{"id":10517,"date":"2023-04-08T23:59:43","date_gmt":"2023-04-08T11:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edwinov.com\/edwininnz\/?p=10517"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:57:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:57:27","slug":"waiuta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edwinov.com\/edwininnz\/2023\/04\/waiuta\/","title":{"rendered":"Waiuta"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n
\r\n \r\n <\/i>\r\n <\/a>\r\n 2 <\/span>\r\n<\/div>
\r\n \r\n <\/i>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/span>\r\n<\/div><\/div>
\"\"

Since I went to bed really early yesterday I woke up early today as well, before sunrise and with the moon still clearly visible<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Inside the Big River Hut, my t-shirts and sweathand hanging above the fireplace, not that it made any difference as the couple staying here as well were unable to get the fire going and I have never been able to light one properly<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

All that space to myself, no other people snoring, a nice warm sleeping bag on a Thermarest mattress with a very high R value, that’s a good sleep guaranteed!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Sunrise, well not the official sunrise time but the first rays of sun hitting the hut<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Early morning, I have already had my spaghetti breakfast (energy!) and I am just warming up a bit before heading out again<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

And I’m on my way again! This is the start of today’s track, which is the same as yesterday’s but in reverse (duh)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Fast going and nice views here<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Very boggy here<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Back under canopy cover, where it is considerably colder than being in the sun<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Still nice views though<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

And very dangerous!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

These may look like waves in the water but they are actually thin frozen sheets of ice<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

I am back at Waiuta<\/a> (map<\/a>) and take the time to read all the signs about the history of this once bustling gold village. On this very spot there used to be a school and a post office (hence the postbox)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Looking towards Waiuta Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Another photo of what last used to be a post office<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Across the street is someone’s private property, I guess it’s used as a holiday home<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Plaque at the Birthday Quartz Reef<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Entrancec to the mine, you could easily climb (step over) the fence and actually enter the mine but I think it’s wiser not to<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

The walkway to the swimming pool, or what’s left of it<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

The swimming pool, I would love to have seen photos of this place say 100 years ago, so many people will have had so much fun here<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

All entrances to the mine are fenced off<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

An aerial view of the Blackwater Mine<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Just look at that massive hole there, that’s another (well) fenced off entrance to the mine<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Directly above the chimney, I thought about lowering the drone into it but then I would no doubt lose my drone (again!)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Close-up of that mine entrance again<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Not much left of the village compared but very interesting to see it all<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

One of the few buildings still intact is the Rimu Cottage, but it’s boarded up because of asbestos<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

This used to be a busy barber shop back in the day<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Another intact building, they have plans for this but I forgot what exactly<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

So strange to be standing in what once used to be someone’s living room with only the fireplace still remaining<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

I guess someone died here? I don’t suppose someone is actually buried here but who knows?<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Once here stood the school teacher’s house<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Now there are just toadstools<\/p><\/div>\n