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See more photos...Te Urewera National Park
Remote, rugged and immense, Te Urewera National Park is the largest forested wilderness in the North Island. It is loved for its lakes and untouched beauty. People come here to hike, fish, kayak and hunt.
For centuries Te Urewera has been home to the Tuhoe people, who are known as the 'Children of the Mist' because they trace their ancestry to Hine-puhoku-rangi - the celestial mist maiden.
Lake Waikaremoana provides a focus for most activities in the park. The lake was formed 2200 years ago by a huge landslide, which blocked a narrow gorge along the Waikaretaheke River. In many ways, the lake resembles a fiord. The Lake Waikaremoana Track, one of New Zealand's ""Great Walks"" follows the western shore of the lake and takes around four days to complete.
Near the shores of Lake Waikaremoana is the small settlement of Aniwaniwa, where you'll find a visitor centre, museum, accommodation and kayak hire. Several walks start here, ranging from 20 minutes to six hours in length. Aniwaniwa is also the starting point for the walk to idyllic Lake Waikareiti, where row boats are available for hire.
Lake Waikaremoana Walk
The Lake Waikaremoana Track is a 46 kilometre walking adventure that takes between four and five days to complete. It follows the western edge of Lake Waikaremoana, which is surrounded by the dense native forest of Te Urewera National Park. Department of Conservation huts and campsites provide accommodation on this multi-day hiking experience, but bookings are essential.
The first day is the most strenuous part of the journey. The track climbs relentlessly up to Panekire Bluff, but great views help to compensate for sore legs. On the second day the track drops down through rolling valleys of beech, podocarp and kamahi forest to the lake's edge, where you'll find the Waiopaoa Hut. At this point you can decide to call it a day, or push on to the Marauiti Hut. Be sure to check out Korokoro Falls, which are just before the Korokoro Suspension Bridge.
Many walkers spend their last night at Whanganui Hut, which is situated in a clearing alongside the Whanganui Stream. The final stretch of track follows the grassy Hopuruahine River flats to reach the Hopuruahine Suspension Bridge. From here you can catch a boat back to your starting point.
During this walk, there will be plenty of opportunities for trout fishing, bird watching and lazing at the lake's edge. In summer and autumn, swimming is also on the agenda.
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