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Time: 3 - 4 days, Distance: 46 km
Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk is one of the seven Great Walks in New Zealand. An easy going overnight trek that gives a mixture of interesting bush, great swimming, lake views and good fishing if it takes your fancy.
There has recently been some excellent Kiwi recovery work done around the lake so you may even hear some kiwi at night if you are lucky. If you are a bit unsure of embarking on this walk on your own, there are several operators offering excellent guiding services. Enjoy!
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC East CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Tairāwhiti Gisborne ▷ Lake Waikaremoana |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 8+ hours (incl overnight) These walks generally have overnight options. And often the track's end point is different from the start point. |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? 20km and Beyond |
DOC Track Category |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Great walk/Easy tramping track Moderate day or multi-day tramping/hiking. Track is generally well formed, may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with moderate fitness. Limited backcountry (remote areas) experience required. Track has signs, poles or markers. Major stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Light tramping/hiking boots required. |
Track Accommodation |
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Track AccommodationWhat type of accommodation is available on this walking track? Hut & Campsite At least one campsite and building is available on this track to stay at overnight. |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Three day tramp.
Nice walk, peaceful feeling.
Nice and lovely walk.
Beautiful walk through native bush.
It was such a beautiful walk!
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 16 |
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34% |
9/10 | 15 |
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32% |
8/10 | 10 |
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21% |
7/10 | 4 |
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9% |
6/10 | 1 |
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2% |
5/10 | 1 |
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2% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.5/5
Nice walk, peaceful feeling.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
5.0/5
Very nice walk around the lake.
Very good huts.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.5/5
Beautiful walk around the lake and impressive view at the top of the hill for the first morning.
But the water taxi is too expensive.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.5/5
Did it in October in 3 days/ 2 nights.
If you do it clockwise you will start with the "hard" part. DOC office & water taxi ($50) on the road.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
4.0/5
Nice and lovely walk.
If you have the chance to do it. Lovely view of the lake.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
Beautiful walk through native bush.
Passing several little lakes and isolated tracks. At Lake Waikareiti you can hire a rowing boat.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Awesome walk.
Good fishing. The huts are primo.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
3.5/5
Nice three day walk but really hard to walk.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Our first Great Walk in New Zealand!
Challenging in two days. Very popular (access by boat) but we really enjoyed the landscape with the lake and the bush changing often. Much shade on sunny days!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
Not so crowded, wonderfully located huts, very varied, peaceful, breathtaking views.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.5/5
Great nature, especially the first day.
Untouched, ancient forest like in a fairytale.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
3.0/5
Walked the Great Walk (40 km), in two days.
The path was not as good as I expected but the view of the lake was just beautiful. Also had a swim in the lake, so refreshing.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.5/5
Nice walk, peaceful feeling.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.5/5
Beautiful walk around the lake and impressive view at the top of the hill for the first morning.
But the water taxi is too expensive.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
5.0/5
Very nice walk around the lake.
Very good huts.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.5/5
Did it in October in 3 days/ 2 nights.
If you do it clockwise you will start with the "hard" part. DOC office & water taxi ($50) on the road.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
4.0/5
Nice and lovely walk.
If you have the chance to do it. Lovely view of the lake.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
Not so crowded, wonderfully located huts, very varied, peaceful, breathtaking views.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.5/5
Great nature, especially the first day.
Untouched, ancient forest like in a fairytale.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
Our first Great Walk in New Zealand!
Challenging in two days. Very popular (access by boat) but we really enjoyed the landscape with the lake and the bush changing often. Much shade on sunny days!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
Beautiful walk through native bush.
Passing several little lakes and isolated tracks. At Lake Waikareiti you can hire a rowing boat.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
3.5/5
Nice three day walk but really hard to walk.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Awesome walk.
Good fishing. The huts are primo.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
It was such a beautiful walk!
You have awesome views from the top and an amazing forest to tramp through. But you can easily do it in three days as well.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.0/5
The beautiful panoramic of the lake made the gruelling climb worth it!
The basic lodges gave the experience a rustic feel (which was exactly what we wanted!). Well signed, a great tramp.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Three day tramp.
Started at the Onepoto Campsite and finished earlier because of a broken bridge. Great walk through the woods!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
Amazing trek with awesome views from the ridge.
I am not in that good shape, therefore getting up and down the ridge was pretty tough. Did the trek in four days (three nights), would recommend the same to everyone that is not really in good shape.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
5.0/5
You are surrounded by a lot of breathtaking landscapes.
The huts and campsites are in really good condition and the track is not crowded.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
Not too crowded, well maintained campsites.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
Great views for Mt Panekire, but in my opinion, one of the weakest Great Walks.
If you are short of time, go for another Great Walk first!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in November 2015
4.5/5
Not too many people on the track.
It never gets boring because the vegetation changes every day.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Breathtaking scenery, wonderfully located and warm huts, fantastic wildlife.
Totally manageable within three days. Glass clear water.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Beautiful.
The estimated walking hours was very highly prescribed in the DOC maps. We would have done 2 days on 1! Too many sandflies.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.0/5
Starting from Onepoto with help from Big Bush, this walk is not for beginner hikers.
The first leg is strenuous but the views are breathtaking. Not overcrowded like the Tongariro Crossing can be but that may be due to the difficulty of the hike.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.0/5
Beautiful walks and another one of the Great Walks.
You walk through a dense forest with a huge lake next to you that offers a nice breeze. At the end of the track a water taxi comes to pick you up.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
3.0/5
Walked the Great Walk (40 km), in two days.
The path was not as good as I expected but the view of the lake was just beautiful. Also had a swim in the lake, so refreshing.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.0/5
Nice walk of three days in the complete nature.
Very few people on the track and it was very quiet. Landscape was amazing! Only thing: some huts are not so great, we expected better for a great walk and for the price.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015
4.0/5
We did this track in four days and it was amazing!
The views around the lake are just awesome. Sadly the track is not in a good condition everywhere.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
3.5/5
We went the first part of the track only.
Just up the hill for a view, have a snack and then go back again. Enjoyable walk.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
3.5/5
Nice lookouts, brochure diagram of the altitude was not exact.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
5.0/5
We only hiked in the area for a couple of hours but it was absolutely beautiful.
Great walk through the forest, views of the lake on the way up and a nice rock outcrop where you can stop for lunch. Gorgeous area.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014