Waihi Beach 2

Another beautiful day at Waihi Beach. I set my alarm for 5.30 so I could watch the sunrise.

After breakfast we tackled the Windows Walk, taking the car all the way to the car park at Karangahake.  We set off with the push chair through more beautiful scenery. We hadn't expected the number of stairs we would have to climb.

Again we passed stunning river views

and mining relics.

Just before we reached the highest point of the walk, the pram decided it had had enough and developed a flat front tyre. From then on it was carry the toddler and carry the pram.

At the top we got to walk through a mine tunnel, using torches. Every now and then there was an opening which let in a little sunlight and gave us a view of the river and gorge below.

Apparently the mine had not been particularly successful and had barely broken even which was one of the reasons it is now abandoned.

The down journey of the loop was easier with fewer stairs but one or two suspension bridges. They don't look like suspension bridges at first so I was taken by surprise when the bridge felt unstable.

 

After we got back to the holiday park we had time for a last visit to the beach.

We had to be out by ten the following morning so we decided to visit the Gold Discovery Centre in Waihi after leaving the holiday park just before the deadline.

We didn't take the tour but wandered around on our own, interacting with the displays which were very hands-on.

We got to experience what it was like to drill into the rock-face and witness on a video the results of our detonating a blast.

There was a very interesting theatre production incorporating mirror technology and photo frames which doubled as TV screens in the enacting of the story. Although it was a love story, it gave us a good insight into the conditions in the early days when there was a  strike and strike breakers were called in to do the work and extra police to enforce order.

There is a tour available to see a working mine but since we were in transit (and it was very expensive) we didn't do it.

We learned a lot and from some of the working models I could make sense of some of the ruins we had seen in the last two days. For instance, a battery is a set of stampers working together, powered by a waterwheel, to crush the rock.

We could have stayed much longer but it was nap time and we still had an hour and a half travel time back to Hamilton where the children weren't the only ones in need of a nap!