Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
$15-30; 10am-late)
, serving hearty mains like lamb rump and seafood chowder with beaut
lake views. Also at the Landing is
Lake Tarawera Water Taxi & Eco Tours
( 07-362 8080;
www.ecotoursrotorua.co.nz
;
1375 Tarawera Rd; from $55)
, which can take you anywhere on the lake, at
any time: a trip to Hot Water Beach is $55.
There's a privately run camping ground (boat access only; bookings required) at
Hot
Water Beach
( 07-349 3463;
www.whakarewarewa.com/tarawera
; adult/child $10/5)
, and a DOC-managed
site at
Tarawera Outlet
( 07-323 6300;
www.doc.govt.nz
; adult/child $6/3)
. The
Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday
Park
MAP
( 0800 808 292, 07-362 8120;
www.bluelaketop10.co.nz
;
723 Tarawera Rd; campsites from $21, cabins
$73-120, units $125-180; )
offers camping next to the Blue Lake (good for swimming and
kayaking), 6km before you get to Lake Tarawera; well run, it has spotless facilities and a
handy range of cabins.
WORTH A TRIP
WHIRINAKI FOREST PARK
This lush podocarp (conifer) forest park is 90km southeast of Rotorua off SH38, en route to Te Urewera National
Park (take the turn-off at Te Whaiti to Minginui). Also here are canyons, waterfalls, lookouts and streams, plus
the
Oriuwaka Ecological Area
and
Arahaki Lagoon
.
Walking tracks here vary in length and difficulty: the DOC booklet
Walks in Whirinaki Forest
($2.50) details
walking and camping options. Pick one up at DOC's
Murupara visitor centre
(
07-366 1080;
www.doc.govt.nz
;
SH38, Murupara; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri).
A good short walk is the
Whirinaki Waterfalls Track
(four hours return), which follows the Whirinaki River.
Longer walks include the
Whirinaki Track
(two days), which can be combined with
Te Hoe Track
(four days).
There's also a rampaging 16km
mountain bike track
here.
There are several accessible camping areas and 10 backcountry huts (free to $15) in the park; pay at the DOC
office.
TOP OF CHAPTER
South of Rotorua
Sights & Activities
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
MAP
VOLCANIC AREA, SPRING
