(Be sure to read Tony Steemson's features on both the Karangahake Gorge and the Waihi Motor Camp.)
If you have arrived in Waihi via the Thames,
Coromandel, Whitianga, Whangamata route,
then you have the option of visiting the
Karangahake Gorge - recommended - and/or
stopping over at the Waihi Motor Camp - also
recommended.
But, once again, if time restraints are a
problem, still pay a visit to the Karangahake
Gorge. You will most certainly remember this
as a highlight of your visit to New Zealand.
As for staying over: in Waihi, you are a
little less than half an hour's drive away
from Katikati or a little under one hour's
drive away from Tauranga.
However, the gorge and Katikati visits of
discovery could easily take up four to five
hours, or at least two days. Enjoy one of
the most interesting areas in the country.
Both from the point of view of historic and
modern interest, particularly in the comparison
of the original gold prospecting and mining
days. View and discover one of the largest
operating open pit mines in the world. Therefore,
the Waihi Motor Camp stopover does rate high
in the options stakes.
If you have arrived at the Karangahake Gorge
via Thames, or straight from the South Motorway
Tauranga turn-off, then you will definitely
want to spend some time in the gorge. If
you have arrived here from a morning Coromandel
departure, and you are on a limited-time
itinerary, then you will probably want to
move on to Katikati and Tauranga.