Waikaremoana Walking Tour Itinerary

Pick-up from your Rotorua accommodation approx 8:30am. A scenic drive follows ancient Maori trails into the heart of Te Urewera to Lake Waikaremoana, the North Island’s deepest lake. Stretch your legs with a journey into the Whirinaki ‘Dinosaur’ Forest for a 3-4 hour walk through the best example of NZ’s native Podocarp forest. Towering trees such as giant totara, kahikatea and matai, plus rare birdlife (kaka & blue duck) as the trail follows a pristine river to a dramatic canyon. 

Relish a fresh picnic lunch before continuing on to reach Lake Waikaremoana, the  ‘sea of rippling waters.’ 

Settle in to your peaceful accommodation with pre-dinner drinks and a tasty grazing  platter on the lake-shore. 

Included Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Walking: 3 - 4 hours

After a hearty cooked breakfast day two of your NZ walking holiday features some of the most spectacular views from the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk Track. A 1.5  hour steady climb through mixed broadleaf podocarp forest rewards you with inspiring views over Lake Waikaremoana and the forest-clad mountains of Te Urewera, New Zealand. Spectacular sandstone rock bluffs drop sheer to the lake 600 metres below. An unforgettable lunch spot! 

Time permitting, we later follow a gorgeous loop track through sparkling tawa forest to New Zealand’s largest rata tree. 

Relax in comfort for the evening with a generous, Kiwi-style 2-course meal and toast  the days achievements with a cold glass of whatever takes your fancy. Rest, sip and gaze out over the peaceful lake and enjoy absolute serenity.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Walking: 3 - 6 hours

Stroll through a magnificent ancient beech forest to the tranquil Lake Waikareiti. Reached only by walking track, this lake is free of introduced aquatic plants and motorised boats, so has outstanding water clarity and is blissfully peaceful! 

In the warmer months, we can enjoy a refreshing dip in the Lake. 

Later, we’ll return to Waikaremoana where there’s an option to walk to a dazzling clear fresh-water spring, or a hike through fern forest to explore the unusual Onepoto Caves. Another favourite walk follows the Aniwaniwa (definition = rainbow) River as it plunges over terraces and waterfalls on its journey to Lake Waikaremoana. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Walking: 3.5 hours

This morning, we’ll take in a stunning 1.5 – 2 hour loop trail traversing a secluded corner of the lake through gorgeous tawa and ancient podocarp tree forest. Here, we’ll pay our respects to a 1,200 year old native rata tree, the oldest known rata tree in existence!  There is nothing quite like this quality of forest anywhere else in the North Island.

A visit to Waikaremoana wouldn’t be complete without a short, 45 minute stroll to beautiful Aniwaniwa Falls, which means ‘Rainbow.’ From two lookout points, we’ll be able to view the falls from an upper and lower perspective and give you a chance to spot the rare fleshy-lipped whistling duck or whio bobbing about on the river-side.

We’ll make a quick stop at Mokau Landing for a picnic lunch while we enjoy views of the impressive Panekire Bluff to reflect on our achievements over the past 4 days. Then, we say a fond farewell to Te Urewera and make our way out back to civilisation, stopping for a soak in a natural hot spring under a canopy of native trees. We’ll cap things off with the pop of a bottle of bubbly, a perfect way to finish off a fantastic walking holiday in New Zealand’s last, true wilderness area. We’ll return you safely to your accommodation in Rotorua between 5 – 6pm to meet your onward travel connections.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Walking: 3 - 4 hours