Amazingly tall trees, rushing rivers, a wide variety of habitats and a fascinating past combine to create Whirinaki Forest Park. This was one of New Zealand’s most famous conservation battlegrounds, where people actively fought to save a magnificent native podocarp forest.
Today Whirinaki’s beauty is protected for everyone to enjoy through a comprehensive network of walks, tracks and huts with a range of opportunities for visitors
2009 sees Whirinaki celebrate 25 years of crown protection. Professor David Bellamy who first visited the park during the early 1980's is set to return to this magical wonderland that he dubbed the 'Dinosaur Forest'.
Mark down 4-6 September 2009 in your diary as a party not to be missed. Events include the opening of an overnight mountain bike track, a bioblitz and a coming together of the community to look back over the areas recent history and celebrate forthcoming opportunities.
Location
The park is about 100 km south east of Rotorua on State Highway 38. It is within a two hour drive of Rotorua, Taupo and Whakatane.