Victoria Battery Tramway & Museum Society
Victoria Battery Tramway & Museum Society
Victoria Battery Tramway & Museum Society
4.5
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4.5
42 reviews
Excellent
21
Very good
16
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Mark F
Rotorua, New Zealand68 contributions
Jan 2021
The Victoria Battery Tramway and Museum is well worth a visit to see how mining used to be done. The old machinery and tools have been preserved, and the displays are well laid out. The volunteer docents are knowledgeable about the history of the workings and of the Waihi mine. The walk through the tunnel is worth it for those who are not claustrophobic.
Written 4 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lorikeetkeith
Waihi, New Zealand6 contributions
Jun 2021
An insight to he hardships our pioneering forebears had to endure The site is maintained , to a degree by D O C but the heart is with 14 non - paid volunteers with an average age of 76 Please consider the work that goes on behind the scenes , and do not be to critical of any perceived shortcomings in the presentation of the ruins .This may have been your one , and, only visit , but you are one of many . May i encourage all visitors to leave a coin in the Iron Maiden ( cyclists included ) to assist with the ongoing improvements of the facilities viz toilets , track , road , weed control , signage, and , (sadly ) litter removal . An especial place , please to only leave your foot prints ..... Just a thought .. Keith
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JLF
40 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
We were lucky enough to visit on a day where the volunteers were in at the museum building. We had a great guide, knowledgeable and friendly. The sweet black cat sleeping in her box at the front was a bonus too. A very interesting collection of historical artifacts. It was worth checking out the kilns on the top of the hill too.
Written 17 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jonneeboy
Wilmslow470 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
This is a fascinating glimpse into the past, and how men suffered to extract gold and silver from the mountains. We drove here, but you can catch a train from Waihi. The museum was closed when we were there, but it didn’t really matter as we still saw 5he massive restored kilns which now house nesting swallows. We parked at Waikino Station, where the cafe is well worth a visit. The nearby Owharoa Falls is also a short walk away.
Written 2 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,952 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Whilst we were in Waikino we were interested in seeing the Victoria Battery Tramway but it was closed on the day that we visited and only open two days a week. It was a shame that we did not get to see the museum but to be honest there were many relics in the surrounding area that could be seen and enough to give an insight of what it was like at the Quartz processing plant in 1900’s. The Victoria Battery is within walking distance of Waikino Railway station and also along the Hauraki Rail Trail - Paeroa to Waihi route.
Written 4 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicnac8668
Queensland, Australia193 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
Really disappointed as we came all the way from Australia to see this place - they only open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10am-3pm but when we got there at 2:30pm on a Wednesday there was no one to be seen and it was clear they'd been closed for some time, if not all day? We did wander through the grounds which was interesting but I am very disappointed they were not open at the advertised time.
Written 24 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hokeypokeysue
Sydney NSW Australia270 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
Victoria Battery is run by passionate volunteers who are dedicated and very knowledgeable. You can get a guided tour through the museum and see the old transformer house with the huge old stammer batteries. They dropped one for us so we could hear the noise. This place is full of history and so very interesting. We then were taken on a guided walk through the kiln tunnel, we were provided a torch, hard helmet and again a very friendly, knowledgeable guide who explained to us the whole process and told us how timber was consumed at 5 hectares every 2 days, and that is why there are now very few big native trees in the area.
To finish our visit we took the yellow tramway that runs around the site, something children would really love to do.
Our visit here was a fun activity. It was extremely good value and we all learnt so much.
We took the Goldfields railway from Waihi to Waikino and walked over to Victoria Battery. You walk beside the road and then go under it, via an underground tunnel to reach the other side. It is then a short walk up to the museum. The site is open Wednesdays, Sunday and Public holidays from 10am-3pm.
On our return to Waikino Station, we enjoyed a tasty lunch at the Station cafe.
You can also get to the Victoria Battery by car, it is located in the Karangahake Gorge opposite Waikino. Turn left onto the site just after you have crossed the Owharoa bridge off SH2.
I would highly recommend this attraction if you are visiting the area.
To finish our visit we took the yellow tramway that runs around the site, something children would really love to do.
Our visit here was a fun activity. It was extremely good value and we all learnt so much.
We took the Goldfields railway from Waihi to Waikino and walked over to Victoria Battery. You walk beside the road and then go under it, via an underground tunnel to reach the other side. It is then a short walk up to the museum. The site is open Wednesdays, Sunday and Public holidays from 10am-3pm.
On our return to Waikino Station, we enjoyed a tasty lunch at the Station cafe.
You can also get to the Victoria Battery by car, it is located in the Karangahake Gorge opposite Waikino. Turn left onto the site just after you have crossed the Owharoa bridge off SH2.
I would highly recommend this attraction if you are visiting the area.
Written 11 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hanniepex
Auckland, New Zealand585 contributions
May 2022 • Family
This Site is part of the historic area of Tauranga. It is used to be a gold mining site where Golds are processed.
Its a good place to walk where ruins are sighted and a working tram can be availed to have a unique way to look around the area.
Its a good place to walk where ruins are sighted and a working tram can be availed to have a unique way to look around the area.
Written 17 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
155richard81
Tauranga, New Zealand550 contributions
Sept 2020
The Victoria Battery (named after Queen Victoria) was one of the largest ore crushing sites in the world in the early 1900's. Although most of the site has been cleared there are still some interesting bits of machinery about.
Written 17 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OxfordOwlman
Witney, UK47 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
See my review on Karangahake Gorge and Ruins and the museum at the Victoria Battery. It is worth visiting and amazing historical remains of industrial architecture.
Written 13 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I cannot walk long distances, is this a suitable place for me to visit? Thanks.
Written 27 September 2015
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