Chook's Tracks
The Old Union Hill Pack Track via Corbett Road to the Te Whareki Pack Track
Distance Quarry Road carpark: 20 Km.
In later years this track was shifted at the Waihi end to exit via Walmsley Road, Waihi.
Access to the above track requires permission of the land owner, Gary Spinks, Corbett Road (07 212 8686). Parking is by Bellamy's loading yards, but keep clear of the loading races at all times.
NOTE: Good views of Mt. Karangahake, Mt. Te Aroha, Waihi Gold tailings dam and Mt. Maungatautari "near Arapuni", on fine days.
The track starts on the carpark side of the bridge and follows the true right side of the Ratarua Stream on what was an old bush tramline.
One leaves this line after about ten minutes and many gateways, – (Leave them as you find them), to follow the farm road up the hill to a hayshed before climbing up a fenceline to the right of the shed to the highest grassed point on the farm where a style will be found to get over the boundary fence into the bush and onto the ridge.
You will require good knowledge for this track, as it passes through old hauler lines. Most of the climbing is done on the farm paddocks. The next 1 ½ hours is undulating, before reaching the summit, after which you lose height passing large Rimus and Ratas on the way, to walk down the left handside of the third branch of the Waiharakeki stream.
The track tips to top of Coal Creek before passing large sinter rock outcrops on the lefthand side of the track.
The first real little stream crossing after these outcrops is where the Great Northern Gold Mine was. A real dud as work stopped after twelve months.
After 20 minutes from here one reaches the Waiharakeke Stream crossing followed quickly by a further small stream crossing before slowly climbing through beautiful bush for 50-60 minutes to join the Te Whareki pack track to Quarry Road right or Golden Cross, Waitekauri left.
Both ends from this point take around 2 ½ to 3 hours to complete.