Thames School of Mines — Attraction in Waikato

The tour and school holidays program at the Thames School of Mines, offered an engaging and educational experience for us. During our tour, we were able to explore the museum's impressive collection of mining artifacts, learn about the history of gold mining in the area, and discover how the school itself played a crucial role in educating miners. We found the staff friendly and knowledgeable, providing insightful commentary and making the experience even more enjoyable. The school holiday program, in particular, is fantastic for families. Our kids did a variety of hands-on activities to cater to their curiosity, which included interactive demonstrations, guided walks and treasure hunts. These activities are not only fun but also educational, providing a deeper understanding of the local heritage and the mining industry. It's a great way for children to engage with history in an interactive and memorable way. Overall, both the tour and the school holiday program were an excellent experience for the wide range of ages in our group, especially for the members of our group from Oz interested in history and keen to learn more about Thames' gold rush era. The relaxed atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and family-friendly activities made it an enjoyable day...

Never thought I'd write a recommendation for a 'school of mines'... but everyone HAS to know! This place ROCKS! Mind the pun... because they have an awesome museum that is loaded with every kind of rock you could think of, with gold, silver, precious gems and things I had never even heard of but they blew my mine! I mean mind 🤭 However any place like this would just be a boring historical building if it wasn't for the awesome people who work there! We had tours, laughs, quizzes, got taught how to pan for GOLD! and learned so much that we didn't even know we cared to know about! But we did. It was awesome. Please don't brush this off thinking it will be lame. It isn't because the people who work here make it so much more than a historical tour thanks to their personalities and their passion... did I mention we found loads of gold flakes and semi precious gems when we went...

We arrived in Thames late 07/10/2023 and found we had just missed the Thames School of Mines 15:30 pm last session for the day. The lady suggested coming back the next day at 10:30am. So we did. Steve our tour guide was absolutely a fountain of information regarding Thames School of Mines. Thames School of Mines is a treasure trove of artifacts, buildings, historic information and a visual feast. We loved the whole allocated time and extra Steve put into showing us Thames School of Mines. Love the Moa Gizzard...