Lake Waikaremoana Track

There's plenty of opportunity for swimming and fishing on the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk

Swimming and fishing while walking through Te Urewera National Park - sounds good, doesn't it?

The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk is a 46km, 3-4 day tramping track which follows the shore of the lake for most of its length.

The walk traverses a range of terrain with many types of vegetation from beech forest to dense rainforest with abundant bird life in the area.

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 mountains and hills of the area have been shaped by continuous erosion with the vegetation of the area forming a protective green cloak over the ridges and valleys. There are more than 650 types of native plants in the park, some nationally rare.

Many birds live in the forest - among them kereru (wood pigeon), kaka (forest parrot), kakariki (parakeet), North Island robin, New Zealand falcon and rifleman, and at night, morepork (forest owl) and North Island brown kiwi.

Both of New Zealand’s rare native bat species are also park residents.

DOC Great Walk huts are available for a kiwi backcountry experience.

Bookings are required, so visit the DOC website www.doc.govt.nz to book, or for more information.

This popular walk has been reviewed by independent travellers on Rankers. Read what others have to say about the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk.