Wild, untamed and precious, the Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park deep in the Bay of Plenty is a rugged jewel of the North Island.
With 56,000 hectares of lush native forest including soaring tōtara, rimu, miro, matai and kahikatea, Whirinaki is one of the last remnants and best remaining examples of lowland podocarp forest left in New Zealand.
Today, local iwi Ngāti Whare are active kaitiaki of the park, working with DOC to preserve and maintain the unique environment and natural ecosystems.
Choose from walks ranging from short loop tracks to challenging multi-day expeditions where you can experience beautiful waterfalls, tranquil lagoons and the spectacular moss-covered rock walls of the Te Whaiti-Nui-a-Toi Canyon.
- Download our list of all 101 Kiwi Gems
- Read more from We Love You New Zealand magazine: ‘What’s the Big Deal with Forest Bathing?’
