Broken Hills Battery Walk

WalkWaikatoOpen

Grade
Easiest
Walking time
20 min
Distance
550 m
Dogs
On a lead

Getting there

We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.

How to get there, on doc.govt.nz

Broken Hills is 19 km from Tairua and 27 km from Whangamata.

The two entrance roads (Puketui Valley Road and Puketui Road) to Broken Hills do not connect and a stream crossing is required between them.

Plan your journey so you access your destined track or campsite by the correct entrance road.

Turn off SH25 at Hikuai onto Morrison’s Road (50 m north of the Pauanui turn off) then onto Puketui Valley Road. It is 6 km to the car park at the end of Puketui Valley Road.

Note: Tairua River Bridge, one km short of the road end, has a 10-tonne weight limit.

Alternative access is available off the Kopu-Hikuai Road (SH25a), 26 km from Thames. Turn on to Puketui Road 400 m before the Tairua River and Fourth Branch Scenic Reserve. A 4 km gravel road brings you to the Puketui Road car park at the southern end of Broken Hills. You will need to wade the stream to access the track system as there is no bridge across the water.

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

Map

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 37.10115° S, 175.73982° E

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About this place

This is an easy flat walk to the Broken Hills mine that operated from from 1896 to 1914.

The route

It is an easy flat walk from the northern end of the Bridge car park to the Broken Hills mine, which operated successfully from 1896 to 1914. A water-powered stamper battery began crushing ore in 1899. It produced 51,000 ounces of gold, worth (at 2011 bullion prices) around NZ$100 million! Sixty people were employed at peak production. The rusting ironmongery seen on the path was once the blacksmith’s shop. The track continues past the mine to connect with the walking track to Golden Hills Battery.

Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.

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Sources

  • DOC Tracks & Trails · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
  • DOC Tracks (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).