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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -37.42832, 175.73111. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 3 km one way
- Walking time
- 1 hr one way
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park / Karangahake Gorge
- Dog access
- Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Take this short walk through historic mining country through to the Dickey Flat Campsite.
This DOC directory entry covers Crown Track to Dickey's Flat in Bay of Plenty, within Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park / Karangahake Gorge. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 3 km one way
- Walking time: 1 hr one way
- DOC grade: Easy
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
- Crown Tramway Track partial closure; First published on 13 September 2022. Last reviewed on 4 February 2026.
Dog access
Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The start of the Crown Track to Dickeys Flat begins after you descend the staircase from Windows Walk tunnel.
This track showcases beautiful scenery, good swimming holes and interesting mine relics.
It passes the remains of the extensive Karangahake mines, with optional short side-trips to view tunnels. Further up, the Crown Track follows a pipeline and other relics from the gold mining days.
It is suitable for most fitness levels. A torch is recommended for a 200 m tunnel on this track.
Dickey Flat Campsite can be accessed from this track.
Getting there
Located on the southern side of the Ohinemuri River. The main access point is the Karangahake Reserve Carpark on SH2 at Karangahake.
Know before you go
Mountain biking is not allowed.
Be careful of rockfall.
Mine tunnels and shafts are dangerous and may be hidden by vegetation.
Stay only on official marked tracks.
Do not enter tunnels unless they are clearly marked for public access.
The ground in tunnels can be rough and uneven.
Supervise children at all times.
Occasional closures
The lower part of the Crown Track along the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway will regularly be closed when heavy rainfall is forecast. This is to ensure public safety, which could be affected by weather-induced slips and rock fall - regular occurrences on this track.
Dickey Flat Campsite would still be accessible via the Windows Walk when the lower Crown Track is closed.
Check with the Tauranga Office for the current status, or call the DOC hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) at weekends and public holidays.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
