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Whirinaki/Te Urewera Forests
'Dinosaur' forests of giant trees many centuries old. The eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty are remote and untouched.
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Whirinaki Forest Park offers a variety of short
walks that visit some of the parkís special
features and show off the magnificent ëdinosaurí
forest, dominated by towering examples of
kahikatea, totara, matai, rimu, miro and much
tawa. Birdlife includes rare species, especially
the whio (blue duck), North Island kaka, red
and yellow crowned kakariki, kiwi and kereru.
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Whirinaki Forest Park offers a variety of short
walks that visit some of the parkís special
features and show off the magnificent ëdinosaurí
forest, dominated by towering examples of
kahikatea, totara, matai, rimu, miro and much
tawa. Birdlife includes rare species, especially
the whio (blue duck), North Island kaka, red
and yellow crowned kakariki, kiwi and kereru.
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The reserve is an area of semi-coastal broadleaf forest of a type that would once have covered
much of the Opotiki area. The forest and the small raupo wetland support many common
bush birds. Some native plant species along the track have names posted.
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Whirinaki Forest Park offers a variety of short
walks that visit some of the parkís special
features and show off the magnificent ëdinosaurí
forest, dominated by towering examples of
kahikatea, totara, matai, rimu, miro and much
tawa. Birdlife includes rare species, especially
the whio (blue duck), North Island kaka, red
and yellow crowned kakariki, kiwi and kereru.
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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 offers a variety of short
walks that visit some of the parkís special
features and show off the magnificent ëdinosaurí
forest, dominated by towering examples of
kahikatea, totara, matai, rimu, miro and much
tawa. Birdlife includes rare species, especially
the whio (blue duck), North Island kaka, red
and yellow crowned kakariki, kiwi and kereru.
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The reserve is 1800ha of forest and regenerating farmland. The area was cleared for farming
after World War 1, but the steep land and then the depression deafeated the settlers. The
Tauranga and Manganuku Bridges are among evidence of the pioneer farming in the area. The
Tauranga Bridge is one of only two harp suspension bridges in the country.
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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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Whirinaki Forest Park Mountain Bike Track
Tall trees, rushing rivers, special plants and animals, a wide variety of habitats and fascinating past combine to create Whirinaki Forest park. This was one of New Zealand''s most famous conservation battlegrounds, where people actively fought to save a magnificent native forest.
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This easy loop track follows the Whirinaki River through superb podocarp forest
with many excellent vantage points. The waterfall can be heard from some distance.
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The 4.5ha reserve contains a remnant of superb
kahikatea (white pine) forest that once occupied the fringes of the extensive wetland in the area.
The reserve has huge kahikatea, dwarfing the tawa and pukatea that provide most of the
remaing 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 Crown bought White Pine Bush in 1925. Other fine stands of kahikatea in the area were
felled for timber till the supply ran out in 1937.Kahikatea was in demand for such uses as
butter boxes for the export trade, because it did not splinter and had no smell, so butter
remained untainted.
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