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Photograph of lagoon: John Wattie
Photograph of Kokako: Simon Fordham
Curtis botanical: Mahoe
Photograph of Rifleman: Wim van der Schot
Description
Pureora Forest Park straddles the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges between Lake Taupo and Te Kuiti.
Giant totara, rimu, matai, miro and kahikatea trees tower 40-60 metres, and belong to an ancient family of trees dating from the dinosaur era. There is rich native bird life in this forest including the rare kokako and the kaka, kakariki, rifleman and North Island robin.
Tracks
There is a well defined network of tracks. The Waipapa Walk is a loop that commences by the Pureora Forest Lodge along the edge of the Waipapa Ecological Area. This walk offers the best chance of hearing an early dawn chorus of the kokako.
History
Pureora forest was the site of one of NZ's most important conservation battles, in 1978, when protesters perched on platforms in the remaining treetops following 40 years of logging. Their actions led to a government-imposed logging moratorium and the end of native forest logging in the park in the early 1980s. It is now an important regrowth area for native trees.
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