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te urewera
Welcome to the timeless,
mist-shrouded valleys of the Whirinaki, Whakatane, Waimana and
the jewel-like Lake Waikaremoana.
Come and visit the traditional home of the Tuhoe people -
‘The Children of the Mist’, and walk the leafy paths of
the North Island’s largest remaining upland forest.
Te Urewera National Park lies between the Bay of Plenty and
Hawkes Bay as a vast unbroken mantle of forested ridges and
valleys. The gateway towns are Whakatane to the north, Murupara
to the west, and Wairoa to the east. The main access road from
Rotorua is unsealed from Murupara to the Aniwaniwa visitor centre
on Lake Waikaremoana, the main centre of activity in the park.
The renowned Lake Waikaremoana Track is a 46 km, 3 to 4 day tramp
over a distinctive landmark, the Panekiri Bluff, and around the
western lakeshore. It is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks,
and offers idyllic scenery, plentiful bird life, and excellent
trout fishing and hunting. A shuttle bus and boat service to the
track entry/exit points, operates from the camping ground on
demand.
Another major tramp in the park is the Whakatane River Round
Trip, a 3 to 5 day journey from Ruatahuna to the Whakatane Valley
via the Waikare River. Also from Ruatahuna, a track leads to Lake
Waikaremoana via the Waihou Valley, and there is a large network
of tracks through the magnificent Whirinaki Forest in the west.
The choice of Te Urewera walks is outstanding, with at least 20
other significant routes included in the 600 km of tramping
tracks. The Aniwaniwa visitor centre is the starting point for
around 10 excellent short walks including the incomparable Lake
Waikareiti, a miniature version of the main lake, just an
hour’s walk from the centre. Along the tracks are protected
native birds such as the kiwi, kaka, falcon and blue duck.
Explore this serene world of quiet forest glades, rushing streams
and sparkling lakes. But be warned, Te Urewera has an
irresistible charm that draws you back to it’s mist-shrouded
forests.
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