11 October 2026
Showers, possibly heavy, clearing to fine in the morning, then cloud and the odd shower developing at night. Northwesterlies.
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1 / 3Broken Hills area
Broken Hills Battery Loop
Enjoy an easy walk from the Bridge Carpark to the Broken Hills mine, passing by the site of an old mining settlement along the way, and then continue on to the Golden Hills Battery
Distance
2.89 km
Walking time
45 - 60 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs
On-lead only
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
Alerts and track conditions
No active alerts found. Conditions can still change, so check again before leaving.
Weather outlook
Coromandel Peninsula forecast
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 11:01 pm
12 October 2026
Occasional rain, clearing in the evening. Northwesterlies.
13 October 2026
Partly cloudy, with isolated showers in the afternoon and evening. Northwesterlies.
14 October 2026
Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Northwesterlies developing in the morning.
15 October 2026
Showers developing. Northerlies, turning westerly.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Broken Hills Battery Loop on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Broken Hills Battery Loop
These tracks make for a gentle 30 - 60 minute walk from the Bridge Carpark, depending on how long and for how far you wish to explore for. You can walk this loop in either direction, but is described below as exploring the Gem of the Boom track first, then continuing to the site of the Broken Hills Battery before heading along the river to the Golden Hills Battery. Start by heading north from the carpark along the road for 250m until you see the track on your right. Enter the bush and follow the Gem of the Boom track to the left. This is an easy loop walk with two bridged crossings over a small creek. You'll discover relics from the mining era including the site of an old mining settlement and what appears to be a jail cut into solid rock. At the end of this loop, continue to the left towards the site of the Broken Hills mine and the blacksmith’s shop. This mine operated successfully from 1896 to 1914 producing 51,000 ounces of gold, worth more than NZ$100 million today! The track continues past the mine to connect with the walking track to the less-successful Golden Hills Battery. Turn right to return to the carpark, or continue ahead for 800m 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. From there, you'll need to return back to this junction before turning left to the carpark.
Kauri protection guide
Stop kauri disease and protect kauri Scrub all soil off shoes and gear. Use cleaning stations. Always stay on the track. How you can help save kauri
Huts and campsites
Broken Hills campsite is a standard DOC campsite with 45 non-powered tent sites. Bookings are required . Camp rangers service the campsite during summer.
Getting there for Broken Hills Battery Loop
Broken Hills is 19km from Tairua and 27km from Whangamata. Turn off SH25 at Hikuai onto Morrison’s Road (50 m north of the Pauanui turn off) then onto Puketui Valley Road. It is 6km 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. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there.
Helpful resources
We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping/field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .
Dog access for Broken Hills Battery Loop
Dogs on a leash only
Before you walk Broken Hills Battery Loop
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.