Lake Waikaremoana Track - Walking - Walking Access NZ
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9/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa
Lake Waikaremoana Track
Walking
Dif culties
Medium , Hard
Length
48.5 km
Journey Time
3 - 4 days
Region
Hawkes Bay
Sub-Region
Wairoa
Part of the Collection
Department of Conservation Great Walks
Track maintained by
Department of Conservation
https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 1/8
9/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa
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Trace the shoreline of Lake Waikaremoana, the 'sea of rippling waters.' Pass giant podocarp
trees and remote beaches, and enjoy breathtaking views from Panekire Bluff.
Incredible views from Panekire Bluff
The spectacular Korokoro Falls drop off a sheer cliff amidst rain forest
Marvel at giant native trees and stumble upon beautiful remote beaches
Soak up the rich spiritual history of the Te Urewera
Walking options
Lake Waikaremoana can be walked either from Onepoto in the south or Hopuruahine in the
north. It's not a circuit track and is described here from Onepoto.
For a 3 night / 4 day trip:
Day 1 - Onepoto to Panekire Hut
Day 2 - Panekire Hut to Waiopaoa Hut
Day 3 - Waiopaoa Hut to Marauiti Hut
Day 4 - Marauiti Hut to Hopuruahine
Guided options are available.
Places to stay
There are ve huts and ve campsites on Lake Waikaremoana. These must be booked in
advance.
Camping on the track is only permitted at the designated campsites.
Natural history
Waikaremoana was formed only 2,200 years ago by a huge landslide, which blocked a narrow
gorge along the Waikaretaheke River.
Water backed up behind this landslide to form a lake up to 248 metres deep. The lake edge has
since been modi ed by a hydro electric development which lowered the level by 5 metres in
1946.
The area is formed from young mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, mostly about 10-15 million
years old. These sediments were originally part of the sea oor, but about two million years ago
uplift brought them above sea level.
https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 2/89/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa The mountains and hills of the area have been shaped by continuous erosion. Major valleys like the Aniwaniwa Valley have been carved more deeply from softer mudstones, while the more solid sandstones have tended to form ridges like Panekire. The vegetation of the Waikaremoana area forms a protective green cloak, mantling countless ridges and valleys. There are more than 650 types of native plant in Te Urewera, some nationally rare. The vegetation pattern is ever changing - disturbances by volcanic activity, re and storm damage, possum and deer have modi ed the forest in many areas. The lowering of the lake for power generation has encouraged forest regeneration along the shore. Many birds live in the forest. Among the more notable are kereru (wood pigeon), kaka (forest parrot), kakariki (parakeet), North Island robin, New Zealand falcon and ri eman, and at night, morepork (forest owl) and North Island brown kiwi. Grey, mallard and paradise ducks are common on the lake edge, and New Zealand scaup, king shers and white faced herons are found in sheltered areas. Both of New Zealand’s rare native bat species, the long-tailed and short-tailed, are present in the park. Deer, pigs and possums are found throughout Te Urewera. They have a major impact on the ecology of the forest and its bird life. DOC encourages hunting of these animals and permits are available free from any DOC of ce in the East Coast Hawke’s Bay. Kiwi recovery work Prior to human arrival there may have been as many as 12 million kiwi in New Zealand. The introduction of predators - e.g. mustelids (stoats, ferrets, weasels), dogs, cats, pigs and possums - has decimated them to a tiny proportion of the original number. Work begun in 1991 by Landcare Research NZ into kiwi decline in the area identi ed that predation of kiwi chicks by stoats was the main cause. With assistance from the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Programme, DOC and the Lake Waikaremoana Hapu Restoration Trust (a local Maori hapu trust) formed a partnership to halt the decline of kiwi at Waikaremoana. The focus has been on predator control on the Puketukutuku Peninsula. Traps have been laid to kill stoats, the main threat to kiwi chicks. Kiwi numbers and movement are also monitored. Possum and rat trapping complements the programme. Kiwi numbers are increasing in the area and visitors may hear their calls at night. Only continued intensive predator control will ensure a kiwi population recovery. https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 3/8
9/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa History and culture The remote nature of Te Urewera has for centuries cloaked and sheltered the Tuhoe, the local Maori people. Tuhoe spiritual and cultural traditions are closely linked with the forested hills of the park. In pre-European times, life was determined by the practical demands of an annual cycle of food gathering. Te Urewera nurtured an industrious and resilient people with links to the land. No part of the forest was left unexplored. The Waikaremoana catchment is dotted with areas of private land, some held sacred by the Tuhoe people. Where the walk crosses private land, you are welcome to pass through, but please stay on the marked track. Hine-pukohu-rangi came from the sky luring Te Maunga, the mountain, to earth with her. Their child was a mortal being, Tuhoepotiki; his descendants are the Tuhoe people. Tuhoe are thus children of the supernatural, born of the remote mountain and the drifting mist. The symbol you see on signs, shelters and other facilities along the lake track is an interpretation of Hine-pukohu-rangi. For more information about Lake Waikaremoana, contact: DOC Whakatane Of ce Phone: +64 7 307 2770 Email: opotiki@doc.govt.nz Address: 1/100 Valley Road Whakatane Full of ce details Murupara Of ce Phone: +64 7 366 1080 Email: opotiki@doc.govt.nz Address: Main Road, RD1 Murupara 3079 https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 4/8
9/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa Full of ce details i-SITES Wairoa Information Centre Phone: +64 6 838 7440 Address: Cnr SH2 & Queet Street, Wairoa Postal address: PO Box 54, Wairoa 4108 Email: wairoainfo@wairoadc.govt.nz Tourism Eastland Phone: +64 6 868 6139 Fax: +64 6 868 6138 Address: 209 Grey Street, Gisborne Postal address: PO Box 170, Gisborne Tourism Rotorua i-site and information centre Phone: +64 7 348 5179 Fax: +64 7 348 4133 Address: 1167 Fenton St, Rotorua Email: tourism.rotorua@rdc.govt.nz https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 5/8
9/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa
Conditions:
Make sure you are properly equipped and well prepared. The weather at Lake
Waikaremoana is changeable and can be cold, wet and snowing, even in summer. Please
check at the visitor centre for information on weather and track conditions and ll in your
itinerary in hut books as you go.
Boil, lter or chemically treat water if you doubt its purity.
Keep to the track. If you become lost, stop, nd shelter, stay calm, and try to assist searchers.
What to expect
Climb and descend about 600 m over the Panekire Ridge
Walk 4-6 hours a day
Carry a pack of up to 15 kg
Remember
All native wildlife in the park is protected.
No rubbish facilities are provided. All rubbish must be carried out of the park.
To protect ground-dwelling birds, no dogs or other domestic animals are permitted on
the track.
Fire is a major threat. Fires can be used for cooking or warmth, unless there is a
temporary re ban, however, a portable stove is a better option.
If you are hunting - use rearms carefully. Always identify your target. Unload your
rearm and remove the bolt before entering huts, and store ammunition and bolts
separately from the rearm.
Native plants and animals must not be disturbed, destroyed or removed. The bush is a
taonga, a treasure for all.
Hunting is by permit only.
https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 6/89/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa
How to get here
Waikaremoana can be approached from two directions. SH38 links Wairoa and the East Coast
with the central North Island, and passes the lake and the DOC Visitor Centre at Aniwaniwa.
The highway is a gravel surface for about 90 km between Murupara and Aniwaniwa.
Privately owned shuttle buses and water taxis provide transport to either end of the walk. This
allows walkers to leave their vehicle at one of the free carparks where they are more secure
than at the track ends. DOC accepts no responsibility for damage to vehicles left unattended in
Te Urewera.
Free carparks are available at:
Waikaremoana Motorcamp
DOC Visitor Centre
Big Bush Holiday Park
Byre B&B (4934 Lake Road, 5 mins before Onepoto).
We recommend booking transport services in advance, especially in the quieter season, as they
operate on demand.
Transport services
Big Bush Holiday Park (external site) road transport and water taxi services.
https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 7/89/11/2021 Lake Waikaremoana Track — NZ Walking Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa Track Elevation and Map Page last updated: Jan 5, 2021, 3:35 PM https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/lake-waikaremoana-track/pdfPreview 8/8
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