Lake Waikaremoana

Lake Waikaremoana is located in the Te Urewera. Geologists believe that about 2200 years ago a colossal landslide, 8km wide long and 4km wide and composd of huge sandstone slabs, blocked the course of the Waikaretaheke River and so formed Lake Waikaremoana. The lake is large and deep containing about 9 cubic kilometres of water and having an area of 5500ha with the greatest depth being about 256m. The Lake is 610m above sea level so it provides considerable potential energy for power generation. To read more about Lake Waikaremoana.

Te Urewera is renowned for its breath-taking beauty as well as its stormy history. The sparsely populated hill country is the historical home of Tūhoe, an iwi (Māori tribe) known for their stance on Māori sovereignty. Ownership of Te Urewera is contested, with Tūhoe claiming historical ownership.

Te Urewera, the former National Park, is now a unique legal entity between the Tūhoe tribe and the Crown. It extends over 2,127 km² and is almost 600 m above sea level. The winding scenic Te Urewera Rainforest Route (SH38) from Wairoa traverses the tribal territories of seven iwi as well as lush native rainforest.

Along the gateway to Te Urewera, there is a huge selection of walks and tracks, from short strolls to viewing waterfalls, beaches and one of the biggest rata trees in the country to cave exploring tracks, climbs to lookouts and multi-day hiking adventures.

This is home to the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, one of the great nine walks of New Zealand.

The stunning vistas at Lake Waikaremoana are out of this world and need to be seen to be believed. Don’t forget your camera!