Te Aroha Mountain Gold Mining Walking Tracks

Te Aroha is the town of Love..The mountain is popular for hiking people who want to do the hard climbs..however 3km from Te Aroha township is Wairongomai Valley. It's my favorite place for easy going bush walking, and has a stream nearby at the carpark to cool off in summer.. There are incredible views from the carpark across the farmlands, and the weekends are busy here for family walking together or hiking groups come here. As a leader, I bring people here, because of the old gold mining history and ecology of the area..the tracks are well designed and signposted for all to enjoy, and a large map on the day as at the carpark can be photographed for ease of exploring along the tracks. Some loops are roughly 4 hours or less if you're interested in visiting Wairongomai Valley. I highly recommend walking up Butler's Incline which is about an hour away from the carpark. Butler's is an old relic from the goldmine days, where they brought down the big rocks from the mountains using a Railway track, and now it's used as an invigorating walk from the bottom to the top..climbing about 400m in around 30 minutes.. The views are awesome at the top, and you can return to carpark via the High Level Track which is fairly easy..

We went with our two boys. It was such an adventure ! Our legs got tired about half way up. Would definitely be back to go all the way to the top...with out our kids.

Must do of you're in the area. All the walks are well signposted and indicate times too.Walks range from 30min to 4hrs+. Lots of locals so be sure to get there early as the carpark can fill up quite quickly and are small.There's heaps of information boards all around to read up on and understand what's happened in the 1880's onwards when the mine was in operation.Would recommend doing the shorter walks with kids up to the butler incline, its quite steep.

Absolutely love these trails especially Butlers incline. Never climbed May Queen incline though.Never thought I'd be fit enough to accomplish any such trails due to my failing Hakarimata's miserably and traumatizing myself over stairs for a good while but this was perfect for me (light to med fitness level). Accomplished all trails except above Quartzeville.These trails I find easier on my ankles and achilles and I love the entire terrain. The scenery is epic and the history of the area is just awesome. Very friendly local folk walking the trail. Love it

Excellent walking tracks, well marked and sign posted. Buck Rock has great views. Other tracks have great historic sites, old tramway, mine shafts, inclines. From easy trails to multi day tramping trails.

Really nice track. Can get a bit slippery when it's been raining. Lots of different level tracks. Everything interconnected. We found it useful to take a photo of the map at the beginning as some of the track signs are a bit confusing with some inconsistent times.If you want to do Butlers Incline they suggest walking up it and not down it to help stop erosion (but the sign only told you at the top of Butlers incline, which we think should have been at the car park sign)There is a toilet, turn right at the first fork on the track from the car park. It's a long drop and I don't think it has a door, so you may surprise a few ppl as they walk round the corner.We will be coming back to Waiorongomai Valley to walk up to Buck Rock. It's the rock you can see jutting out of the mountain. A local said that it's a bit of a scramble but the vew is worth battling the bush and gorse bushes for.

Awesome with heaps of hike options.

I liked here. Good destination to walk

Great place for a day walk. Lots to explore. Lots of history here and in beautiful bush. Take warm clothes and a rain jacket as it is in the shade and it takes time to get out once you are in. It is useful to take a touch for explanation too.There are a good combination of tracks from easy to steep all with very informative reading boards along the way so worth a read to understand the history.Most tracks have signs, and time directions. Shorter tracks are 30 minutes one way, longer tracks 2.5 hours and you are climbing up slow angles so worth taking food and drinks on these longer ones.Cell phone coverage is in and out and you are in mature bush where the weather can change with no notice so worth taking the time to be prepared.The tracks are in reasonable condition. There is a rock climbing face if you are into carrying some base climbing gear too.The mine shafts are wet floor with roof falls in reasonable condition.There is good parking. But seems to be local cars coming into see what cars are parked there as our surveillance picked up the same cars coming looking around and leaving. So I wouldn't leave possessions in your vehicle.However well worth exploring.