Pureora Forest Park Walks

Saved from logging by protesters, the Pureora Forest Park straddles the Hauhungaroa Range west of Lake Taupo. Here you will find the last remnent of the podocarp forests that once covered most of the central North Island. Rare birdlife such as kereru, tui, fantails, wax-eyes and kaka live among the matai, miro, rimu and totara trees.

There are a variety of tracks for all fitness levels and ages. Walks range from 20 minutes to 10.5 hours. DOC huts are available in the forest if you want to overnight in the bush, as are vehicle-accessible camping facilties and cabins nearer the park office. You'll need your own cooking equipment.

It's also worth checking out some of the interesting sites close to the park office.

The Buried Forest
The original (preserved) forest was buried 1800 years ago after the Lake Taupo explosion and was only uncovered accidentally by bulldozer in 1983.

Treetop Protest Site
The 1978, the anti-logging protest was one of New Zealand's most significant. Protesters built platforms in the treetops and refused to budge, eventually ending the logging of native trees in the park.

Forest Tower
Climb the 12 metre high tower and get an entirely different perspective on forest life from the treetops.

Pouakani Tree
This is the largest recorded totara tree in New Zealand.

Vintage Steam Hauler
Until the late 1940s this old engine was used to haul logged trees from the forest.

Old Crawler Tractor
Used in the 1950s to pull totara posts and battens from the forest.

For further information on the park contact the DOC Pureora Field Centre (07 878 4773)

The New Zealand Environmental Care Code

	Protect plants and animals (take only photographs, leave only footprints)
	Remove rubbish (pack it in, pack it out)
	Bury toilet waste (quite deep if there are dogs around!)
	Keep streams and lakes clean (don't do number ones or twos near either. That's how giardia was introduced to New Zealand)
	Take care with fires (if there's a total fire ban, DON'T light one)
	Camp carefully (i.e. not on rare alpine plants or dry river beds)
	Keep to the track (you'd be surprised how easy it is to become disorientated)
	Consider others (leave the hut cleaner than you found it)
	Respect our cultural heritage (and we'll respect yours)
	Enjoy your visit (hell, love your visit!)

Toitu te whenua (leave the land undisturbed)