Lake Waikareiti Walk

Lake Waikareiti Walk

Lake Waikaremoana

10 Rankers Reviews

9 Face-to-Face

6 Lake Waikaremoana

Your Nature Guide

Marios Gavalas's avatar

Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Photos

Lake Waikareiti from the air

Information

Lake Waikareiti Walk

approx 5 km return | 2 hours return

Lake Waikareiti lies at 892 metres above sea level, is 75 metres deep and covers and area of 380 hectares. The clear waters are devoid of any introduced aquatic plants, making it by far the largest pristine lake in the North Island.

There's an island on the lake. How many times can you say that you have visited an island, on a lake, on an island, on a lake, on an island? Classic!

Walking Track

Access

The start of the track is signposted opposite the parking bay 200 metres north of the Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre.

Track

This wide, even and well graded track climbs steadily but gently through red and silver beech forest to a day shelter on the shores of Lake Waikareiti. (1¼ hours). There are nearby toilets.

Geology

Because Lake Waikareiti is landlocked, populations of aquatic species may be genetically distinct, although further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. The exceptionally high water quality is partly due to the fact the lake is free of introduced aquatic macrophytes. As such, it forms a useful baseline for scientists studying other modified habitats.

The story of the lake’s formation is different to that of its larger sibling. 18,000 years ago, a 10 km wide slab of rock fractured from its underlying foundations and slid from the smooth slope to the north-west. The start of the walk at SH 38 is the foot of the debris.

The resulting landscape is one of hummocks and hollows, infilled with wetlands and lakelets. The poor drainage in the areas of low relief inhibits forest growth, exposing the areas to extremes of weather.

Flora

Alpine plants thrive outside their normal range and unique vegetation assemblages occur.

Fauna

Six forested islands are sprinkled throughout the lake, their bulbous forms disguising its true size. Rahui Island, the largest, is free of possums and suffers only occasional rat infestations. A small landing on the northern side accesses a ladder to a tiny lake. This has the distinction of being ‘a lake on an island in a lake on an island’.

European History

The lake was first seen by European eyes in 1871 by Sergeant Bluett while searching for Te Kooti.

The lake was sold to the Crown in 1921 by local Maori, who found little use for it because it was lacking in resources.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Ngai Tuhoe

Iwi organisation

Location

North IslandTairāwhiti GisborneLake Waikaremoana

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.7429713349387

177.163209915161

Latitude
-38.7429713349387
Longitude
177.163209915161

Nearby

Reviews

    • Very nice quiet walk up to Lake Waikareiti.
    • 2 hours return.
    • WOW!!
    • Just a very nice walk!
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 5
    50%
    9/10 2
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    7/10 1
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    6/10 0
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    5/10 0
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    4/10 0
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  • 5.0/5

    Easy walking with scenic views in a beautiful national park.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 5.0/5

    Very nice quiet walk up to Lake Waikareiti.

    It is not the easiest one because it went up 300 metres. We enjoyed the walk and the beautiful nature. At the lake there is a little shelter for a rest.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful lake after one hour walking in the bush.

    Choose a sunny day for going there, the colours are amazing. You can also rent a boat ($20 for four hours. Or just go walking around the lake.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in October 2015

  • 5.0/5

    Lovely walk (Although seems all uphill the way there, I kept hoping for a downhill stretch but no).

    Fantastic views when we reached the very scenic lakes. Really nice walk.

    Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in June 2013

  • 4.5/5

    2 hours return.

    Very scenic lake! Great place to rest before the walk back through the forest.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Interesting forest, nice trip with a boat (dingy) that was hired at the National Park.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    WOW!!

    If you like nature and being on your own!

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Just a very nice walk!

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Sandy Bay is beautiful but day walkers used up all the water.

    Take the rest of the walking tracks for good views.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Walk through beautiful forest and if you organise with the nearby visitor centre beforehand, you can hire a row boat for half a day on the lake.

    Beautiful scenery and good value for money. Affordable for everyone.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago