|
kaimanawa
Imagine a forest park where you can sit on
the veranda of a tramping hut, gazing at sparkling rivers, and
rolling foothills clothed in golden alpine tussock.
Climb onto the open tops, and you are greeted with panoramic
views of Lake Taupo and the snow-capped volcanic peaks of the
Central Plateau.
Kaimanawa Forest Park is southeast of Lake Taupo, and extends
over a number of remote mountain ranges separated by the
headwater valleys of several major North Island rivers. The
southern sectors are steep alpine uplands with high peaks and
wide tussock areas, and the north is entirely forest clad. There
is ample scope for wilderness tramping, hunting, fishing, rafting
and canoeing. The park is noted for sika and red deer hunting and
for its protected herd of wild horses. The sika deer herd is the
only wild herd in the Southern Hemisphere. Many trampers, hunters
and fishermen use helicopter transport to access remote areas as
long tramps can be quite strenuous.
The northern access to the park is via Taharua Road off the
Napier-Taupo Road (S.H.5) and the western access is via three
Hydro Access Roads off the Desert Road (S.H.1) south of Turangi.
The three roads lead to some impressive gorges with names like
Tree Trunk Gorge and the Pillars of Hercules.
A wonderful feature of Kaimanawa Forest Park is the beautiful
river valleys, some with wide tussock terraces and grassy flats,
and others fully bush clad. They are all linked by a well-defined
tramping track system and have good fishing pools, picnic areas
and swimming holes. The most pleasant and picturesque are the
Oamaru, Tongariro, Tauranga-Taupo and Waipakihi rivers. Trout
fishing in the Lake Taupo basin is world-renowned and the park
has lots of productive water. Wildlife is plentiful and the most
common birds seen are pigeon, fantail, bellbird, rifleman, robin,
grey warbler, tomtit, whitehead and kakariki.
Break your journey just south of Turangi and take in some of the
beauty of this park along the Tongariro River. You will want to
explore further.
|
