Know before you go
Make sure you are properly equipped and well prepared. The weather at Lake Waikaremoana is changeable and can be cold and wet, even in summer.

Make sure you are properly equipped and well prepared. Your safety is your responsibility. Know the five essential steps of the Land Safety Code. 

This track is not recommended for children under age 10, because of the exposed mountainous environment and often adverse weather conditions. 

Lake Waikaremoana lies between altitudes of 600 and 1200 m. The weather at Lake Waikaremoana is changeable. Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year, including summer. Te Urewera is a rainforest, so tracks can become muddy.

Huts on the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk don't have gas cooking facilities, lighting or toilet paper. Remember to take a portable stove and fuel, candles and toilet paper with you. Some provisions are available at the Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park store. 

Call in at the Te Urewera Visitor Centre at Te Kura Whenua for the latest information on weather and track conditions before you leave, and fill in your itinerary in hut books as you go. Check opening hours. 

Boil, filter or chemically treat water if you doubt its purity.

Keep to the track. If you become lost, stop, find shelter, stay calm, and try to assist searchers.

What to expect

  • Climb and descend about 600 m over the Panekire Ridge.
  • Walk 4-6 hours a day.
  • Carry a pack of up to 15 kg.