press 2001.
While you are in Thames and Coromandel we recommend:
Not really heritage but a lot of fun is the Driving Creek Railway
Thames and Coromandel are heritage towns.
© NZAA Last Update: 09/05/2010
