Wetlands open to the public in the Waikato Region of New Zealand The Waikato Region is a New Zealand The swards of rush-like plants found in the stronghold for wetlands. Region’s peat bogs are unique to the Waikato Wetland Management Agencies Southern Hemisphere. Two plants found only It has: in the Waikato are the giant cane rush Department of Conservation (Sporadanthus ferrugineus) and the www.doc.govt.nz threatened swamp helmet orchid, Anzybas 07 858 1000 • around 30 percent of the country’s carsei (also found in Australia). Other remaining wetlands, Environment Waikato threatened plants include a clubmoss , a • three of NZ’s six internationally www.ew.govt.nz hooded orchid and an insectivorous recognised (Ramsar) wetlands, 0800 800 401 bladderwort. • most of NZ’s rare peat lakes • the two largest freshwater wetlands in Around 25% of NZ’s Australasian bittern Auckland/Waikato the North Island, Fish and Game population and one of the largest populations • the nation’s biggest lake, www.fishandgame.org.nz • the longest river, and of North Island fernbird live in the 07 849-1666 • the largest river delta. internationally significant Whangamarino Wetland. It also contains an extraordinary diversity of wetland types including geothermal springs, Waikato wetlands are important habitats for alpine tarns, lowland swamps, estuaries, peat native fish including: lakes, and peat bogs. • threatened black mudfish that burrow An estimated 32,000 ha (25 percent of the deep into mud or under logs to survive pre-human extent) of freshwater wetlands dry spells for months at a time. remain in the Region, with most located in • threatened banded and giant kokopu the lowland areas in the Waikato, Matamata– Piako, Hauraki and Franklin Districts. • more common inanga, whose juveniles make up the bulk of the whitebait catch and are present in large numbers in Eleven threatened birds and 13 threatened wetlands connected to rivers. plant species live in Waikato wetlands; that’s almost a quarter of the Region’s threatened species in less than five percent of its land area. www.wetlandtrust.org.nz Waikato peat bog vegetation, 1 The Waikato Wetland Directory is sponsored by the Monica Peters Department of Conservation and a grant from the Norah Howell Charitable Trust. Published Feb 2010 Wetlands to visit in the Waikato Region Description/ special Name / type 1 Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information features Info Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. centre shooting scenic panels bird hide area Miranda, Firth RAMSAR wetland of Thames www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz/ Thousands of migratory wader birds over summer One hour from Auckland. From State Intertidal mudflats Highway 1 south of Bombay take SH 2 Information, lodge and heading east towards Thames, turn education centre left at Mangatangi Road, take Miranda Road, then left into East Coast Road. Information centre is about 3 km up East Coast Road Dramatic geothermal Waiotapu landscape with world- Entrance fee applies Geothermal famous champagne pool, geysers, bubbling mud, www.geyserland.co.nz/index.htm steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters 27 kilometres (20 minutes drive) Geothermal lake and sinter terrace south of Rotorua on SH5 and springs formations. Formed walkways, interpretation boards. Operated as a commercial tourist attraction. 1 Must see Worth a special visit Worth a short detour Plan to visit if passing Short stop if passing 2 Fishing for freshwater fish and gamebird hunting in New Zealand requires a licence: see http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/ www.wetlandtrust.org.nz 2 Description/ special Name / type 1 Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information features Info Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. centre shooting scenic panels bird hide area Blue Springs Crystal clear springs and www.swktodc.govt.nz/district/district_ stream with extensive info/tewaihou.asp submerged aquatic plants in Freshwater springs a farmland setting. and headwaters of Leslie Road, Putaruru. From SH 1 Waihou River Emergence of water north of Putaruru turn right into percolated through the Whites Rd then right into Leslie Rd. Mamaku Plateau for 100 Parking area about 4 km from Whites years. Road. 10 min walk to springs, longer walk along river Lake Ngahewa Volcanic area with colourful www.newzealand.com/travel/sights- cliffs, steaming ground, and & Rainbow Mt activities/scenic-highlights/walks- crater lakes. Lake Ngahewa trails/scenic-highlight- has a range of birds and details.cfm/businessid/68763.html rare native mistletoe. Geothermal lake Walking track (30 mins return) past crater lakes and geothermal vegetation. 26 km south of Rotorua. From Rotorua, take SH 5 towards Taupo. Longer track (2 - 2.5 hours return) to summit for views The entrance is on the left off SH 5, over the steaming just past the turn-off to SH 38. Lake geothermal field and Lake Ngahewa is on the right, walkways on Ngahewa across the Rainbow Mt (views over Lake highway. Ngahewa) on left. www.wetlandtrust.org.nz 3 Description/ special Name / type 1 Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information features Info Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. centre shooting scenic panels bird hide area Lake Taupo NZ’s largest lake Commerical boat/ kayak/ Visit Taupo Information Centre for fishing tours information on attractions Various tourist attractions Explosion crater (Huka Falls, Aratiatia rapids, lake South Taupo wetlands kayaking and boating trips) Tautari Pest free sanctuary www.maungatrust.org/newsarchive/de fault.asp?article=1026 Wetland Adjacent to Maungatautari Ecological Island (pest-free Permission required to access, via locked Farm pond sanctuary). Existing ponds gate. Access from the end of Tautari Road, have been enhanced by Pukeatua, 20 mins west of Te Awamutu. planting and release of Contact Maungatuatari Ecological Island threatened species including Trust +64 7 823 7455 takahe and native fish. Further releases are planned, including tuatara and pateke (brown teal). www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and- Waihora Stunning setting, seasonal lagoon surrounded by tall recreation/tracks-and- Lagoon mature kahikatea forest. walks/waikato/maniapoto/pureora-walking- The water is stained dark tracks/ from tannins in leaves, Technically, this wetland is in the Manawatu Swamp forest and Region, but access is from SH32 in the giving the site a mysterious glade and serene quality. In dry Waikato Region, south of Mangakino. Turn onto Waihora Rd and travel some 3 km on a spells the lagoon dries to a damp meadow in a forest gravel road before turning left into the glade. Short, easy walk and Waihora Lagoon carpark. The lagoon is a boardwalk. Good forest 10 minute walk from the carpark. Note birdlife. access road may be in rough condition. www.wetlandtrust.org.nz 4 Description/ special Name / type 1 Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information features Info Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. centre shooting scenic panels bird hide area Whangamarino Ramsar wetland 50 km driving trail beings at Te Walkways and information Kauwhata, driving anti-clockwise centre planned. around wetland. See local visitor centre for Whangamarino and Peat bog, LakeWaikare Wetland Trail or print mineralised swamp Wetland driving trail (copy from National Wetland Trust website: on NWT website or local www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/Visiting_wetl information centres) ands.html Howarth Pond with extensive exotic Memorial (deciduous for fall colour) and native plantings. Te Aroha. Turn off Waihou Rd into Reserve Habitat for wild game birds. Stanley Ave and then into Spur St for Perimeter walk (about 1 the main entrance . hour) easy family stroll. Hot Freshwater swamp, pools nearby for after walk flood plain soak. Lakes Kainui, Small peat lakes connected www.ew.govt.nz/ Follow the rivers, by short drain. Community lakes and wetland link under Kaituna & restoration project largely Environmental Information to ‘peat Komakorau driven by landowners. lakes.’ Mown walkways Contact Department of Conservation Peat lakes Teacher resource kit, school for the Teacher Resource kit: 07 858 visits by arrangement 1000 and for directions. Access via private land. Largest of the Waipa peat Lake Ngaroto www.ew.govt.nz/ Follow the rivers, lakes. Community lakes and wetland link under restoration project and Environmental Information extensive re-planting. Peat lake Perimeter walkway (2 hrs) Access via Bank Road, off Paterangi Rd, north of Te Awamutu www.wetlandtrust.org.nz 5 Description/ special Name / type 1 Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information features Info Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. centre shooting scenic panels bird hide area L. Serpentine Peat lake complex. Peat bog www.ew.govt.nz/ Follow the rivers, restoration trials. Proposal lakes and wetland link under to fence and exclude all Environmental Information to ‘peat mammalian pests. Site of Shooting lakes.’ Peat lakes, proposed National Wetland in kahikatea swamp Centre – walkways, interp season forest Access off State Highway 2 south of panels and information Ohaupo, 20 mins from Hamilton, left centre planned. turn into gates Peat lake undergoing www.waiwhakareke.co.nz/ Waiwhakareke extensive restoration Horseshoe including replanting native Lake forest and wetland species. Baverstock Road, Hamilton. Heading Plans for predator fence and south on State