Scenic Industrial Archaeology

What can be more sublime than chasing ghosts of the past through gorgeous scenery? While you're working that one out, I'll just say that after leaving the Coromandel Peninsula we headed to Rotorua for our next extravaganza. But, en route, we came to the Karangahake Gorge. Captivated by the scenery we decided to stay a while, and then discovered the long discarded remains of a massive gold mining operation dating back to the 19th century. Mines and aesthetics don't often merge well, but on this occasion the parks authority lovingly guided tourists like us through the remains and explained in detail the past operations and what we were looking at. . Have a look at this blending of scenery and industry. It was, by the way, exciting for young Max to clamber over walls and snake through trenches or along discarded railway tracks. And it was easy walking for we oldies.

I think the pictures speak for themselves, xcep for the last one where Bec and I went for a stroll through a long and no longer used railway tunnel that once connected the mine to the outside world. That little walk was over 2 km in semi-darkness, though we were always guided by the distant light beckoning us at the far end.