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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Waihī and the Karangahake Gorge, New Zealand
Waihi Lavender Farm reopens December 5, 2026, minutes from a working gold-mining town, the Karangahake Gorge rail trail and the sands of Waihī Beach.
3 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Waihī grew up around gold, and it still has a working mine in the middle of town. Within a short drive you get three very different landscapes: the steep, river-cut Karangahake Gorge to the west, threaded with old mining relics and an easy rail trail; the farmland of the Hauraki district; and about 9 km of sand at Waihī Beach to the east. It is roughly two hours' drive south-east of Auckland.
Waihi Lavender Farm, at 118 Landlyst Road, is run by Mei and Tony, who moved down from Auckland and grew the farm from a few rows of lavender. Visitors stroll the fields and eat at The Lavender Kitchen, a vegetarian and vegan café with Asian and Western dishes made partly from farm produce. Its 2026/27 season opens on December 5, 2026, so this is a Southern Hemisphere summer trip, best from December into autumn.
The lavender farms
- Waihi Lavender FarmLavender farm · Waihi
Open for the summer lavender season, from December 5, 2026 for 2026–27; café season runs into April; events and farm tours through the season.
Best time to visit
Waihi Lavender Farm opens for the 2026/27 season on December 5, 2026; last season its farm tours and café events ran from late December through April, so December to April is the window. Summer (December to February) is also beach season at Waihī Beach and Bowentown, while the Orokawa Bay track is less crowded in autumn (March to May); wasps are active along it in warmer months. The Gold Discovery Centre and the Hauraki Rail Trail are open year-round, which makes them good rainy-day or off-season stops, but check for planned State Highway 2 rock-scaling closures in the Karangahake Gorge before you go.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Gold Discovery Centre🏛️ Museum · Waihī · about 3 mi, 5 min drive
Hands-on displays tell Waihī's gold story, including a gold bar you can lift; the Gold Mine Tour takes you inside the security fence of the working mine (Thursday to Monday at 1 PM, about 2 hours, covered shoes required). It sits opposite the Cornish Pumphouse and also houses the visitor information center and bike hire.
Daily 10 AM–4 PM (as posted October 2026)
As posted October 2026: Gold Experience NZ$36 adults, NZ$18 children 5–14; Gold Mine Tour NZ$69 adults
- Goldfields Railway🏛️ Historic site · Waihī · about 3 mi, 5 min drive
A vintage train runs between Waihī and Waikino at the eastern end of the gorge, where the station café serves drinks and Devonshire scones. Some days run only one train, so check the timetable first.
Runs in all months; service varies by day
- Hauraki Rail Trail, Paeroa to Waihī section🥾 Trail · Waihī · about 3 mi, 5 min drive
This 24 km Grade 1–2 section follows the Ohinemuri River through the Karangahake Gorge and is the most popular part of the 160 km trail. A return ride from Waihī to the gorge is about 34 km and 2–3 hours.
Open all year; check trail status for gorge closures
free
- Karangahake Gorge🏛️ Historic site · Karangahake · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
The deep gorge cut through the Kaimai Range holds gold-mining relics, the shadowy Windows Walkway and a railway tunnel of about 1,100 m (bring a torch). The historic walkway runs along the river only, with no loop, and bikes are not allowed on it.
Open all year
free
- Owharoa Falls💧 Waterfall · Waikino · about 7 mi, 10 min drive
A cascading waterfall just off the rail trail in the gorge, an easy short stop by car or bike.
Open all year
free
- Victoria Battery🏛️ Historic site · Waikino · about 6 mi, 10 min drive
Near Waikino, the remains of this old gold-processing site come with a museum of early processing displays. It sits beside the rail trail near the halfway point between Paeroa and Waihī.
- Waihī Beach🏖️ Beach · Waihī Beach · about 7 mi, 12 min drive
About 9 km of sand roughly 10 minutes' drive from town, loved by swimmers and surfers, with Bowentown's calmer water at the southern end.
Open all year
free
- Orokawa Bay Track🥾 Trail · Waihī Beach · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
From the northern end of Waihī Beach, an easy track of about 45 minutes each way skirts the headlands to a bay inside a 145-hectare scenic reserve with pōhutukawa and kauri. The beach is not safe for swimming because of its steep seafloor, and the start may be cut off at high tide.
Open all year; avoid high tide and big swell
free
- Anzac Bay to Te Ho Pā Site🥾 Trail · Bowentown · about 13 mi, 20 min drive
At the southern end of Waihī Beach, a walk of about 45 minutes return climbs from Anzac Bay to the Te Ho pā site and its views, with sheltered Shelly Bay nearby for a swim.
Open all year
free
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday ParkFarm stay or campground · Athenree
Holiday park near Bowentown with two public hot pools (33–35°C and an adults' pool at 39.5°C) open from 10 AM.
- The Falls RetreatInn or B&B · Karangahake Gorge
Cottages and a from-scratch restaurant beside Owharoa Falls, with stays from NZ$250 a night.
- Bullswool Farm ParkFamily fun farm · Karangahake Gorge
A family farm park on Rahu Road where children can hand-feed rare-breed animals; confirm hours before you go.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMGold Discovery Centre
Start in town with the hour-long Gold Experience, and pick up rail trail tips from the visitor center.
- 11:15 AMWaihi Lavender Farm · about 5 min drive
About 5 minutes away. Walk the fields, then lunch at The Lavender Kitchen and browse the soaps and skin care; allow about 2 hours.
- 1:30 PMOwharoa Falls · about 10 min drive
About 10 minutes west on SH2; 20 minutes at the falls.
- 2:00 PMVictoria Battery · about 3 min drive
A few minutes away near Waikino; about 30 minutes among the ruins.
- 2:45 PMKarangahake Gorge · about 8 min drive
About 8 minutes to the gorge; walk the railway tunnel (with a torch) and the Windows Walkway, about 1.5 hours.
- 4:45 PMOrokawa Bay Track · about 30 min drive
About 30 minutes back through Waihī to the north end of Waihī Beach; walk out to the bay and back in about 1.5 hours if the tide allows.
- 6:45 PMAthenree Hot Springs · about 15 min drive
About 15 minutes south for a soak in the hot pools, or stay the night.
Tips
- Bring a torch or headlamp for the Karangahake railway tunnel, which is about 1,100 m long.
- Cell coverage can be patchy in the narrowest part of the gorge.
- Check the Hauraki Rail Trail's status page for planned SH2 rock-scaling closures; during them the tunnel and road through the gorge close on weekdays from 9 AM to 4 PM.
- Dogs on leads are allowed on the gorge walkway from Waikino Station to the old Karangahake Hall site.
- Time the Orokawa Bay walk away from high tide, and do not swim there; the seafloor drops steeply.
- The Gold Mine Tour runs Thursday to Monday at 1 PM, so book ahead if you want to fit it in.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is Waihi Lavender Farm open?
Its 2026/27 season opens on December 5, 2026. Last season its tours and café events ran from late December through April.
Is the Hauraki Rail Trail hard?
No. The Paeroa to Waihī section is Grade 1–2 (easiest to easy), 24 km long and about 3 hours one way.
Can you swim at Orokawa Bay?
The Department of Conservation says the beach is not safe for swimming because the seafloor is so steep.
Do I need a torch in the Karangahake Gorge?
Yes. The railway tunnel is about 1,100 m long, and a torch is recommended.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
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