The Best Multi-day Walking Trip in the North Island of New Zealand.
Journey deep into New Zealand’s last frontier, a land cloaked in mist, mysticism and primordial forest. This unique Great Walk is a hut-to-hut hiking expedition, circumnavigating beautiful Lake Waikaremoana, with secluded beaches, fascinating history and truly breathtaking views.
Can non-walkers join this trip?
If someone in your group is not a keen walker they can still join us!. Non-walkers can go by boat and meet up with the rest of your group in the evenings.
During the day they can cruise around the lake with the Skipper, or relax on a beach, or try to catch one of the Lake’s elusive trout!
Please contact us for more details about this option.
Walking Tour
4 days / 3 nights
Above average level of fitness. Walk 20kms, Bike 45kms. Formed tracks and roads with average to steep inclines at times.
NZ$1,530
Scheduled Lake Waikaremoana Guided Walk trips depart Rotorua every one or two weeks between late October to early May. There are also additional walks departing over holiday weekends, such as Labour Weekend (October), New Years Eve, and Easter Weekend (March or April).
Price: NZ$1,530
Rotorua to Waiharuru Hut
10.5 km
Waiharuru Hut
Your New Zealand guided walk begins with a scenic drive from Rotorua to the start of the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk Track, along one of New Zealand’s oldest Maori trails.
Journey through remote villages and dense rainforest, into the heart of Te Urewera National Park and the secluded Lake Waikaremoana.Walk alongside an estuary, home to a variety of water birds, then catch the first glimpse of the lake itself and the reason for its name, sea of rippling waters, becomes apparent.
The hike follows the shores of Lake Waikaremoana for most of the afternoon, before crossing a headland where a Kiwi Recovery Programme is successfully increasing the numbers of our threatened national icon.
The Waiharuru Hut welcomes you with a hot drink and hearty cooked meal. Tonight you may hear the night time calls of the North Island brown kiwi and the morepork / ruru.
Waiharuru Hut to Waiopaoa Hut
18.3 km
Waiopaoa Hut
This is the longest day of walking, but you still have plenty of time to enjoy the bush, birds and lovely beaches of the western arm of the lake.
Make the most of the many scenic lakeside and lookout spots for rests and refreshments, and some may indulge in a swim! After lunch an optional boat cruise reduces walking time, and makes the side track to Korokoro Falls more achievable. These stunning falls are worth the detour!
The Urewera forest is home to many native and endangered birds. You are likely to witness the amazing flights of the fantail and kereru, and hear the melodious calls of the bellbird and tui. Waiopaoa Hut, nestled amongst the lush rainforest that stretches to the lake edge, is your home for the night.
Panekire Ridge
7.6 km
Today you tackle the Panekire Bluffs, which have been looming ahead for the last two days. Plenty of rest stops and breathtaking views make today’s climb an enjoyable challenge.
Hike through different layers of vegetation: from mixed broadleaf podocarp forest featuring giant rata, rimu and miro trees; to enchanted cloud forest of silver beech trees cloaked in eerie mosses, which dominate the higher altitudes.
At the close of the day relax with a glass of wine on the verandah of the beautifully situated hut, and soak up the panoramic vistas right out to the ocean.
Watch the sunset over the lake and forest clad mountains, while a birds eye view gives an appreciation of the remarkable terrain you have covered over the last few days.
Panekire Ridge to Rotorua
8.8km
Wake to be among the first in the world to welcome the day’s sunrise over the Pacific Ocean!
Continuing along the Panekire Ridge, breaks in the forest offer more magnificent views and fantastic photo opportunities from the colossal rock ledges that form the range.
Look across Onepoto Bay to see the evidence of the landslide that created Lake Waikaremoana over two thousand years ago.
Celebrate completing the Great Walk with a delicious BBQ lunch and drinks.
Return to Rotorua approx 6pm.
Days 1 to 3:
You will enjoy great local cuisine; continental breakfasts and hearty packed lunches during the day, and either restaurant meals or wholesome home-cooked fare prepared by your host/hostess in the evenings.If you have any dietary issues or food allergies, we are happy to cater for these, please advise the office of details when you make your booking. All meals are included in your tour cost.
The management & guardianship of the Te Urewera area has recently been passed to the local iwi, Tuhoe. In order to improve the health of the whenua (land) and the spiritual relationship and connectedness that manuhiri (visitors) experience, they have introduced two new policies:
Our guides are very experienced, friendly walkers and bikers who love to share their knowledge of New Zealand’s flora and fauna and local history. They all hold current first aid certificates, passenger driving licences and are the very best people to ensure your experience will be one to remember.
To ensure maximum safety for all, our guides are certified first aiders and fully qualified drivers. Tuatara Tours operate under a Safety and Risk Management Plan which is regularly audited and approved by a qualified and independent auditor.
