Things to Do in Thames, NZ: 12 Best Picks

The best things to do in Thames are the Kauaeranga Valley walks and the Pinnacles, the Hauraki Rail Trail, and the town's gold-rush heritage at the Goldmine Experience and the School of Mines. On a Saturday morning, add the Thames Market on Pollen Street.

Thames sits at the entrance to the Coromandel Peninsula, between the Coromandel ranges and the Firth of Thames. Below are the 12 best things to do, with times, prices and opening hours checked in October 2026.

Things to do in Thames at a glance

How we picked

• Things that are genuinely in or near Thames, not elsewhere on the peninsula.
• A mix of outdoors, heritage, food and events, so there is something in any weather.
• Hours and prices checked against each operator's own website or listing in October 2026.
• An honest drawback for each, so you can plan around it.

1. Walk in the Kauaeranga Valley

The Kauaeranga Valley is the best outdoor half-day near town: easy kauri and river walks 13 km from Pollen Street.

• The DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre is 13 km up the valley and open daily except Christmas Day.
• Seven short walks take 10 to 30 minutes, including the Kahikatea Walk past a one-third-scale kauri driving dam.
• The Cookson Kauri Walk (1 to 1.5 hours, 2.5 km) leads to one of the few giant kauri left after 1870s to 1920s logging.
• All valley walks are free.

Best for: Families, casual walkers and anyone with a spare morning. Watch out: The last 9 km past the Visitor Centre is gravel, and rivers rise quickly in heavy rain, so check conditions at the Visitor Centre before crossing fords.

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2. Climb the Pinnacles

The Pinnacles is the signature tramp of the Coromandel: a historic packhorse route to a 759 m summit.

• The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail starts at the road end, 22 km from town.
• Road end to Pinnacles Hut takes 2.5 to 3 hours (6 km); the summit is another 40 minutes.
• A day return takes about 6 to 7.5 hours. Staying overnight at Pinnacles Hut needs a booked bed.
• Walking the track is free; only the hut is paid.

Best for: Fit walkers who want the best view on the peninsula. Watch out: The final climb uses ladders beside steep drops, and DOC advises against the summit in high wind or rain. Start early.

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3. Ride the Hauraki Rail Trail

The Hauraki Rail Trail is one of New Zealand's Great Rides, and two of its flattest sections start in Thames.

• Thames to Paeroa is 34 km, Grade 1 (easiest), about 3 to 4 hours.
• Kaiaua to Thames is 55 km, Grade 1, about 5 to 6 hours.
• Short option: Thames to Matatoki and back is 22 km, 2 to 3 hours.
• Flat and largely off-road, so it suits families and e-bikes.

Best for: Easy-going cyclists, families and e-bike riders. Watch out: Exposed in wind and sun across the plains, with few shade or water stops on some stretches.

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4. Go underground at the Goldmine Experience

The Goldmine Experience is the most hands-on way to understand the 1867 gold rush that built Thames.

• Guided tour through a working 19th-century stamper battery and into a historic mine, plus gold panning.
• Adults $25, children under 13 $5 (prices on the Goldmine Experience website, checked October 2026).
• Winter hours (27 April to 24 December 2026): weekends, public and school holidays only, 10am to 1pm. Summer (26 December to 26 April): daily 10am to 4pm, last tour 3.30pm.
• At the corner of Moanataiari Road and State Highway 25, at the north end of town.

Best for: Families and first-time visitors, and a good wet-weather pick. Watch out: Weekday visits outside the summer season and school holidays are not possible, so plan around the hours.

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5. Visit the Thames School of Mines

The Thames School of Mines trained miners from 1886 to 1954, and its classrooms and mineral collection are still in place.

• A Category 1 historic place cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, at 101 Cochrane Street.
• Tour of the historic school and mineralogical museum: $10 per adult, under-17s free, Heritage New Zealand members free.
• Opening hours change through the year, and it has run pre-arranged tours only at times. Check before you go.

Best for: History lovers and rock and mineral fans. Watch out: Limited opening days compared with the Goldmine Experience.

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6. Browse the Thames Museum

The volunteer-run Thames Museum fills in the everyday story of the goldfield town: homes, shops and the people who lived here.

• Through the archway at the corner of Pollen and Cochrane Streets, Grahamstown.
• Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 1pm; closed Sundays. Other times by arrangement.
• Adults $5, children free (children must be with an adult).

Best for: A short wet-weather stop that pairs well with the School of Mines nearby. Watch out: Morning-only hours, so it is easy to miss if you arrive in the afternoon.

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7. Walk the Pollen Street heritage trail

Pollen Street is a two-kilometre heritage main street, and walking it end to end is the best free introduction to Thames.

• Timber shopfronts, verandahs and corner hotels from the goldfield era, especially at the Grahamstown (north) end.
• Stop at historic pubs like the Brian Boru and the Junction, and at Read Bros, a hardware shop trading since 1867.
• Pair it with a coffee stop from our best cafes in Thames guide.

Best for: Everyone. Free, flat and close to parking. Watch out: Shops and cafes thin out on Sundays, so weekdays and Saturdays are livelier.

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8. Shop the Saturday Thames Market

The Saturday Thames Market is the town's weekly gathering: fresh produce, plants, crafts and food in Grahamstown.

• Every Saturday, 8am to 12pm, at the northern end of Pollen Street (around the 700 block).
• Fresh fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers, arts, crafts and fine food.
• Free to browse, and an easy walk from the town centre.

Best for: Weekend visitors, food lovers and anyone after local produce. Watch out: Mornings only. Arrive before 10am for the best choice.

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9. Stroll the Thames Coastal Walkway

The Thames Coastal Walkway is a flat 3.5 km waterfront path from Shortland Wharf to Kuranui Bay, with views across the Firth.

• 3.5 km one way, 7 km return, on a well-developed path for walkers, cyclists and buggies.
• Starts at Shortland Wharf on Queen Street and finishes at Kuranui Bay Reserve.
• Free, and best at high tide or sunset.

Best for: An easy hour outdoors without leaving town. Watch out: Little shade and exposed to wind off the Firth.

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10. Drive the Thames Coast Road

Heading north on State Highway 25 takes you along the Thames Coast to small bays, beaches and the Waiomu Kauri Grove.

• Calm bays at Te Puru, Waiomu and Tapu, with cafes and picnic spots along the way.
• The Waiomu Kauri Grove Walk is a 2-hour return walk to one of the peninsula's finest remaining kauri stands.
• Keep going for the full Coromandel road trip.

Best for: Drivers and anyone with half a day to spare. Watch out: The road is narrow and winding in places, so allow more time than the distance suggests.

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11. Watch the birdlife on the Firth of Thames

The Firth of Thames shoreline draws large flocks of wading birds, and you can watch them from the edge of town.

• Oystercatchers and other waders roost along the shore, especially around high tide.
• Free, with good viewing from the coastal walkway.
• Bring binoculars and check tide times before you go.

Best for: Nature lovers and photographers. Watch out: Bird numbers vary with the season and tide, so a visit at low tide can be quiet.

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12. Time your trip for Steampunk The Thames

Steampunk The Thames is the town's biggest festival, and the 2026 event runs from 12 to 15 November.

• Costumes, parades and events across town that suit the goldfield setting.
• Accommodation fills up, so book early. See where to stay in Thames.
• Other events through the year are listed on our what's on page.

Best for: Festival-goers and anyone who loves dressing up. Watch out: Busy town and limited parking over the festival weekend.

More about time your trip for Steampunk The Thames

How to choose: things to do by time and interest

• A few hours: walk Pollen Street, visit the Thames Museum or School of Mines, and stop for coffee.
• A full day: a Kauaeranga Valley walk in the morning and a rail trail ride in the afternoon.
• A weekend: add the Pinnacles or the Thames Coast Road, and follow our 48 hours in Thames itinerary.
• On a budget: most of this list is free. See free things to do in Thames.
• With children: the Goldmine Experience, short valley walks and the rail trail. See Thames with kids.

Find it on the map

Plan your visit

Sort out the rest of your trip with our guides to where to stay in Thames, where to eat and drink, getting to Thames and what's on.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Thames?

The best things to do in Thames are walking in the Kauaeranga Valley, climbing the Pinnacles, riding the Hauraki Rail Trail, touring the Goldmine Experience and walking the Pollen Street heritage trail. On Saturdays, add the Thames Market.

What can you do in Thames when it rains?

Head indoors to the Goldmine Experience (check the seasonal hours), the Thames School of Mines and the Thames Museum, or browse the shops and cafes along Pollen Street.

Are there free things to do in Thames?

Yes. The Kauaeranga Valley walks, the Pinnacles track, the Thames Coastal Walkway, the Pollen Street heritage walk, the Hauraki Rail Trail and the Saturday market are all free. See our free things to do in Thames guide.

How long should you spend in Thames?

A day covers the town, a museum and a short valley walk. Two days lets you add the Pinnacles or a rail trail ride, and a third day suits the Thames Coast Road.

Is Thames good for families?

Yes. The flat Hauraki Rail Trail, the Goldmine Experience with gold panning, short Kauaeranga Valley walks and the Saturday market all suit children. See our Thames with kids guide.