Te Urewera National Park | just 30 mins from our Awakeri Hot Springs’ accommodation

The sacred, mist-shrouded forests of Te Urewera National Park are just 30 minutes from Awakeri Hot Springs and holiday park. With a rich Maori history and stunning scenery and wildlife, the Te Ureweras offer a picturesque Bay of Plenty bush walk for guests at our Whakatane motel accommodation.

Remote, rugged and immense, Te Urewera contains the largest forested wilderness remaining in the North Island. The forest is famous for its crystal-clear lakes and rivers and its lush forested beauty.

For centuries Te Urewera has been home to the Tuhoe people or the 'Children of the Mist'. Tuhoe traditions are strong and their links with this land run deep.

In the southern part of the park lie two of the park's treasures, Lakes Waikaremoana and the smaller Lake Waikareiti. Waikaremoana was formed 2200 years ago by a huge landslide, which blocked a narrow gorge along the Waikaretaheke River and formed a lake up to 248 metres deep. All around the lake, misty mountains stretch off into the distance, cloaked in ancient podocarp and beech forests. There are more than 650 species of native plant present in the park.

Much of the park is remote and not easily accessible. This has helped to protect some of the park's native wildlife and is home to kiwi, kaka (a large forest parrot), falcon and the distinctive whio / blue duck, to name just a few.

Please visit the local Department of Conservation site at www.destinationoutdoors.co.nz for a full description of the park and the many things to see and do in the Eastern Bay of Plenty area.

Hunting of introduced animals such as pigs, deer, goat and possum is allowed in Te Urewera National Park (and encouraged, as these species cause significant damage to the park). Permits can be easily obtained from the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre.

Visit the Aniwaniwa Museum (in the heart of Te Urewera National Park) to gain rich insight into local cultural and natural history.

Whether you come to fish, walk or tramp, bird-watch or kayak you’ll want to come back time and time again to the magic of Te Urewera. Please contact Awakeri Hot Springs for more information on accommodation for your Te Urewera experience!