2 minute read
Charming Creek North Walkway
Where is it?
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From Seddonville, head southeast on Mokihinui Rd. After about 200m turn right onto Broome St and after 350m turn left onto Gladstone Street. Continue straight at the crossroads onto Charming Creek Road. Follow this gravel road for approximately 8.5km to the car park start point.
Need to Know
Use this track in place of the Charming Creek South Walkway, as it is currently closed due to a large rock slip. Mangatini Falls is therefore currently inaccessible from SH 67 at Ngākawau.
5.5km one way; 9km one way
Low-moderate fitness required
Undulating trail with steps
Access for dogs on lead only
TRACK OVERVIEW
From the car park, you’ll see the historic Charming Creek mine site. Walk down a moderate gradient hill and then up another using steps. The track then levels out to a flat section and after 15 minutes you will reach Mumm’s Mill historic milling site. Here you will find a sawmill steam engine, trolleys and a steam log hauler nearby. Follow the retired railway tracks through old cutover and farm paddocks to Watson’s Mill, scattered with disused steam boilers and other rusty relics. This section takes 1hr 30min. Look out for the sulphur ‘stink hole’, a remnant from a hole drilled during government coal prospecting operations from 1910 to 1912. It’s about 400m past a small suspension bridge spanning the main creek, on the right-hand side of the walkway as you move south.The next section of track takes approximately 10 minutes and offers spectacular views of the river and the Upper Ngākawau Gorge. Follow on to the Mangatini Tunnel that delivers you to your first look at the impressive Mangatini Falls. There’s a risk of rockfall through the section so avoid the area in heavy rain or wind.This area has one of the only remaining wooden tramline middle breaks in New Zealand; these were used to slow wagons down during the height of the mining and milling operations. Return via the same track.
Charming Creek © Miles Holden
