Before even starting this trail, information panels provide an interesting insight into the area to be explored. The first section is flat as it passes through native forestry and…
»Access to the Kaimai Ranges and its great range of day and multi-day trips is available from many road ends. One popular circuit, which involves a night at Te…
Most hiking adventures begin with the hope of seeing soaring views or, at least, a rewarding vista at the destination. This circuit promises neither but makes up for it…
The Tuahu Track is named after its location on the old Māori route across the Kaimai Range, which was also used as a bridle path in the 1890s. It…
The numerous tracks leading through the Waiorongomai Valley can be confusing. It is hard to imagine how people originally found the start of the once unmarked Pylon Peak Track,…
‘A journey into the past’ says the sign at the start of the Waitawheta Tramway Track. In the early 20th century the Kaimai Ranges were rich in kauri trees…
Discover gold-mining and logging history, waterfalls and views of the Bay of Plenty. By Stacey Walden The track begins at a large parking area where there’s a viewing platform…
The trail begins from Aongatete Lodge with a gradual descent over 900m to a track junction. Both branches of the trail lead to the Aongatete River. Take the northerly…
The Blue Lake Track, which circles Lake Tikitapu, is a welcome refuge from the bustle of Rotorua. The short loop, nestled between Whakarewarewa Forest Park and Lake Tikitapu Scenic…
The primaeval forests of Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park lie adjacent to Te Urewera. Together, they form the largest extent of native forest remaining in the North Island. Perhaps…
With many possible access routes, the trip to Mangamuka Hut can be made from either side of the Kaimai Range. The Ngamuwahine Track, on the eastern side, begins just…
The central Bay of Plenty is an adventure-seekers’ playground and climbing the gem-coloured jewel in this crown makes for the perfect family-friendly outdoor experience. Just south of Rotorua, Maunga…
At 953m, Te Aroha is the highest point on the Kaimai Mamaku Range and the broadcasting tower at the top is a landmark seen for miles around on clear…
Guarding the entrance to Tauranga Harbour, Mt Maunganui is possibly the most well known, well used, and most popular landmark feature in the Bay of Plenty. The 232m circular…
A place to rest Te Whare Okioki – meaning ‘The Resting Place’ – opened in October 2019 after a massive effort involving many organisations and volunteers. The hut’s position…
From the car park at Forest Road, the well-graded track heads directly into some of the densest stands of podocarps in the park, with the five main species all…
The short but steep climb to Wairere Falls wastes no time in stealing your breath, but the views will do the same. The falls makes its first impression during…
The Central Whirinaki-Mangamate Loop showcases the ancient Whirinaki Forest, which was saved from the sawmill by New Zealand’s budding green movement in the 1980s. The two-to-three day track is…
Wild, wonderful and steep country Living in Whakatane, Uratawa Conservation Area is one of my favourite close-to-home areas to tramp and hunt. I had previously visited Wahaatua from the…
Nurturing the mauri In 2013, the Te Urewera Act gave the former Te Urewera National Park ‘all the rights, powers, duties, and liabilities of a legal person’. A joint…
The tramp can be started on Tuahu Track, which has a long history, being used by Maori, missionaries and miners and was converted to a bridle track in the…
With its plethora of huts and campsites, the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk offers a perfect choose-your-own-adventure circuit for a multi-day tramp. The 46km Te Urewera trail can be walked…
Walking the track in reverse of the suggested route is recommended, as going the other way around would be much harder on your legs. It starts with a brief…
In the north-eastern corner of Lake Waikaremoana, in Te Urewera National Park, the sinuous Aniwaniwa Stream enters the lake through a small cove. While this peaceful interface of river,…
Established around the Te Aroha Domain and its hot springs, the town of Te Aroha was one of the most popular health resorts in the country until it was…
From the car park, the track descends the Wairoa Valley to the lake shore. The next hour of the walk undulates close to the coastline with several opportunities to…
It’s just a three-hour walk up the Horomanga River to Midway Hut. It’s an easy walk but one with a multitude of river crossings so it might be best…
Noted as the deepest natural spring in the North Island, Hamurana Springs, along the northern side of Lake Rotorua, and its network of peaceful trails through both native forest…
From the track start it’s a 20 minute walk through native bush to reach the falls. These are spectacular – reminiscent of Taupo’s Huka Falls. A torrent of white…
The Pakihi-Te Waiti Valley Circuit is a reasonably demanding tramp. ] The Pakihi Track section has been added to the New Zealand cycleways system and is a well-benched mountain-bike-standard…
The reserve is home to about 150 of the birds. The track zigzags through pohutukawa forest and enters a North Island brown kiwi sanctuary. The track crosses Burma Road…
Waitawheta Hut is understandably the most popular overnight stop in the Kaimais. It provides a feeling of seclusion with views out to the surrounding forested hills, while being a…
Thompsons Track is often used by 4WDs and trail bikers so is wide and can be muddy and rutted in places. Take this track until the junction with the…
At the Kaimai Rd summit walk across a creek until you spot a rotting sign announcing the old North-South Track. From the road saddle, climb for half an hour…
An obvious path from Seaview Rd leads to the top of Wairere Falls. The track then sidles around the flanks of Kapu te Rangi. Several information panels are placed…
