Thames

At its height, Thames was credited with having had 112 hotels, one more than Auckland. By the 1970s this number had been reduced to seven. The hotels of the goldfields served a variety of purposes in addition to the provision of accommodation, a liquor outlet and entertainment. They provided the venues for formal public meetings held to discuss roading, bridging and wharf facilities and were the places where certain mining companies held their meetings. Accident victims were often taken to a nearby hotel for treatment.

Imperial Hotel

Cnr pollen and sealey sts.

Totara Vineyards

219 ngati maru highway 4km south of thames. established more than half a century ago the vineyard is primarily devoted to the production of fortified wines and liqueurs totara cafã© and totara kiwifruit liqueur, but also produce a range of table wines that includes chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and a fruity, off-dry blend of mã¼ller-thurgau and muscat.