Wetlands to visit in the Region of

The Waikato Region is a New Zealand The swards of rush-like plants found in the Waikato Wetland Management Agencies stronghold for wetlands. It has: Region’s peat bogs are unique to the Southern Hemisphere. Two plants found only in the Department of Conservation • around 30 percent of the country’s Waikato are the giant cane rush www.doc.govt.nz remaining wetlands, (Sporadanthus ferrugineus) and the threatened 07 858 1000 • three of NZ’s six internationally swamp helmet orchid, Corybas carsei (also recognised (Ramsar) wetlands, found in Australia). Other threatened plants Waikato Regional Council • most of NZ’s rare peat lakes include a clubmoss, a hooded orchid and an www.ew.govt.nz insectivorous bladderwort. • the two largest freshwater wetlands in 0800 800 401 the , • the nation’s biggest lake, Around 25% of NZ’s Australasian bittern • the longest river, and population and one of the largest populations Auckland/Waikato • the largest river delta. of North Island fernbird live in the Fish and Game internationally significant Whangamarino www.fishandgame.org.nz Wetland. 07 849-1666 It also contains an extraordinary diversity of wetland types including geothermal springs, alpine tarns, lowland swamps, estuaries, peat Waikato wetlands are important habitats for lakes, and peat bogs. native fish including:

An estimated 32,000 ha (25 percent of the pre- • threatened black mudfish that burrow human extent) of freshwater wetlands remain deep into mud or under logs to survive in the Region, with most located in the lowland dry spells for months at a time. areas in the Waikato, Matamata–Piako, • threatened banded and giant kokopu Hauraki and Franklin Districts. • more common inanga, whose juveniles Eleven threatened birds and 13 threatened make up the bulk of the whitebait catch plant species live in Waikato wetlands; that’s and are present in large numbers in almost a quarter of the Region’s threatened wetlands connected to rivers. species in less than five percent of its land area.

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Wetlands to visit in the Waikato Region

Name / type1 Description/ special features Access, further information

Firth of Thames The Firth of Thames is an internationally significant(Ramsar) wetland. Located at Miranda is a visitor centre with accommodation and an education centre. Thousands of migratory wader birds visit over summer including godwits that fly non-stop from Alaska. www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz/ Intertidal mudflats One hour from Auckland. From State Highway 1 south of Bombay take SH 2 heading east towards Thames, turn left at Mangatangi Road, take  Miranda Road, then left into East Coast Road. Information centre is about 3 km up East Coast Road Waiotapu Geothermal Dramatic geothermal landscape with world-famous champagne pool, geysers, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. Formed Entrance fee applies walkways, interpretation boards. Operated as a commercial tourist attraction. www.waiotapu.co.nz/ Geothermal lake and springs

27 kilometres (20 minutes drive) south of Rotorua on SH5  Rotopiko/ Lake Serpentine Peat lake complex. Community-led restoration project. Pest fence, walkways, information panels, www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/what-we-do/national-wetland-centre/ interactive discovery trail. Site of proposed National Wetland Centre.

Peat lakes, swamp forest

Access off State Highway 2 south of Ohaupo, 20 mins from Hamilton,  left turn into gates only. Te Waihou/Blue Springs Crystal clear springs and stream with extensive submerged aquatic plants in a farmland setting. Emergence of water percolated through the Mamaku Plateau for 100 years. 10 min walk to springs www.waikatonz.com/experiences/walking-hiking-trails/blue-spring-te- from Lesley Road, or longer walk along river from Whites Road. waihou-walkway/ Freshwater springs Leslie Road, Putaruru. From SH 1 north of Putaruru turn right into Whites Rd then right into Leslie Rd. Parking area about 4 km from Whites Road. 

KEY

Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing Highly Info Interpretation Lookout/ Picnic area Accommodation Swimming or scenic centre panels bird hide snorkelling

1  Must see  Worth a special visit  Worth a short detour  Plan to visit if passing  Short stop if passing

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Lake Taupo NZ’s largest lake. Commercial boat/ kayak/ fishing tours .Various tourist attractions (Huka Falls, Aratiatia rapids, South Taupo wetlands kayaking and boating trips) Visit Taupo Information Centre for information on attractions

Explosion crater lake

 Lake Ngahewa & Rainbow Volcanic area with colourful cliffs, steaming ground, and crater lakes. Lake Ngahewa has a range www.myguiderotorua.com/lake-ngahewa of birds and rare native mistletoe. Walking track (30 mins return) past crater lakes and geothermal Mt vegetation. Longer track (2 - 2.5 hours return) to summit for views over the steaming geothermal field and Lake Ngahewa across the highway. 26 km south of Rotorua. From Rotorua, take SH 5 towards Taupo. The entrance is on the left off SH 5, just past the turn-off to SH 38. Lake Geothermal lake Ngahewa is on the right, walkways on Rainbow Mt (views over Lake Ngahewa) on left.

 Whangamarino Ramsar wetland 50 km driving trail beings at Te Kauwhata, driving anti-clockwise around wetland. See local visitor centre for Whangamarino and LakeWaikare Walkways and information centre planned. Wetland driving trail (copy on NWT website or local information centres) Wetland Trail or print from National Wetland Trust website: Peat bog, mineralised swamp www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/Visiting_wetlands.html  Tautari Wetland Pest-free sanctuary adjacent to Sanctuary Mountain . Existing ponds have been www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz/ enhanced by planting and release of threatened species including takahe and tuatara.

Entrance fee applies. Access from the end of Tautari Road, Pukeatua, Constructed pond 20 mins west of . Contact Maungatuatari Ecological Island Trust +64 7 823 7455  Waihora Lagoon Stunning setting - seasonal lagoon surrounded by mature kahikatea forest. The peat stained water www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and- creates a mysterious and serene quality. In dry spells the lagoon dries to a damp meadow. Short, walks/waikato/maniapoto/pureora-walking-tracks/

easy walk and boardwalk. Technically in the Manawatu Region, but access is from SH32 in the Swamp forest and glade Waikato Region, south of . Turn onto Waihora Rd and travel some 3 km on a gravel road before turning left into the Waihora Lagoon  carpark. Note access road may be in rough condition.

'Greenstone lake' nestles into a crater on the side of Mt Pihanga. This beautiful lake is a special Lake Rotopounamu www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north- favourite of tree lovers, birdwatchers, walkers and swimmers. It is a great spot for the family. The island/places/tongariro-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/rotopounamu- walk into the lake takes about 20 minutes. track/ Volcanic crater lake 11 km from Tūrangi off SH47, the parking area is signposted on the south side of Te Ponanga Saddle. 

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Yarndleys Bush This 14 ha remnant is one of the largest remaining stands of kahikatea forest in the North Island. A www.kiwanis.org.nz/taweyard.htm former swamp forest, drainage has caused the peat to shrink leaving many trees perched. Short walks and viewing tower. Semi-swamp forest (kahikatea) Drive North form Te Awamutu (toward Hamilton) for approximately 3 km. Turn left at Ngaroto Road. Drive approximately 1 1/2 km, and look for the signpost indicating the entrance to the bushwalk. Limited carparking is  available off the road

Howarth Memorial Pond with extensive exotic (deciduous for fall colour) and native plantings. Habitat for wild game birds. Perimeter walk (about 1 hour) easy family stroll. Hot pools nearby for after walk soak. Reserve Te Aroha. Turn off Waihou Rd into Stanley Ave and then into Spur St for the main entrance. Freshwater swamp, flood plain

 Lake Ngaroto Largest of the Waipa peat lakes. Community restoration project and extensive re-planting. www.teawamutu.nz/info/attractions/ngaroto/ Perimeter walkway (2 hrs)

Peat lake Access via Bank Road, off Rd, north of Te Awamutu  Waiwhakareke Peat lake undergoing extensive restoration including replanting native forest and wetland species. www.waiwhakareke.co.nz/ Community restoration project, walkways.

Baverstock Road, Hamilton. Heading south on State Highway 1, take the Peat lake Hamilton Bypass (Avalon Drive), turn right at Rotokauri Rd, which continues into Baverstock. Park entrance on the right, opposite

 Farnborough Drive.

Pehitawa Kahikatea Forest Kahikatea swamp forest (18 ha) with fine specimens of rare swamp maire, matai, titoki and www.nfrt.org.nz/reserves/pehitawa-kahikatea-forest/ Reserve pukatea. It represents a forest type that once covered 41,000 ha in the Waipa Ecological District now reduced through clearance to only 158 ha. On the route of the Great NZ walkway, Te Araroa. www.teararoa.org.nz/waikato/pehitawa-track/ Managed by the Native Forest Restoration Trust Swamp forest (kahikatea) Access is via the Te Araroa trail and is easiest from Fullerton Road off

SH3 0.5 km north of Te Kuiti airfield. 

Reserve of 280 hectares with several wetland areas. Established walking tracks and active Matarangi Settlement and Rings Beach. predator and wilding pine control. Endangered fernbird and kiwi are present. Rings Beach Wetland Group www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to- go/coromandel/places/whangapoua-and-matarangi- Coastal Wetland area/tracks/matarangi-bluff-track/ 

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