Millwood Mine Hiking Trail Knysna

Description:

Millwood Mine hiking trail is a 5.5 km loop trail near Knysna. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 46 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking and walking. Park you car at Mother Holly’s Tea Room and browse through the small gold mining museum before you embark on your hike. This original building stands at the entrance to where the original Millwood Mining Village once stood. This area was the scene of the gold rush in Knysna in the late 1800’s. Some of the shafts and works of the Bendigo Mine have been restored.

At approximately 2 km, be on the lookout for a wooden sign that says “1km to mine and back”. Walk down that path and marvel at the beauty of ferns. If you choose to omit this from your walk, you will miss out on the charm and mystique of exploring these defunct adits. Caution, as they are wet and slippery. The waterfall is a perfect spot to have a break or picnic. Look behind the waterfall for a hole. Walking along the rest of the route, you will come across the Bendigo mine; it is one of the few old mines still accessible by vehicle. Stop at the shed and view the recovered mining equipment; heavy crusher stamp batter, steam engine, boilers etc. Not enough precious metal was recovered to sustain this “town” and its people. Within five years Millwood had become a ghost town.

After a century of inactivity there is a mystical aura that still seems to lurk at Millwood, which makes this a worthwhile visit.

Other:

Take a torch or a headlamp to explore some of the smaller mines along the route, they are relatively safe but be careful. There is an optional guided tour in one of the big old mines that is not accessible to the public – inquire at the museum

Difficulty:

Good gravel roads for most of the way; the trip down to the mine shafts is steep and potentially slippery in wet conditions

Permits: R20 adults; R10 children

Take With:

You will need the following:

• hat
• sunglasses
• good walking shoes
• insect repellent
• refreshments and water
• camera
• binoculars
• swimming gear

Directions:

From Knysna take the N2 towards George, 8km out take the Rheenendal turnoff to the right. Follow this road for 12.6km and take the Bibby’s Hoek / Millwood Gold Fields turnoff to the right. Follow the Millwood directions to the Materolli Museum and Tea Garden, 11km.

Millwood Hiking Trail in Knysna is definitely worth checking out!