New Zealand Student Tours

Kawarau River Gorge

This is one of the most spectacular gorges you will see in New Zealand; a truly world class attraction, in both summer and winter.

The land is steep, dry, rugged and barren. Slips are common as the banks erode.

A large number of scenes from here were seen in the "Lord of the Rings"

In the early 1900's over 100 gold dredges worked the large Kawarau River.

Gold Settlements
We experience a wealth of human history and geography as we travel through this remarkable arena. Ancient bridges, historic diggings, power station, ghost towns, dilapidated relics are all here to be seen.

Geography
Geography groups follow the formation of the gorge from its beginnings just 10,000 years ago when a giant glacier lake released, tore away the soft gold bearing schist as it carved its way.

The Kawarau River is deadly and unpredictable. It is still carving its path as well as sorting and distributing the region's illusive gold.

History here tells of human endeavour wealth, poverty and desperate sadness.

LINK Gallery
LINK Wikipedia