Goldfields Mining Centre: A Living Gold Rush Experience
Set on the banks of the Kawarau River, near the entrance to the Kawarau Gorge, the Goldfields Mining Centre recreates and preserves the atmosphere of Otago’s 19th-century gold rush. Here you can try your hand at panning, join a guided tour through old workings, and see historic mining machinery in action. It is one of the best places in Central Otago to experience the region’s mining heritage first-hand.
You can cross the bridge from the car park, which is spectacular and high above the Kawarau River. However, it's best to visit the cafe, shop, and pay the fee for the tour.
Tours, Workings, and Hands-On Experiences
Guided tours follow the original water races and tunnels, leading to sluicing sites and the remains of miners’ huts scattered across the gorge. A working stamper battery demonstrates how quartz was crushed to extract fine traces of gold, with the heavy iron machinery still pounding away as it once did. Alongside this, you can pan for flakes from the old tailings and keep whatever gold you find.
Gold and the Gorge
Gold was first discovered in the Kawarau Gorge in the early 1860s, sparking a rush that transformed Central Otago. Thousands of miners flooded into the area, braving harsh conditions in search of fortune. The mining centre tells that story through preserved equipment, reconstructed huts, and displays that capture the challenges of the era.
Facilities and Nearby Attractions
The centre has on-site parking, a café, and picnic areas. It is a popular stop for families, school groups, and those with an interest in history.
Getting There
The Goldfields Mining Centre is 6 kilometres east of Cromwell on State Highway 6. From Cromwell, follow the highway into the gorge; the entrance is well signposted, with parking available directly beside the centre.
While you are in the gorge, stop at the viewpoint above the Roaring Meg Power Station, visit a winey in the Giggston Valley and take in the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge.
After your visit, you can continue through the east Kawarau Gorge toward Bannockburn and its vineyards, or return to Cromwell to explore the historic buildings of the Cromwell Heritage Precinct beside Lake Dunstan.
