History

The new track will give visitors a glimpse of more interesting environmental features on the way to Zealandia. The journey along it is full of stories.

Historic black and white photograph of a crowd of swimmers at St John's Pool
Bathers at St John’s Pool (historic photograph)

The Kaiwharawhara Stream (Te Mahanga branch) runs through Birdwood Reserve, from the historic 1870s Karori Dam in Zealandia to a tunnel under the 1930s Appleton Park landfill. Along the way it passes:

  • 1868–71: the Golden Crown gold mine
  • 1870s: the historic Karori Dam, now in Zealandia
  • 1909 and 1933: the St John’s Pools
  • 1930s: the Appleton Park landfill, where the stream enters a tunnel

Help us open up this piece of Karori’s history to everyone. Support the track.