Parks , Reserves and Playgrounds
Waihī Ward Parks, Reserves and Playgrounds
Morgan Park, Waihī
Victoria Park, Waihī (Rocket Park)
Victoria Park, affectionately known as Rocket Park, is a favourite with locals and passing motorists. It sports a large adventure playground, including the infamous rocket slide, flying fox, picnic area and public toilets.
- Skate park
- Adventure Playground
- Picnic area
- Rubbish bins
- Public Toilets
Gilmour Reserve, Waihī
Gilmour Reserve is now a well-established, picturesque spot for picnics, relaxation, walking, duck feeding and model boat sailing. Public toilets are available for comfort stops and a pre-schooler's playground, fully fenced, will keep under-fives and parents happy by the lakeside.
- Duck pond and fountain
- Fully fenced Playground – suitable for pre-school children
- Picnic area
- Rubbish bins
- Public Toilets
Whiritoa Playground / Whiritoa Skate Park, Sport and Recreation Grounds
Whiritoa is a popular small beach town on the outskirts of the Hauraki District, nestled between Waihī and Whangamata.
- Skate park
- Playground
- Picnic tables
- Tennis court
- Rubbish bins
- Toilets
Karangahake Reserve, Karangahake
The Karangahake Reserve is located on the edge of the Ōhinemuri River just before the Karangahake Gorge on State Highway 2 from Paeroa to Waihī. It's a very popular spot for motorists to stop as well as a distinct destination of its own. The Karangahake Reserve is the entrance to a number of historic walking tracks displaying evidence of the early gold mining days where relics and building foundations still remain.
Vehicle access to the reserve is available at either end, with the main entrance at the western end approached from the Paeroa direction. The reserve provides plenty of car parking, picnic areas in picturesque surroundings and public toilets.
Canoeing, fishing and swimming are pursued in various sections of the Ōhinemuri and Waitāwheta Rivers in the Karangahake Gorge.
The Karangahake Reserve is a port of call for cyclists travelling on the Hauraki Rail Trail. Parking and entrance onto the Hauraki Rail Trail can be found on Crown Hill Rd (400m in the Paeroa direction), at the site for the new Karangahake Hall, or at the Waikino Train Station (please note, designated parking is separate to the Waikino Station Cafe carpark).
- Car park
- Picnic area
- Public toilets
- Hauraki Rail Trail
Department of Conservation (DOC)
The Karangahake Gorge region combines gold mining history and natural beauty, much of it accessible through a variety of walks.
Visit the Department of Conservation (DOC) website for information on the tracks and walks.
Paeroa Ward Parks, Reserves and Playgrounds
Railway Reserve Playground Paeroa
The Paeroa Railway Reserve is so named as it originally had the old Paeroa to Thames railway line running through it. That line has since become part of the Hauraki Rail Trail.
The Railway Reserve playground and skate park is in the perfect location for residents and passing motorists. It's a great spot for travelling families to park, picnic and play, and a popular spot for locals.
- Skate park
- Fenced Playground
- Public toilets
- Picnic areas
- Rotunda
- BBQ facilities
- Overnight parking
Paeroa Domain Playground, Paeroa
The Paeroa Domain is the key recreational facility in Paeroa and one of Council’s premier reserves.
The main entrance to the Paeroa Domain is located on Willoughby Street. Access is also available from the bordering streets, Arney Street and King Street.
The domain includes a children’s playground, public toilets, two full sized rugby fields, junior soccer fields, five netball courts, a netball pavilion, two croquet greens, a croquet pavilion, numerous clubrooms, and a grandstand with showering and changing facilities.
Frequent sporting events as well as annual community events, including the Paeroa Highland Games and Tattoo and Highland Tattoo and the Lion's Fireworks Display, are held at the picturesque domain throughout the year. It's also a great picnic spot, whether you are a resident or passing through
- Playground
- Public Toilets
- Two full sized rugby fields
- Five netball courts
- Netball pavilion
- Croquet pavilion
- Grandstand – with changing / showering facilities
- Picnic area
- Band rotunda
- Clubrooms (netball, athletics, rugby and croquet)
Edwards Place Playground, Paeroa
- Playground
- Basketball hoop
- Fruit trees
Brennan Field, Norwood Road, Paeroa
- Small skate park
- Dog exercise area
Primrose Hill, Paeroa
Primrose Hill, originally called Kakaipo and Tui Kairangi. Primrose Hill is said to be named after the Primrose family who lived adjacent to the area in the 1930s. From the summit viewpoint lovely panoramic views of the surrounding country, including the Hauraki Plains, can be enjoyed.
On the reserve is a replica of the London Cenotaph that serves as the War Memorial for the district. Nearby is the memorial erected in memory of Sergeant-Major Bradford, the first New Zealand soldier to fall in the South African War. Also at the summit is a memorial cairn, erected by the Rotatry Club, that has a directional compass pointing to the various features of the surrounding district.
Primrose Hill is the highest point in Paeroa, giving a great view of the township and surrounding area. The drive up the hill begins from Wood Street behind the Paeroa Kindergarten.
During the evening the lighting on the cenotaph cycles through an array of colour, visible for quite a distance.
Every ANZAC day dawn services are held on Primrose Hill at the foot of the War Memorial Cenotaph.
Leach’s Field, Paeroa
- Dog exercise area
Ōhinemuri Park, Paeroa
Ōhinemuri Park is home to the world famous in New Zealand, Lemon & Paeroa bottle.
The L&P bottle is one of New Zealand's most photographed icons. In fact it's because it is such a popular icon to photograph that we shifted it back from its original spot, too near the edge of the road, and built a whole park around it.
You will find plenty of room to park as well as seating and grassed areas suitable for picnicking or stretching your legs.
Over the stop-bank, behind the park, is the Ōhinemuri River.
- Public toilets
- Car parking
- Picnic areas
- Tourist Destination
Plains Ward Parks, Reserves and Playgrounds
Pioneer Park, Hugh Haywood Domain, Ngātea
The Hugh Hayward Domain is the sporting and recreational hub of the Hauraki Plains. Used for rugby, football, athletics, cricket, netball, touch and hockey, the Domain boasts the only Astroturf playing surface in the greater Coromandel and Thames Valley area.
Pioneer Park is situated at the front of the Hugh Hayward Domain.
The redeveloped park boasts a large modern playground, a street style skate park, a basketball hoop, plenty of seats, and state-of-the-art public toilets and BBQ.
Other features of the park include Remembrance and Ashes Walls, an impressive bronze sculpture by world renowned New Zealand sculptor, Paul Dibble, and a row of five mature London Plane trees (Platanus x hispanica), which have been listed as significant trees by the Council.
Ngātea Public Swimming Pool is also located in the domain.
- Playground
- Skate park
- Astroturf Hockey field
- Two full sized Rugby Grounds
- Football grounds
- Six netball courts
- Combined clubrooms for rugby / netball / football / athletics / cricket / touch rugby
- Grandstand with changing and showering facilities
- Picnic areas
- Public Toilets
- BBQ
- Ngātea Swimming pool
Tilbury Reserve, Ngātea
Named after local pioneering identity, Harry Tilbury, a drover who lived in a cottage that used to be sited on the reserve, Tilbury Reserve is a flat grass area on Orchard West Rd (and opposite Kaihere Rd), adjacent to the Piako River in Ngātea.
Located on the reserve is the Millennium Bridge, a half scale working model of the old Piako River Bridge centre span. The inclusion of a couple of picnic tables completes this spot as a great place to stop, stretch your legs and read about the history of the bridge.
Constructed in 2002 using funds raised by the community it is a reminder of the earlier importance of river travel to the Plains area.
- Picnic area
- Tourist destination
Dudding Reserve, Ngātea
- On the corner of Paul’s Drive, Ngātea, and State Highway 2, this reserve is dedicated to Dave Dudding in recognition of his services to land drainage in the area. It sports picnic tables, a picnic shelter built by the local Lions Club, an information board listing Plains places of interest, a mural and is an ideal place to take a break from shopping in the middle of the town’s CBD.
- Picnic area
- Tourist destination
Kaiaua Pirate Ship Playground
This themed adventure playground is an excellent spot on the remarkable Kaiaua Coast, also named the seabird or shorebird coast, for any young pirate to have fun and exercise.
- Adventure Playground
- Tourist destination
- Public toilets
- Car parking
- Picnic area which is a starting point to the Hauraki Rail Trail
- Freedom camping
Ray’s Rest, Kaiaua
The reserve is off East Coast Road, approximately 4.5 km south of Kaiaua township and adjacent to the Firth of Thames.
Camping is restricted to self-contained vehicles holding and displaying current NZS 5465:2001 certification, maximum two night stay in any one calendar month.
Please note that camping at the south end of Rays Rest Reserve is prohibited. Find out more about Freedom Camping in the Hauraki District.
Kerepēhi Playground
This children's playground s located in Kerepēhi on the corner of Kaikahu Road and Pakatoa Street.
The park was gifted to the community by the NZ Dairy Company at the time following the closure of the Kerepēhi Milk Processing Plant.
It is an open grassed area with playground equipment set inside soft fall, and a couple of well-placed picnic tables.
- Playground
- Picnic areas
- Car parking
Tūrua Playground
The installation of the Tūrua Playground in 2011 was a combined effort by Council, Ngātea Lions and the Tūrua Community.
The playground is located in the Tūrua township, next to the Tūrua Hall at the corner of Matai Street and Hauraki Road.
- Playground
- Picnic area
- Car parking
- Public Toilets