Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Walks Bookings (
Click here
), or DOC visitor centres nationwide, including the one at Ani-
waniwa. Backcountry hut passes and hut tickets are not valid.
While camping is permitted, it is an uncertain prospect, with grassy areas in short supply.
It is therefore not recommended.
The Tramp
Day 1: Aniwaniwa to Sandy Bay Hut
3-4 HOURS, 10KM
From the DOC visitor centre, follow the signs to
Waikareiti Track
. It's an hour of gentle
climbing (300m in all) to walk the 3km to the shores of
Lake Waikareiti
. The lake lies at
892m above sea level and 300m above the level of Lake Waikaremoana, which lies to its
southwest.
Lake Waikareiti was formed by a massive landslide that took place about 18,000 years
ago. The lake - home to numerous islands - is free of pollution and all introduced aquatic
plants, and has remarkable water clarity. It's fine, pebbly bottom is conducive to a paddle, or
indeed even a full-immersion swim.
The Waikareiti day shelter lies on the lakeshore, alongside the boatshed from where you
can launch your pre-booked rowing boat for a jaunt across the lake (see box on opposite
page).
Trampers should continue following the track through the forest, which affords occasion-
al lake views. Half an hour beyond the day shelter, a left fork takes you onto the
Ruapani
Circuit Track
, back to the road and visitor centre. For Sandy Bay Hut, take the right fork,
which sets out along the shore of
Tawari Bay
, from where there is a different perspective of
the lake's islands. Having reached the end of the bay, the track heads inland, and away from
the lake edge, meeting it again only when it reaches Sandy Bay Hut (18 bunks), which lies
idyllically on the shores of a shallow bay with brilliant white sand. It's 4km from the
Ruapani Circuit Track junction to the hut.
Ten minutes before you reach the hut a track leads to
Kaipo Lagoon
. If you want to see
what an untouched 11,000-year-old peat bog looks like, a two-hour side trip will satisfy this
urge.
