Pureora Forest Park

Interested in some greatly adventurous and excellent camping, picnicking, swimming and forest walking? Pureora Forest Park is you're the place you want to be.

The park stands across the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges, between Lake Taupo and Te Kuiti. It is an enigmatic treasure house of magnificent trees, rushing rivers and some exceptional flora and fauna magic. The reserve is protected and administered by the Department of Conservation to uphold the natural heritage and offer stunning sightseeing to the visitors.

Though established in 1978, since 1995, serious and rigorous endeavors have been made to preserve the beauty of this ecological plane.

Pureora forest park offers various places worth relishing:

• Pureora Field Centre provides information about several sites of special scientific, historic and ecological interest.
• 1800 years old Buried Forest whose remains now form Lake Taupo is an interesting sight for the tourists.
• Treetop Protest Site is another intriguing spot in the forest location where one of New Zealand's major conservation battles took place in 1978.
• 12-metre high Forest Tower is a brilliant spot for watching native birds such as kuku, kakariki, (parakeets) and kaka (forest parrot).
• Pouakani Totara Tree, the largest recorded Totara Tree in New Zealand
• Vintage Steam Hauler
• Old Crawler Tractor

Plant Life In Pureora Forest Park

Pureora Forest Park house important wetlands and shrublands. The wetlands amass some uncommon plants like The Stout Water Milfoil and Water Brome. It also has several shrublands like frost flats. The protected area safeguards endangered plants like Turner's Kohuhu and Pimelea Tomentosa. Lower altitudes are home to tall native trees like Rimu, Totara, Matai, Miro and Kahikatea. As one ascends, one can find hardy plants like Kamahi and Hall's Totara. Sub-alpine herb fields rule the area near the summit.

Pureora Forest Park Animals

Pureora Forest Park is rich in bird life. Kuku (kereru/native pigeon), Piwakawaka (fantail), Tui, Popokatea (whitehead), Tauhou (wax-eye), Kaka and Toutouwai (North Island robin) are the commonly seen birds. The protected area is a place for both species of Native Bats, Long Tailed and Short Tailed and Hochstetter's Frog.

The forest severs as one of the largest intact tracts of native forest in the North Island. Diversity of plant life and animal habitats add a great deal to the conservation value of the region.

Pureora Forest Park Location: Otorohanga district, Waikato region, New Zealand
Best Time To Visit: December to April

Pureora Forest Park - Recreational Activities

Quick Reference - Pureora Forest Park

Nearest Town: Mangakino
Nearest Airport: Rotorua
Nearest Railway Station: Te Kuiti

You got to visit the beautiful wood to experience the delight and enthrall.