Take a walk through native forest to a picturesque waterfall and abandoned gold mines.
South of Whangamatā, a road leads up the rural Wentworth Valley to a quiet Department of Conservation camping ground. It's hard to imagine this area was once a large gold mining settlement employing up to 300 people.
Today, you'll find a camping ground at the start of several walks leading to waterfalls and early mining relics.
The popular Waterfall Track crosses the Wentworth River twice (it's only ankle deep) before climbing to a good view of the spectacular falls.
Alternative routes
Pass through regenerating forest along the base of a steep hillside to find two mine shafts (no public access) as well as rock and earth taken from other mines. The track drops back down to the stream opposite a picnic area.
Experienced hikers can link up with tracks coming out of the Maratoto Valley on the other side of the Coromandel Range. The traverse from the Wentworth Valley all the way inland to the Maratoto Valley takes five hours one way.
Getting there
Turn off SH25, 7 km south of Whangamatā on the Coromandel Peninsula, into Wentworth Valley Road.
