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Kaimai-Mamaku
The western ranges of the Bay of Plenty are a living museum of the regions natural and human history.
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Walks around the Aongatete Outdoor Education Lodge, in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, take in lovely lowland podocarp-broadleaf forest with a variety of native species. The walks vary from a short nature trail to a more demanding three-and-a-half hour tramp.
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Hendersons Tramline loop track follows the route of bush tramlines and haul lines once used to extract logs from the bush.The walk includes forest and clearings near the fringe of the park. A side track off the main walk leads down to the base of a waterfall and a large swimming hole.
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Kaharoa and the adjoining Onaia Ecological Area are renowned for kokako,once common in
lowland forest but now endangered. Their numbers have fallen dramatically since European
colonisation. Fewer than 1400 survive in the North Island.The kokako may be our most
beautiful songbird,using a variety of sounds including clicks, buzzes and mews,
especially around dawn. At other times you may see one high in the tree canopy.
In recent years the Kaharoa Kokako Trust, DoC, Environment Bay of Plenty and volunteers
have improved the forest health and the numbers of kokako in the area has increased. There
are also good populations of tui,bellbirds,whiteheads, robins, morepork owls, native
pigeons and even a few North Island brown kiwi.An impressive range of native trees include
rimu, totara, kohekohe, tawa, puriri, rewarewa,mahoe, kamahi, nikau and mamaku.
Deep gorges shelter the rare kingfern (para).
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The 37,000ha forest park is a living museum of natural and human history.The park marks the northern limit of kamahi, red and silver beech,and the southern limit of the huge kauri. Birdlife includes the fantail, North Island Robin, kereru (native pigeon), waxeye or silver-eye, tui and tomtit. Kiwi and morepork (ruru) can sometimes be heard at night, the North Island kaka is a rare sight, and the shining cuckoo and bellbird are more often heard than seen. Maori established routes across the Kaimai Ranges for trading and raiding. Later,these trails were used by Europeans. The introduction of logging and mining had a substantial impact on areas of the park which are clearly visible in the form of caves, tramlines and remnants of kauri.
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The Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway follows the old Paeroa-Waihi railway line
through the gorge above the Ohinemuri River.It passes historical features associated with the
gold fields. Beside the walkway can be seen the remains of mine buildings and machinery,
including stamper batteries used to extract gold from quartz. The walkway gives a fascinating
glimpse of the history of a major gold producing area that operated from 1875 to 1952.
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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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Mokaihaha is rich in Maori history and has high conservation and scientific values. The area
contains trails once used by Maori travelling between the Waikato and Rotorua. It has the
largest remaining block of the extensive native forest that once covered the Mamaku Plateau.
Rimu, miro and matai are plentiful and the bird life includes tui, kereru, bellbird and fantail.
Flocks of kaka (native parrots) entertain walkers,and the endangered kokako can be heard in
the dawn chorus. Short-tailed bats are also present.
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Mount Otanewainuku (640m) is covered in virgin forest. Emergent podocarps, especially
rimu, are common. Tawa, kamahi and rewarewa form the canopy and bird life is prolific.
Geologically, Otanewainuku is a rhyolitic dome rising above the ignimbrite Mamaku plateau.
The summit gives panoramic views from East Cape to Mt Tarawera, across the Mamaku Plateau
Maori legend says Tutanekai, lover of Hinemoa,leapt off Otanewainuku to escape his Rotorua
enemies.Walks in the area range from a 30-minute stroll to demanding and lengthy tramping.
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Otawa Scenic Reserve in the Papamoa Hills contains attractive lowland forest dominated
by tawa and rewarewa. Wharetetarakeho Trig offers excellent views over the Bay of
Plenty coast. At the Manoeka Road entrance is a pleasant bushwalk and picnic area.
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Te Aroha township, developed in the 1880s as a spa town, has 22 springs, 15 of which are hot.
The Domain retains the look of Edwardian times with formal gardens and many of the old
bathhouse buildings. Mt Te Aroha is the highest point in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park at
952m.
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Te Rerekawau Falls are
created where the Kaiate
Stream drops over
ignimbrite bluffs in
a series of cascades and
waterfalls in a
pretty,bush-filled
ravine. Attractions
include a
popular swimming hole at
the base of the lower
falls,and a number of
large puriri and
kohekohe along the well
formed tracks.
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The Wairere Falls track takes walkers through a beautiful, diverse range of natural scenery.
Besides the spectacular 153m high falls there are beautiful river falls and cascades, a fine grove
of nikau, puriri and kohekohe, and an upper section of track takes you through tree ferns
and totara in native forest. The falls lookout and summit offer magnificent views of the
valley and the Waikato Plains.In summer there are plenty of pools to wade
and paddle in, and the track can be explored further up the river.
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A prospector, Hone Werahiko found gold in the Waiorongomai Valley in 1881. Expensive
engineering projects failed due to low yields from the unexpectedly hard rock of the
enormous gold bearing reef. One of these projects is the Piako County Tramway, New
Zealand oldest tramway still on site and is a showcase historic site for the Department of
Conservation.
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