Get a first-hand look at the area's gold history with a day-long excursion to New Zealand's "Heart of Gold." After your 1-hour drive to Waihi, you'll be welcomed by a friendly host over morning tea at the charming Sterling Hotel where some of the era's characters and stories will be introduced. Following a tour of the Cornish Pumphouse, which pumped out the water from the underground workings of the massive Martha Gold Mine, you'll embark on an exclusive inside-the-fence tour of the mine. Then, it's all aboard the Goldfields Heritage Railway for some interactive fun at the award-winning Gold Discovery Center. Imagine the life of a gold miner when you push hard against an air-leg drill that will shake your bones and lean on a plunger to trigger a simulated explosion down in the mine. Hear local tales in the ghost theater where actors and 3D holograms bring Waih's history to life.