Tourism in North King Country The North King Country is home to a world-renowned tourist attraction – the Waitomo Caves which is famous for its underground experiences. These caves have been explored by visitors for over 100 years. Waitomo’s unique underground limestone formations that were 30 million years in the making stand as one of New Zealand's most inspiring natural wonders and a must-see destination. The caves are well known for their stalagmite and stalactite displays, which adorn the massive subterranean caverns. Many of the caves also feature millions of glowworms that are unique to New Zealand. The magnificent glow-worm displays are a sought after experience. Adventure tourism is also available in abundance. Black water rafting, Figure 1 - Tumutumu Toobing, Waitomo Caves abseiling, and underground flying foxes are a few of the amazing choices this district has to offer.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves1 The Waitomo Glowworm Caves were first explored in 1887 by local Maori Chief Tane Tinorau and the English surveyor Fred Mace. In 1889 Tane Tinorau had opened the cave to tourists and in 1906 the administration of the cave was taken over by the government. In 1989 the land and the cave was returned to the descendants of the original owners. The Waitomo glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light in the caves.
Ruakuri Cave Ruakuri, or 'den of dogs', was first discovered by local Maori between 400 and 500 years ago. It takes its name from the wild dogs that made their home in the cave entrance. Newly reopened after an interval of 18 years, Ruakuri cave offers a captivating blend of Waitomo's most compelling subterranean experiences. The cave begins with a spiral descent from ground level via an incredible drum entrance and a 1.6 km walk underground.
1 http://www.waitomo.com/
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Figure 2 – Ruakuri Cave Figure 3 – Aranui Cave
Aranui Cave Aranui Cave is set in the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, 5 minutes drive from the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. It is named after Ruruku Aranui, the local Maori man who first discovered this previously hidden gem back in 1910. Aranui has a natural cave entrance and is the smallest and most delicate of Waitomo's three main caves. As a dry cave without a river running through it, it houses very little life past its entrance. However, just inside the entrance is a colony of native New Zealand cave wetas and further into the cave is the most beautiful collection of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and decorative formations. Aranui is a magical, mystical place that is steeped in Maori myth and legend. As such, it occupies a very special place in the hearts of the people of the Waitomo district.
Black Water Rafting Black water rafting, or cave tubing, involves the use of an inflated rubber inner tube as a flotation device to take people down river. Tours start with a spider-like descend into the black depths of Ruakuri Cave, followed by abseiling the breathtaking tomo, climbing, tight rock squeezes and cave tubing down the river.
2 Kiwi House and Native Bird Park2 The Kiwi House and Native Bird Park is owned and operated by the Otorohanga Zoological Society Inc, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of New Zealand’s native wildlife through education, display and breeding programmes. A wide variety of native birds (morepork, pukeko, pied stilts, plover, kaka, kea and kakarikis) and reptiles (geckos and Tuataras) are on display, with kiwi being displayed in special viewing houses that simulate the kiwi’s nocturnal world. The landscaped gardens throughout the park display a range of New Zealand’s native plants and shrubs.
Otorohanga, the Kiwiana Town3 Otorohanga is New Zealand's self-styled and official Kiwiana Town, embracing and celebrating New Zealand's popular culture, Kiwiana icons, heroes and traditions. Otorohanga has year round displays of Kiwiana "mini Figure 4 – Buzzy Bee exhibits" in main street shop windows, large corrugated iron Kiwis at the town's entrances and Kiwiana murals on a number of the main street buildings. At the town's northern entrance the Memorial Park features a sculpted bronze bowler hat on a greenstone (Pounamu) plinth, which commemorates and explains the origins of The King Country "Te Rohe Potae".
Te Kuiti, the Shearing Capital4 Te Kuiti is New Zealand's Shearing Capital. A giant statue of a shearer at the southern end of Rora Street (the main street) is a testament to this claim. Each year the town hosts The New Zealand Shearing Championships (March 31- April 2). With champion shearers capable of shearing a sheep in just 21 seconds, spectators can expect fast and furious action as these top sportsmen vie for the coveted "New Zealand Shearer of the Year" title. Another highlight of the championships is the "Running of the Sheep” where some 2000 sheep run the length of Te Kuiti's main street and shopping centre. Te Kuiti's main street, Rora Street, features The Trust Waikato Millennium Pavilion "Te Kuititanga o nga Whakaaro" ("the gathering of thoughts and ideas"). This small multi-cultural building shaped in Figure 5 – Shearer Statue, Te Kuiti
2 http://www.kiwihouse.org.nz/ 3 http://www.kiwianatown.co.nz/ 4 http://www.waitomo.org.nz/waitomo-region-facts.asp
3 the form of a cross is open at all times and celebrates the local people, their heritage and history. A beautifully carved Maori meetinghouse, "Tokanganui-a-Noho", is located at the southern end of the main shopping street and can be visited by arrangement.
Parks, Reserves and Walking Tracks Waitomo Walkway5 offers a walk through classic limestone country where sculptured rocks, fluted outcrops, gorges, arches and tunnels are a natural and fascinating part of the landscape Ruakuri Scenic Reserve6 is a place of strong cultural and spiritual significance to Maori. The walk includes the Ruakuri natural tunnel, which provides an unusual 'inside' view of the stream and tunnel entrance. Mangapohue Natural Bridge, a 17-metre high limestone arch, which spans the Mangapohue stream, is all that remains of the ancient cave system. Hidden in the limestone outcrops is a 30 million year old fossilised oysters. Hillary Walkway in Otorohanga was opened on Friday 12th December 2008. The walkway situated between the ANZ bank on Maniapoto St and Kings Sports World on Wahanui Corner, houses 14 Kiwiana modules. Modules on display in the walkway feature Kiwi heroes and icons such as the All Blacks, Sir Edmund Hillary, Aunt Daisy and Bruce McLaren along with Buzzy Bee and the pavlova. Five of the modules have audio boxes Pureora Forest Park7 lies between Te Kuiti, Taumaranui and Lake Taupo and is easily accessed by SH 30 and SH 32. Figure 6 – King Country Walkway The park offers walking tracks ranging from 30 minutes to 8 hours tramping, including The Buried Forest; Treetop Protest Site; Forest Tower; Pouakani Totara Tree; and Old Crawler Tractor. Marokopa Falls. At 30 metres high these spectacular falls are often described as the most beautiful in the country! The falls can be viewed either from a lookout on the road or from a platformed area. Tawarau Forest tramping tracks8. Tawarau Forest is west of the Waitomo Caves. It's approximately 24 km from Waitomo to Speedies Rd and 26 km to Were Rd. There are
5 http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/waikato/maniapoto/waitomo- walkway/ 6 http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/waikato/maniapoto/ruakuri-walk/ 7 http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/waikato/maniapoto/pureora-forest- park/
4 three tracks, each lasting about three hours - Tawarau Falls Loop Track; Gorge Track; and Double Falls Track. Other public reserves are located throughout the region including Te Nau Nau Reserve (Mokau Foreshore) adjacent to the Tasman Sea, and the Tainui-Wetere Domain adjacent to the Mokau River.
Hunting and Fishing Hunting Within the North King Country there are many blocks available for recreational hunting. The area is characterised by a mosaic of forest and farmland hill country with a total hunting area on public conservation land of approximately 140,300 ha. Hunting areas are located in Pureora Forest Park and in Panirau and Waitawhena Reserves to the south of Pureora Forest Park. Hunting is mainly focused on deer (Rangitoto and Hauhungaroa Ranges); pigs (Whareorino and Tawarau Forests and throughout the Hauhungaroa Range); an goats (Waitewhena and Panirau Forests).
Fishing Both freshwater and saltwater fishing are available in the area. Freshwater fishing, especially trout, is available along many of the local rivers including Waipa River, Awakino River, Oparau River, Awaroa River, Kiritehere Stream, Waikawau River, Marokopa River, Lower Tawarau River, Mangaohae Stream/Upper Tawarau River, Mangaotaki River and Mokau River. Whitebait fishing is also very popular especially in the Mokau River area. Saltwater fishing and deep-sea game fishing, are also possible along the Tasman Sea coastline and the harbours including the Kawhia Harbour and Aotea Harbour.
Figure 7 - Fisherboy in Mokau
8 http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/waikato/maniapoto/tawarau- tramping-tracks/
5 Access to out-of-region Tourist Attractions North King Country is within close proximity to some of the best outdoor recreational areas in New Zealand, Tongariro National Park, Lake Taupo and Lake Rotoprua. Tongariro National Park9 was established in 1887, the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a dual World Heritage area, a status that recognizes the park's important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. The park most well known track is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track, which passes over varied and spectacular volcanic terrain including a cold mountain spring, lava flows, an active crater, steam vents, emerald- coloured lakes and magnificent views. Not far is Mt Ruapehu with its amazing volcanic terrain is combined with permanent snow and glaciers to provide for a rare and beautiful climb. One of the highlights is a climb to the Ruapehu crater from where you can gaze down into the geothermal waters of the Crater Lake. Ski and snowboarding is available during the winter season at Mt Ruapehu and Ohakuni ski fields. Lake Taupo region10 is part of the volcanic wonderland which stretches from White Island to Tongariro National Park. The lake itself is the largest fresh water lake in Australasia, created by the world's largest volcanic eruption of the past 5,000 years). It is surrounded by spectacular steaming cliffs, geysers, boiling lakes, bubbling mud pools and Figure 8 - New Zealand North Island floating pumice rocks. Taupo offers a wide range of attractions and tours for all ages and interests including the Huka Prawn Park, and the Tongariro Trout Centre, tandem and skydiving, bungy jumping, and other extreme sports. Lake Rotorua11 region captures the best of New Zealand all in one place. You can experience Maori culture, geothermal earth forces, spa rejuvenation, thrills and adventure, or any of the other natural assets like 16 lakes, some of the world's best mountain biking trails, fantastic trout fishing and a myriad of forest walking tracks.
9 http://www.nationalpark.co.nz/ 10 http://www.laketauponz.com/index.html 11 http://www.rotoruanz.com/
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