Turangi New Zealand
is situated at the southern end of Lake Taupo. Turangi is
40 minutes drive south of Taupo and a 40 minute drive to the
Whakapapa ski field at Mount Ruapehu. Turangi is situated
on the banks of the Tongariro River and offers lake and rivers
for fly fishing and water based activities. Turangi and it’s
surrounding countryside offers hunting, fishing, mountain
biking, hiking or bush walks, white water rafting, kayaking,
sight seeing and much more.Turangi is the ideal base for excursions
into the Tongariro National Park, Kaimanawa Forest Park, and
Pureroa Forest Park.
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| ACTIVITIES
IN KAIMANAWA NATIONAL PARK
The diversity
of the terrain and vegetation of this forest park allows
for a wide range of recreational interests.The most
popular activities are hunting, tramping and fishing,
with rafting, picnicking and camping also popular. Several
short walks and numerous camping and picnicking areas
have been established to cater for day visitors and
short term campers.
Mountain
biking is permitted in Kaimanawa Forest Park only on
formed roads and on the Tree Trunk Gorge track.
Most rivers
in the park contain trout: some have both brown and
rainbow trout (Rangitikei, Mohaka and Ngaruroro), while
others have only rainbow (Waipakihi). You must have
a Taupo licence to fish the rivers forming the Lake
Taupo watershed. The remainder of the forest park is
covered by Fish and Game council licences, available
from sports shops.
There
are both red and sika deer in the park. The sika are
mainly in the north and east and red deer are more common
in the southern and central areas. The sika herd which
also inhabits neighbouring Kaweka Forest Park, is the
only wild herd in the southern hemisphere. In 1982 a
recreational hunting area was designated over the northern
portion of the forest park to encourage sport.
Hunting pressure
is constant in easily accessible areas. During the "Roar"
and over holiday periods even the less accessible areas
are likely to be subject to intensive use by hunters.
Possums are
present throughout the park and permits to poison or
trap them are issued on a block basis. Applications
for possum permits should be made to Department of Conservation
offices in Turangi or Taupo. Large scale control operations
are undertaken from time to time. Details of these are
always available from the Turangi office.
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| WALKING
TRACKS - KAIMANAWA NATIONAL PARK
Kaimanawa
Forest Road Walk Time:
20 min loop track
Begins from the Urchin camping area 3 km along Kaimanawa
Road. A gently sloping, easy walk through beautiful
native bush. There is a notable variety of forest types
to be found on this short walk.
Pillars of Hercules
Time: 10 min
Pillars of Hercules swingbridgeBegins
2 km along Kaimanawa Road. A short walk brings you to
the gorge known as the Pillars of Hercules. Take care
on the steep steps at the beginning of the walk. This
deep gorge has a complex history of formation. The river
has eroded a narrow channel through ancient lava flows
(350,000 years and older) of andesite and ignimbrite
rock. This feature is even more spectacular from the
air as the Tongariro River can be seen to suddenly narrow
as it passes through this chasm. Return via the same
track.
Pillars of Hercules to Urchin Camping Ground Time:
1 hr
Begins from the Urchin camping area 3 km along Kaimanawa
Road. A pleasant walk through kamahi forest with occasional
views of the Tongariro River below. Return via same
track, or along the road.
Kiko Road Loop Track Time:
1 - 1 hr 30 min loop track
10 km north of Turangi on SH 1, Kiko Road turns off
to the right. Drive 17 km to a carpark where there is
a picnic area and toilet. Please be aware that the forest
plantations on either side of Kiko Road are on private
land.A feature
of this track is the variety of forest in a relatively
small area. The western aspect is a podocarp forest
of matai, miro and rimu. Looking to the north west the
bush was milled right up the track and is now regenerating.
In the distance is a view of Lake Taupo.To
the north east the forest is red/silver beech and kamahi
with an understorey of crown fern. Along the eastern
side of the loop you will see trees banded with aluminium
to protect a rare species of red mistletoe from possum
browse.
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| TRAMPING
TRACKS - KAIMANAWA NATIONAL PARK
Clements
Mill Road - Te Iringa - Oamaru Track
Ti
me: 5 - 7 hr
This well graded benched track starts from a carpark
5km along Clements Mill Road and climbs to a clearing
where the Te Iringa Hut used to be (1-2 hours). It continues
on to the Tikitiki Stream and Kaipo River junction where
the track forks at the swingbridge. The main track follows
down the true right bank of the Kaipo River to Oamaru
Hut (5-7 hours from Clements Mill Road). The other marked
route zig-zags its way up the Kaipo River and leads
over to Cascade Hut. The time given is from from the
swingbridge.
NB: Te Iringa hut has burnt down and will not be replaced.
It may show on older maps.
Kaimanawa Forest Park Access via PoronuiT
ime: 4 hr
The poled route from the end of Taharua Road to the
Mohaka River provides walking access only to the Oamaru
Valley. In places the poled route crosses private land.
As a condition of access absolutely no hunting or fishing
is allowed and hunters must remove rifle bolts. The
time given is approximate for the walk from Poronui
gate to Oamaru hut.
Ngapuketurua Track
Time: 6 - 8 hr
This track leaves from Kiko Road end. It provides access
over 1517m Ngapuketurua Summit (4-5 hours) and on to
Cascade Hut (6-8 hours) and the interior of the park.
A route also branches off at the summit and runs through
Ignimbrite Saddle and over Junction Top to Waipakihi
Hut. Parts of these routes cross private land, contact
Air Charter Taupo +64 7 378 5467 for a permit or email
info@airchartertaupo.co.nz
Umukarikari Track
Time: 4 - 6 hrSignposted from
Kaimanawa Road. This track climbs steadily to the treeline.
From there it follows a poled route along the Umukarikari
Range (summit 1561 m) before dropping down to Waipakihi
Hut.
Urchin Track
Time: 6 - 8 hrThis is an alternative
route to the Waipakihi Valley, climbing over the southern
portion of the range via the Urchin summit (1391m).
It is also signposted from Kaimanawa Road and leads
to the mid-reaches of the Waipakihi Valley. Kaimanawa
Road to Waipakihi Hut via Urchin trig.
Waipakihi Valley - Waipakihi road to Waipakihi
hut
Time: 8 - 10 hrThis valley is
accessible from the Waipakihi Road end and provides
relatively easy walking. There is no defined track and
you should be prepared for frequent river crossings.
River levels can rise quickly during and after heavy
rain. Many good camp sites exist in the valley. The
southern bank of the Waipakihi River below the Waipakihi
Gorge to Waikato Stream and extending south to the ‘Needles
Block’ is private land. Contact Danny Loughlin,
Kaiamanwa 3B2A, 3B2B Trust, PO Box 716, Taupo.
Cascade-North Arm TrackTime:
6 - 8 hr
This track commences at a signposted junction up Cascade
Stream approx 30 minutes from Cascade Hut. The track
climbs to a saddle at the head of Te Wai O Tupuritia
Stream. The route then follows the tussock valley (private
land, contact Air Charter Taupo +64 7 378 5467 for a
permit) to Mangamingi Stream and from there to Boyd
Lodge, via the true right of the Ngaruroro River.
North Arm Saddle - Oamaru River Route
This route commences from North Arm Saddle, climbs over
Mauangaraorangi and traverses a long bush-clad ridge
prior to descending steeply into the Oamaru River at
the Oamaru-Waitawhero confluence.
Oamaru-Boyd TrackTime:
4 - 6 hr
From the Oamaru Hut the track follows the true left
bank of the Oamaru River to Waitawhero Stream. The track
crosses the Oamaru and follows the Waitawhero Stream
to a saddle. At this point the track emerges at the
forest edge of the upper Ngaruroro. Across the valley
the Boyd Airstrip can be seen. (Boyd Lodge is obscured
by beech forest).
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Department
of Conservation
The Department of Conservation
is the central government organisation charged with
conserving the natural and historic heritage of New
Zealand .
Click Here to visit site. |
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TURANGI - TROUT FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
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