Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk

• Hut accommodation on the track included.
• Transport from Te Urewera to the start of the trail and return from the end of the trail included.

Day One: Onepoto to Panekire Hut (9km 4-5 Hours). Your water taxi will pick you up in the morning from the wharf at Te Urewera Village and drop you off at the trail-head at Onepoto Shelter. You then climb steadily to the imposing Panekire Bluff - this is the most strenuous section of the trail, but the views from the top are well worth the effort. You then follow the undulating ridge-line before reaching the highpoint of the track at Puketapu Trig (1180 metres). From there you proceed to Panekire Hut and your first night overlooking the majestic lake. 

Day Two: Panekire Hut to Waiopaoa Hut (8km 3-4 Hours). From Panekire Hut, the track heads south-west down the range to the top of the Panekire descent. From here the track drops steeply to the lake shore through rolling valleys of beech, podocarp and kamahi forest and the lake. At the mouth of the Waiopaoa inlet is Waiopaoa Hut and your second night on the trail.
 
Day Three: Waiopaoa Hut to Marauiti Hut (12km 4-5 Hours). Head up the Waiopaoa Stream a short distance before crossing grassy flats and heading through kanuka forest on the lake shore. Just before the Korokoro suspension bridge there is a turn-off to Korokoro Falls - an amazing sight and well worth the 30 minute detour off the main route. Back on the trail and you weave your way up and over a number of small ridges, past young rimu forest and along the lake edge. A brief climb over Whakaneke Ridge takes you to Marauiti Hut and a great place for your last night on the track - at dusk you can go for a walk to the edge of the Puketukutuku Peninsula where you may hear the call of the kiwi.
 
Day Four: Marauiti Hut to Whanganui Hut (10km 3-4 Hours). After crossing the bridge over the stream running into Marauiti Bay the track crosses a saddle to rejoin the shore at Te Totara Bay. The track runs parallel to the lake-shore which is dotted with a number of sandy beaches. You then rise over the neck of the Puketukutuku Peninsula, then back down to the shoreline and to Whanganui Hut in a pleasant clearing with a lovely beach - this is where your water taxi will collect you and return you back to the village. The official end of the this Great Walk is actually further along the trail at Hopuruahine, but as this will require an 8km round trip to return to your transport collection point, you'll probably decide to give this last section a miss!