Walks & Hikes in the Awakeri / Whakatane area | Bay of Plenty

Awakeri Hot Springs and holiday park is the ideal base to explore the many stunning short walks and major hikes on offer in the Eastern Bay of Plenty area.

Most bush reserves are maintained by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. A guide to nearby walks and hikes is available at our Park Office. Please visit the local Department of Conservation site at www.destinationoutdoors.co.nz for a full description of walks in the area.

One walk that begins right here at the Awakeri Hot Springs’ car park is Latham’s Track – a 2 hour loop track that takes in stunning native bush, the site of an ancient Maori Pa and spectacular views right over the Eastern Bay Of Plenty and out to White Island. After a brisk walk through the bush, head back to relax in our Awakeri hot pools!

White Pine Bush reserve is less than a 5 minute drive away and well worth a visit. This is a small 4.5ha reserve containing a remnant of superb kahikatea (white pine) forest that once occupied the fringes of the extensive wetland in the area. Many of the trees are labelled making it an ideal Bay of Plenty attraction place to take the children for a taste of real native forest.

The reserve has huge kahikatea, dwarfing the tawa and pukatea that provide most of the remaining tree cover. Nikau palms are also an attraction. Hanging vines, shrubs and ferns proliferate under the tree canopy, providing habitat for native birds including tui, kereru (native pigeons), fantails, bellbirds, silver-eyes, grey warblers and ruru (morepork).

The track is level and well maintained making it easily accessible for elderly and infirm people.

Walks around Whakatane and Ohope Beach

Check out the superb easily accessible and picturesque walks around Whakatane and Ohope Beach on www.whakatane.com/walks_ngatapuwae.html

Te Urewera National Park

Just half an hour from Awakeri Hot Springs is Te Urewera National Park, offering a wide range of amazing journeys to be had on foot, including one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

Short walks in the Te Urewera National Park lead to sandy bays on Lake Waikaremoana at Whatapo Bay, Te Maraateatua Point and Te Whero Bay, and good views can be enjoyed from Lou's Lookout. Longer walks to Panekiri Bluffs and Ngamoko Trig are rewarded by extensive views over Lake Waikaremoana, Lake Waikareiti and the surrounding countryside. This is one of the best walks in the Bay of Plenty region.

The walk to Lake Waikareiti not only gives access to the crystal-clear waters of this lake, but is equally one of the most beautiful forest walks in the Ureweras and an exciting thing to do during your stay in the Bay of Plenty. The forest is rich in native birds such as tuis, bellbirds, New Zealand pigeons, parakeets, kakas, riflemen, robins and fantails. Other short forest walks include Tawa Walk and Black Beech Walk.

Waterfalls are another distinctive feature of the Ureweras. The Hinerau's Track follows the Aniwaniwa River, passing a succession of waterfalls (the Aniwaniwa Waterfalls), including the Momahaki, Te Tangi o Hinerau and Bridal Veil Falls. Closer to the Visitor Centre the Papakorito Falls is a spectacular waterfall within easy access of the road.
A round trip takes in the Onepoto Caves, a series of caves and overhangs resulting from the landslide that formed Lake Waikaremoana.

On the Rangitikei side, near Galatea, a number of walks lead into the western part of Urewera National Park. From the summits of Hikurangi and Maunga Tawhiuau the views reach far over the Ureweras, as well as south towards Ruapehu and Tongariro.

Tramping

Many tracks and routes lead deep into the Te Urewera National Park, often following old Maori tracks.

The renowned Lake Waikaremoana Track is a 51 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.

Other tramping routes equipped with tracks, bridges and huts, and suitable for most trampers, include the Whakatane River and the Horomanga Valley.

Many other routes are suitable for more experienced trampers only. They usually include rugged terrain and difficult river crossings, and require good navigational skills. A tent for an overnight stay is often necessary.