Activities in Kaimanawa Forest Park
Tracks and walks
Other activities
Swimming in a river in the Kaimanawa
Forest Park
The diversity of the terrain and vegetation of this forest park allows for a wide range of recreational interests. The most popular activities are hunting, tramping and fishing, with rafting, picnicking and camping also popular. Several short walks and numerous camping and picnicking areas have been established to cater for day visitors and short term campers.
Fishing
Most rivers in the park contain trout: some have both brown and rainbow trout (Rangitikei, Mohaka and Ngaruroro), while others have only rainbow (Waipakihi). You must have a Taupo licence to fish the rivers forming the Lake Taupo watershed. The remainder of the forest park is covered by Fish and Game council licences, available from sports shops.
Hunting
There are both red and sika deer in the park. The sika are mainly in the north and east and red deer are more common in the southern and central areas. The sika herd which also inhabits neighbouring Kaweka Forest Park, is the only wild herd in the southern hemisphere. In 1982 a recreational hunting area was designated over the northern portion of the forest park to encourage sport.
Hunting pressure is constant in easily accessible areas. During the "Roar" and over holiday periods even the less accessible areas are likely to be subject to intensive use by hunters.
Possums are present throughout the park and permits to poison or trap them are issued on a block basis. Applications for possum permits should be made to Department of Conservation offices in Turangi or Taupo. Large scale control operations are undertaken from time to time. Details of these are always available from the Turangi office.
Mountain biking and cycling
Mountain biking is permitted in Kaimanawa Forest Park only on formed roads and on the Tree Trunk Gorge track, the Kiko Road Loop track and for a trial period on the Te Iringa/Oamaru track.
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Guided activities and tours