Forests

Mahia Peninsula boasts an excellent bush reserve on the rugged Kinikini Road. The 3.5 km loop track takes the walker through tawa, kohekohe, rimu, rewarewa, and beautiful nikau palms, while winding through fern-flanked streams. The reserve has an abundance of native birds including big native pigeons, Tui, bellbirds, waxeyes and the cheeky fantails that will flutter along the track to catch the insects you disturb.

At Morere, where you can relax in the hot springs, there are a variety of tracks available to trampers and walkers who want to experience the extensive bush reserve. There are also limestone caves waiting to be explored by the intrepid adventurer.

Inland, the Urewera National Park beckons. It’s magnificent, unspoiled and vast bush land offers adventurers a network of tracks, with the most famous being the spectacular “Great Walk” of 46 km around Lake Waikaremoana

The Department of Conservation website will give you further information about bush reserves in the area.