The Ohinemuri River is located in the northern half of New Zealand's North Island, at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula. The river's source is north-east of the town of Waihi, close to the shore of the Bay of Plenty, but flows west rather than into the bay. It runs through the steep-sided Karangahake Gorge, forming a break between the Coromandel Range and the Kaimai Ranges. After 28 km, it joins the Waihou River near the town of Paeroa, 20 km south of the Firth of Thames, into which the Waihou River empties.

Tributaries

Public access

Gold mines

At Karangahake Gorge the remains of the Crown and Talisman gold mines are visible from the Karangahake Gorge Historic walkway. At Waikino the Victoria Battery site has been opened as a public reserve. A railway line followed the river's south bank eastward to Waihi until 1952. This is now part of the Hauraki Rail Trail. On 23 August 2024, the Ohinemuri River turned bright orange, with an old mining shaft eventually confirmed as the source. Testing is underway as mining waste is often toxic.

Old towns

Several old mining towns are located along the river, including: