Navigate tunnels, cool off in a river and delve into gold mining history – you can’t bypass this Kaimai favourite.

The opportunity to walk this loop for a second time was met with enthusiasm by two adventurous pre-teens who, along with the adults, rate it highly for its level of challenge, gold-mining history, fun quotient and midway picnic and swimming spot. 

The loop – a mix of dirt road, bush track and disused mining tunnels – starts at the Karangahake Reserve car park on SH2. It combines Scotsman’s Gully Track, Old County Road, Dubbo 96 Track, Dickey Flat, Waitāwheta Pipeline Walk (also known as the Crown Tramway Track) and Windows Walk.

To begin, cross the pedestrian bridge over the Ōhinemuri River and take Scotsman’s Gully Track, the higher of the two on the right. After 680m a large fallen pine  requires you to cross a small creek. At 740m, turn left up the 4WD road and then right up Old County Road (1.52km), now more like a track as it is narrow and gouged in places. On the gradual ascent, look out for old mine entrances, some partially obscured by vegetation. To the left, enjoy views across the bush to farmland and to Karangahake Gorge below. 

At 3km take the Dubbo 96 Track on the left. This weaves downhill for 2km through lush bush, containing species such as nīkau, kauri, karaka, pūriri and kareao, to Waitāwheta River. The track is well defined, though there may be a few muddy spots. There’s one small stream to cross. Tūī, kererū, pīwakakawaka and korimako abound. 

At 5.24km, Dubbo 96 intersects with Waitāwheta Pipeline Track. The following short diversion from the loop is well worth the effort. Turning right, cross the Dickey Flat swingbridge and follow the gravel path to Dickey Flat Campsite. Pass the toilets to find the picnic table under the trees overlooking Waitāwheta River, where you can swim or paddle. 

Return to the Dubbo 96 Track intersection and proceed straight ahead across the Upper Waitāwheta Gorge bridge. Waitāwheta Pipeline Track is almost flat and runs between the cliff and river following the historic Crown Tramway and remains of the water pipeline, both of which supported the Karangahake goldmining operations of the 1890s to 1920s. Have a headlamp ready for the first of several tunnels, and watch your footing. You will emerge at a popular swimming hole with a waterfall. 

At 9.8km the Windows Walk and Crown Track intersection is reached. The section of the Crown Track across the bridge on the other side of the river is closed due to rockfall. The Windows Walk heads up the wooden steps and is narrow in places with the rock face towering above; it gets its name from ‘windows’ that were used to tip tailings into the river. Today these enable great views of the gorge and the tramway that was hewn into the almost vertical rock face opposite. You can’t help but marvel at the construction works of old. There are numerous information panels along the Windows Walk and on the path down to the remains of the Talisman Battery. Look out for relics of machinery, a rail wagon and what is left of the stamper battery.

Near the confluence of the Waitāwheta and Ōhinemuri rivers, the gorge opens to reveal the car park, which is reached via two bridges.