One Day Treks
We offer three one-day treks:
Whirinaki Loop Trek,
Te Urewera Ridgeline
Trek
and
Te Urewera Tree Planting Trek. These
one-day treks run on demand throughout the year. Bookings are
essential.
The Whirinaki Loop Trek
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This trek
takes you
into the
Whirinaki Forest Park
where you'll see some of the most magnificent indigenous
podocarp forest found anywhere in the world. You will also hear
about Hineruarangi, guardian of the Whirinaki Valley.
From Rotorua we drive about 1.5 hrs to the start of the trek
near the largely Maori
settlement
of Minginui. We enter the forest following a loop trail through
enormous podocarp trees including rimu, matai, miro, kahikatea
and more. Along the way you will experience the abundance of native
birdlife including bellbirds, tui, kereru, kaka, and fantails.
Lunch is by a lovely waterfall.
On the way back to Rotorua we stop off at some natural hot pools
for a soothing dip.
This trek takes 4-5 hours
depending on the group. It follows well formed trails of gentle
to moderate steepness.
This trek runs all year round with scheduled dates from October
to May. Bookings are essential.
Fitness
level needed:
average to
good
Degree of
difficulty:
easy to
moderate
Price:
NZ$175 adults, NZ$145 children (8-12 years)
Group size:
1
– 12
Te Urewera Ridgeline Trek
This trek is
unique to Te Urewera Treks and takes you into the heart of Te
Urewera. You will experience wonderful views of Tuhoe's sacred mountain, Maungapohatu and the magnificent expanse of
Te
Urewera National Park.
Hear about the past practices and
traditions of harvesting kereru (native wood pigeon) and other
stories of this ancient trail.
From Rotorua we drive about 1.5 hrs to the summit of Tarapounamu
- a place of special significance to the local Tuhoe people.
Your trekking experience
starts in virgin beech forest following a major ridgeline,
before eventually dropping down into indigenous podocarp and
broadleaf forest. Along the way you will encounter a wide variety of indigenous birdlife including
kereru, tui, bellbirds, fantails, and kaka. Our guides will also
show you places of historical significance and point out some
plants used in traditional Maori food and rongoa (medicine)..jpg)
On the way back to
Rotorua there is an optional stop off at some natural hot pools for a soothing
dip.
This trek
takes about 6-7 hours at a leisurely pace with
frequent rests. This is a true wilderness trek with no formed
trails. The terrain is rugged and of gentle to moderate steepness.
This trek runs all year round with scheduled dates from October
to April.
Fitness
level needed:
good to very
good
Degree of
difficulty:
moderate
Price:
NZ$175 adults, NZ$145 children (10-12 years)
Group size:
2
- 12 (treks can be organised for only one person but a NZ$100
surcharge will apply)
Te Urewera
Tree Planting Trek
New for the 2009/10 summer season, we are now offering a
1-day trekking and tree planting experience. During this trek
you will experience the magnificence of virgin native forest as
well as help us to restore native indigenous trees to areas
previously stripped by native logging.
The day starts in Rotorua where you will be
picked up by your local Maori guide for the day.
The morning is spent walking in the magical Whirinaki Forest
hearing
the stories and legends of the Maori people from the area and
the role that trees have played in the creation according to
Maori.
After a delicious homemade lunch you undertake the planting of
native New Zealand trees such as rimu, totara, matai and native
beech that in 1000 years will be fully developed members of the
podocarp and beech forests that dominate the Urewera region.
Your part in the restoration of this very special landscape
gives you status as Kaitiaki Tautoko, or honorary guardian of
the forest. And for every visitor participating in this
experience we donate NZ$25 to the
Te Urewera Rainforest
Restoration Trust as a contribution towards the ongoing
restoration and management of the forest. As an added bonus, you
will also be helping to offset some of your carbon miles.
This trek runs all year round with scheduled dates from November
to March.
Fitness level needed:
average
Degree of difficulty:
easy
Price:
NZ$250 adults, NZ$200 children (8-12 years)
Group size:
2
– 12
All one-day treks include:
-
Pick up
at 9am in Rotorua and drop off back in Rotorua about 6pm
that evening
-
Lunch
and snacks
-
All park
fees
-
Maximum
group size of twelve
-
At least
one local Maori guide
What you need to bring:
-
Good
walking boots or shoes, preferably with ankle support
-
Day pack
to carry your water bottle, excess clothing and personal items (we
can hire day packs on request at the time of booking)
-
Drink
bottle filled with water
-
Sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and hat
-
Layers
of clothing e.g. woollen or polypropylene T-shirt,
long-sleeved sweater, and waterproof jacket
-
Long,
lightweight trousers are recommended
-
Swimsuit
and towel (for the hot pool dip after the trek)
-
Don't
forget your camera or video camera
-
We can
store personal belongings that you don't want to carry
with you on the trek
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