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Urban-Rural |
 Moturiki Island and Mount Drury
Tiny, rugged Moturiki Island offers spectacular geyser-like displays from the Blow Hole at the
seaward end when big seas are running. The deep water beneath the island rocky shore
provides good fishing. Just across Marine Parade is Mount Drury, whose caves were used by
early Maori for burials. Terraces on the north-eastern slopes are evidence of Maori occupation.
The aerials on top of the hill are used by the Port of Tauranga watch office for communication
with ships.
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McLaren Falls Park
The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation.
The landscape includes parkland and native bush. McLaren Falls has a fine botanical collection
of trees and a range of birdlife, including the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin
and long-tailed cuckoo.The park has accommodation, with camping on any open, grassed area, except Cherry Bay,and three hostels. Trout fishing is permitted year round in the lake and nearby Ruahihi Canal
with a licence. An animal park adjoins McLaren Falls Park.
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Kawerau Town Walks
Kawerau, a town of 7000 people on the Tarawera River, was established in the 1950s. Various walks provide a variety of landscapes, including views of the river and the town.
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Te Waihou Walkway
Scenic beauty and history are features of the walkway, beside the upper reaches of the Waihou River. The river water is clear and pure, with an intense blue colour. Many springs and tributaries feed the river. The Blue Spring is internationally acclaimed. Its clear, blue-green water flows from the spring at 42 cubic metres (9240 gallons) per minute. The water is sold in bottled form around New Zealand and supplies the town of Putaruru without treatment.
Discover it... Love it... Live it...
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Mauao Mount Maunganui
The dominant feature of the Tauranga district, Mauao rises 232m above sea level at the Mount Maunganui side of the entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Mauao has been of great importance to local Maori for more than six centuries and habitation terraces, storage pits, defence
trenching, bank systems and shell middens are still visible. The British Militia made
military use of Mauao in colonial days. Traces of their occupation are visible around the
base track.
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Kaimai-Mamaku |
McLaren Falls Park
The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation.
The landscape includes parkland and native bush. McLaren Falls has a fine botanical collection
of trees and a range of birdlife, including the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin
and long-tailed cuckoo.The park has accommodation, with camping on any open, grassed area, except Cherry Bay,and three hostels. Trout fishing is permitted year round in the lake and nearby Ruahihi Canal
with a licence. An animal park adjoins McLaren Falls Park.
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Whirinaki Forest |
Te Urewera
Te Urewera is an area of varied scenery - rivers,grass flats, steep sided hillsides cut
by streams and native vegetation. The vegetation ranges from lush kohekohe forest in river
and stream valleys to beech forests on the more elevated dividing ranges, with some scrub
and grassed clearings.
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Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki Forest Park has something for everyone, with terrain ranging from flats to
steep uplands. The park, known as a ‘dinosaur forest, has many tall trees that are centuries
old. Sights include giant podocarps, views of the river cutting through an ancient lava flow,
and caves with pumice deposits and remnants of the Taupo eruption nearly 2000 years ago.
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Lakes And Geothermal |
McLaren Falls Park
The park borders Lake McLaren, formed behind a dam built for hydro-electricity generation.
The landscape includes parkland and native bush. McLaren Falls has a fine botanical collection
of trees and a range of birdlife, including the North Island brown kiwi, North Island robin
and long-tailed cuckoo.The park has accommodation, with camping on any open, grassed area, except Cherry Bay,and three hostels. Trout fishing is permitted year round in the lake and nearby Ruahihi Canal
with a licence. An animal park adjoins McLaren Falls Park.
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Blue Lake
The Blue Lake (Tikitapu) is one of the closest, lakes to Rotorua. Its clear blue waters are popular with water skiers, swimmers and boaties. An easy walking track circles the lake taking in beautiful beaches, native bush and the exotic conifers of Whakarewarewa Forest. There are good views over Blue Lake and the nearby Green Lake (Rotokakahi).
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Lake Okataina Scenic Reserve
The Lake Okataina area was an important link in pre-European routes, when canoes were carried from Lake Tarawera to Lake Okataina.Okataina Road follows one of these ancient portage routes.
The Lake Okataina Scenic Reserve is a pristine natural area with native bush down to the waters edge. The reserve is rich in birdlife and contains fine examples of rimu, totara, rata and kahikatea.
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Lake Rerewhakaaitu Recreational Reserves
Lake Rerewhakaaitu is a site of special wildlife interest. It supports breeding populations of
dabchicks, scaup and the largest breeding population of banded dotterel in the Rotorua
Ecological District.
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Lake Rotoiti
Lake Rotoiti is popular for water sports and fishing. The lake has a navigable water link with
Lake Rotorua. Among important cultural, historic and scenic sites around the lake are Okere Falls
Scenic Reserve and Hinehopu/Hongi Track (Lake Rotoiti Scenic Reserve, Hinehopu Scenic Reserve).
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Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve
The 1886 eruption, which killed 153 people and raised the lake surface by 12m, shaped the
Tarawera landscape. The lake drains eastward through the Tarawera River, over spectacular
falls. The reserve contains walking tracks and many recreational and cultural sites,
including those at Tarawera Landing, The Orchard, Humphries Bay and Hot Water Beach.
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Coastal |
Moturiki Island and Mount Drury
Tiny, rugged Moturiki Island offers spectacular geyser-like displays from the Blow Hole at the
seaward end when big seas are running. The deep water beneath the island rocky shore
provides good fishing. Just across Marine Parade is Mount Drury, whose caves were used by
early Maori for burials. Terraces on the north-eastern slopes are evidence of Maori occupation.
The aerials on top of the hill are used by the Port of Tauranga watch office for communication
with ships.
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The Nga Tapuwae O Toi Walkway (Ohope Scenic Reserve)
Translated as ‘the footprints of Toi the 16 kilometres of walkways on the outskirts of
Whakatane are accessible to most people,regardless of fitness, because they can be walked
in sections or as one round trip. Nga Tapuwae o Toi visits three major scenic reserves and a
historic reserve. The walkway passes through native and exotic forest, and along coastline
and riverbank.In Ngati Awa oral tradition Toi was a great chief,descendant of the legendary
voyager Tiwakawaka and founder of a great tribe. The walkway visits Toi stronghold
Kapu-te-rangi overlooking Whakatane. The walkway crosses Kohi Point Scenic Reserve,
Ohope Beach, travels through the Ohope Scenic Reserve pohutukawa forest, across remnants
of native forest to the regenerating flora of Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve.
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Kauri Point Historic Reserve
Kauri Point has historic Maori pafortifications and trenches, as well as superb
examples of pohutukawa trees fringing the shore. Kauri Point jetty extends 196 metres
out into Tauranga Harbour and is a popular fishing spot.
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Orokawa and Homunga Bay
Orokawa Scenic Reserve contains uncommon remnants of coastal forest, pohutukawa-fringed
beaches, beautiful views and picnic spots, and good rock fishing. There are many historic pa
sites. Mine tunnels along the coast recall largely unsuccessful attempts to extract gold
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Western Whakatane Coastal Reserves
The Matata Wildlife Reserve, Matata Recreation Reserve and the Thornton Wildlife Management
Reserve make up the Western Whakatane Coastal Recreation reserves.
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Mauao Mount Maunganui
The dominant feature of the Tauranga district, Mauao rises 232m above sea level at the Mount Maunganui side of the entrance to Tauranga Harbour. Mauao has been of great importance to local Maori for more than six centuries and habitation terraces, storage pits, defence
trenching, bank systems and shell middens are still visible. The British Militia made
military use of Mauao in colonial days. Traces of their occupation are visible around the
base track.
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Tuhua (Mayor Island)
Tuhua (Mayor Island) is
an ancient volcano, once
prized, quarried and
fought over for it's
valuable black glossy
obsidian, now safe-haven
for some of New Zealand's
most threatened native
species. The adjacent
Tuhua Marine Reserve is
renowned for its high
water quality, diversity
of deep sea and sub-
tropical fish species and
stunning geological
features.
The island is classified
as a Wildlife Refuge and
administered by the Tuhua
Trust Board, whom
represent the owners and
are working in
partnership with the
Department of
Conservation to restore
the island as close as
possible to it's original
state.
Visitors are welcome on
the island by prior
arrangement and are asked
to follow a few rules and
biosecurity precautions,
so that the island's
natural beauty, pest-free
status and unique
inhabitants are
protected.
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