Broken Hills Walking Tracks

Golden Hills Battery

Time: 30 min from the bridge car park
Distance: 800 m

This flat walk starts at the Bridge car park and follows alongside the Tairua River to the Golden Hills Battery site. The track originally carried horse-drawn wagons from the mines to the Golden Hills and Broken Hills Battery sites.

The Golden Hills mines started large scale production in 1908. By 1910 a stamper battery had been built across the river from the mine, but production lasted only 3 years. The battery used an expensive but unreliable coke-powered suction gas engine that was too large for the size of the reef being worked.

On your way to the Golden Hills Battery you will see two mine tunnels (adits) on your left, one of which is still being worked today. Observe all safety signs. At the battery site look for the original concrete foundations and arches that once supported large cyanide vats.

Broken Hills Battery

Time: 20 min from bridge car park
Distance: 550 m

It is an easy flat walk from the northern end of the Bridge car park to the Broken Hills mine, which operated successfully from 1896 to 1914. A water-powered stamper battery began crushing ore in 1899. It produced 51,000 ounces of gold, worth (at 2011 bullion prices) around NZ$100 million! Sixty people were employed at peak production. The rusting ironmongery seen on the path was once the blacksmith’s shop. The track continues past the mine to connect with the walking track to Golden Hills Battery.

Gem of the Boom

Time: 20 min return from Puketui Valley Rd
Distance: 400 m loop

This was the site of an old mining settlement, and relics of the past can still be seen, including what appears to be a jail cut into solid rock. It is an easy loop walk with two bridged crossings over a small creek.

Government Battery

Time: 5 min from the Puketui Valley roadend car park

This battery was built by the government to process ore prospected during the 1930s Depression. Only a flat concrete foundation remains visible today. Further up the walking track you’ll find a small waterfall and pool—an ideal place to cool down on a hot day.

Puketui Walk

Distance: 900 m 

This flat walking track connects the two road ends (with a stream crossing at the Puketui Road end), providing good views along the Tairua River. Off this track, a number of circular track options are available.

Water Race Tunnel Track

Distance: 1.9 km loop

Take the Main Range Track off the Puketui Walk and veer left onto the Water Race Tunnels Track. This follows the old water race that took water from the Third Branch Stream across the Tairua River via three tunnels to drive the Broken Hills Battery. The original race was 3300 m long. At the southern end, the track joins the Water Race Link Track, where you can either drop down a stepped track for 15 min to the Puketui Walk and return to where you started, or climb up to the Third Branch Track and onto Collins Drive. 

Third Branch Track

Distance: 1.3 km loop

At the southern end of the Puketui Walk, the Third Branch Track follows the stream then picks up an old tram line, climbing up the hill before levelling out and sidling around the hill to the east end of Collins Drive. A circuit is possible via the Water Race Link Track back to Puketui Walk.

Collins Drive Loop

Time: 2–3 hr return from road end car parks
Distance: 3.5 km circuit

The 500-m long Collins Drive provides an opportunity to experience a real underground mine system. This tunnel was driven through the hill in a fruitless attempt to find a quartz reef with payable ore. Dangerous shafts have been boarded up. You will need a torch for the 15-min boardwalk through the tunnel. Turn your torch off near the tunnel entrances to see the glow-worms.

The easiest approach to Collins Drive is via the Third Branch Track (Puketui Road) or Water Race Tunnels Track (Puketui Valley Road). A small landing 5 min short of Collins Drive marks the start of an aerial cableway that carried ore hoppers to the Golden Hills stamper battery. From the west end of Collins Drive, a 10-min climb to the ridge will bring you to the Main Range track. Turn to the east (right) and you will return to the Puketui Valley road end car park, approximately 1 hr away. Check out the views from the lookout on the way. 

Main Range Track

This starts out as a walking track from the northern end of Puketui Walk and leads to a track junction (1 hr). At this point you can turn left to Collins Drive or continue on to the Paton Stream Dam (another 3 hr), Hihi Trig (4.5 hr) or down into the Kauaeranga Valley (8–10 hr). Please note that the track changes to a tramping track at the junction and is not well formed and steep in places, so is more suited to experienced and well-prepared trampers.

Getting there

Broken Hills is 19 km from Tairua and 27 km from Whangamata.

The two entrance roads (Puketui Valley Road and Puketui Road) to Broken Hills do not connect and a stream crossing is required between them.

Plan your journey so you access your destined track or campsite by the correct entrance road.

Puketui Valley Road entrance

Turn off SH25 at Hikuai onto Morrison’s Road (50 m north of the Pauanui turn off) then onto Puketui Valley Road. It is 6 km to the car park at the end of Puketui Valley Road.

Note: Tairua River Bridge, one km short of the road end, has a 10-tonne weight limit.

Puketui Road entrance

Alternative access is available off the Kopu-Hikuai Road (SH25a), 26 km from Thames. Turn on to Puketui Road 400 m before the Tairua River and Fourth Branch Scenic Reserve. A 4 km gravel road brings you to the Puketui Road car park at the southern end of Broken Hills. You will need to wade the stream to access the track system as there is no bridge across the water.

History and culture

Around the turn of the 20th century, a bustling gold-mining settlement named Puketui was established in the Broken Hills Gorge. It had a post office, hall and several shops.

By 1912 a settlement of 200 people had sprung up along the river. Plans were prepared for a permanent township on the site now occupied by the Broken Hills Campsite.

Just two years later, production at the mines tailed off and the size of the settlement diminished accordingly. Small-scale mining continued in the area until 1923.

Relics of this past mining era can still be seen. Today, one of the old drives is being mined using historic methods.

Know before you go

• Mine tunnels and shafts are very dangerous and may be hidden by vegetation.
• Keep to marked official tracks.
• Do not enter tunnels unless they are clearly marked for public access. 
• Carry a torch with fresh batteries.
• Warm clothing is recommended.

Source: Department of Conservation