Waihi is a popular stopover between Auckland and Tauranga or from the Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua. It is one of the best known gold mining towns in New Zealand, and this rich history is apparent everywhere in town.
If you enjoy 'the simple life', you could say that Waihi is your kind of town, with old wooden buildings, a white sand beach where you can enjoy shellfish collecting and sea fishing. There is not a shopping mall in sight!
To the west is Ohinemuri River, which runs through the Karangahake Gorge, where trout fishing, mining relics and independent arts and crafts people can be found along the way. The vintage train puffs from Waihi to Waikino and people of all ages can enjoy the easy walking tracks along the river.