Welcome to the timeless, mist-shrouded valleys of the Whirinaki, Whakatane, Waimana and the jewel-like Lake Waikaremoana.

Come and visit the traditional home of the Tuhoe people – ‘The Children of the Mist’, and walk the leafy paths of the North Island’s largest remaining upland forest.

Te Urewera National Park lies between the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay as a vast unbroken mantle of forested ridges and valleys. The gateway towns are Whakatane to the north, Murupara to the west, and Wairoa to the east. The main access road from Rotorua is unsealed from Murupara to the Aniwaniwa visitor centre on Lake Waikaremoana, the main centre of activity in the park.

The renowned Lake Waikaremoana Track is a 46 km, 3 to 4 day tramp over a distinctive landmark, the Panekiri Bluff, and around the western lakeshore. It is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and offers idyllic scenery, plentiful bird life, and excellent trout fishing and hunting. A shuttle bus and boat service to the track entry/exit points, operates from the camping ground on demand.

Another major tramp in the park is the Whakatane River Round Trip, a 3 to 5 day journey from Ruatahuna to the Whakatane Valley via the Waikare River. Also from Ruatahuna, a track leads to Lake Waikaremoana via the Waihou Valley, and there is a large network of tracks through the magnificent Whirinaki Forest in the west. The choice of Te Urewera walks is outstanding, with at least 20 other significant routes included in the 600 km of tramping tracks. The Aniwaniwa visitor centre is the starting point for around 10 excellent short walks including the incomparable Lake Waikareiti, a miniature version of the main lake, just an hour’s walk from the centre. Along the tracks are protected native birds such as the kiwi, kaka, falcon and blue duck.

Explore this serene world of quiet forest glades, rushing streams and sparkling lakes. But be warned, Te Urewera has an irresistible charm that draws you back to it’s mist-shrouded forests.