Lake Waikaremoana Track is a top multi-day trek in New Zealand.

Lake Waikaremoana Track is one of three New Zealand's Great Walks situated on the North Island. Read our hiking guide on how to trek around Lake Waikaremoana, where to stay, how to make your reservation, what to pack, and how to get to the trailhead and from the end of the hike by boat. This post simply covers everything you need to know before hiking Lake Waikaremoana Track.

Lake Waikaremoana Track in Te Urewera protected area was one of the least crowded hikes we've done in New Zealand, which was quite surprising as this trek belongs among the Great Walks - the country's premier multi-day hikes.

What we could see, the hike is more popular among local people, who love to stay longer on the lake's shore and combine the hike with hunting or fishing.

The trek walked us around and above one of the most beautiful lakes we've seen in New Zealand, Waikaremoana lake, and we could not be happier to enjoy the amazing views, and hiking in the moist dripping forest, especially when we knew that almost 15 months spent in the country are coming to an end.

If you plan on hiking Lake Waikaremoana Track, it is better to come well prepared.

That's why we’ve created this ultimate hiking guide with tips on how to get to the lake, where to stay, what to pack, and we also outlined our itinerary you are free to follow.

Lake Waikaremoana Track is one of the best treks in Nothern Island in New Zealand.

HOW TO GET TO LAKE WAIKAREMOANA

There is no public transport going regularly to Lake Waikaremoana, so you can either travel by your car or book a private transport service.

We lived in New Zealand for more than a year, so we had our own car, but if you are traveling in the country only for a couple of weeks, the best way how to get around is by rental car.

Renting a car is very popular in New Zealand among international traveler, and you will find many rental car companies on both North and South Island.

We traveled to Lake Waikaremoana from Napier, when we also did last-minute shopping for the hike, and via Wairoa and Frasertown we connected to SH38 road which continues around the lake.

You can also easily get to Lake Waikaremoana after visiting Rotorua. Head south in direction to Waiotapu and turn left to SH 38.

Please note, that almost 90 kilometers stretch of the road between Murupara and Aniwaniwa has a gravel surface, so you need to drive slowly, but it is not necessary to have 4WD.

We drove late in the evening when it was dark already, and it was no fun.

When hiking either one-day or multi-day trek, you can leave your car for free in the following carparks: Waikaremoana Motorcamp, DOC Visitor Centre, and Byre B&B.

If you do not have a car, your best bet to get to Lake Waikaremoana is to arrive in Wairoa, and from there take a shuttle bus. It is necessary to reserve the shuttle bus in advance, especially during offseason when boat taxis and shuttle buses operate on demand. You can search for the shuttle service online, the taxi usually costs NZD 50 per person roundtrip, or you can request the transport via this e-mail.

Lake Waikaremoana Track is a popular trek among Kiwis in New Zealand.

WHERE TO STAY BEFORE LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK

Before you start the hike, you can stay either in Napier or Rotorua which are cities where you can find many hotels, shops, and restaurants, or you can spend a night in Wairoa, in case you will take a shuttle from there, or when you have own car, it is possible to sleep either in a camp near Lake Waikaremoana or in a small village Tuai, approximately 30 minutes from the water taxi pick up point.

We've picked the best and reasonably priced accommodation in every destination.

Napier | Edgewater Motor Lodge - Close to the Napier's city center, all rooms offer a sea view, guests have access to the outdoor pool, and rooms are clean and comfortable.

Rotorua | Aura Accommodation - Great location, heated pool, and friendly staff are the main reasons why this hotel has so many outstanding reviews.

Tuai | Ohuka Lodge - The cozy place is only a short drive from Lake Waikaremoana, and it is an amazing choice either before or after the hike.

Wairoa | The Tree Lodge - A very cute and private place where you will feel at home immediately.

Waikaremoana Lake | Waikaremoana Holiday Park - This campsite offers only powered or non-powered sites, so you can sleep here only if you have a campervan or a tent.

Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.

You need to rent a car to get to Lake Waikaremoana Track.

HOW TO GET TO LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK TRAILHEAD AND BACK

Both ends of Lake Waikaremoana Track (Onepoto Bay Shelter and Hopuruahine Landing) are accessible by boat, so it is necessary to reserve your water taxi well in advance - you can find online several companies operating boat services on Lake Waikaremoana (try this e-mail) and make a reservation directly.

The transfer usually costs NZD 50 one way. When booking the service, it is necessary to have already booked huts or campsites along the hike, so you can reserve the water taxi for exact dates.

WHERE TO STAY ON LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK

When hiking Lake Waikaremoana Track, you need to reserve accommodation, in case you plan on staying overnight.

You can find five huts and five campsites along the 46-kilometers path, and it is only up to you in how many days you'll be able to finish the hike (it was enough for us to stay two nights on this Great Walk). Both staying in a hut or a campsite offer basic conditions, but it is more comfortable to sleep in a hut, as you won't have to carry a tent and mattress.

You can choose from the following huts: Panekire Hut (standing on a hill offering the best views, that's why this one is often booked out first), Waiopaoa Hut, Marauiti Hut, Waiharuru Hut, and Whanganui Hut.

Campers can stay in the following campgrounds: Waiopaoa, Korokoro, Maraunui, Waiharuru, and Tapuaenui.

The only disadvantage of sleeping in the tent apart from carrying extra kilograms is that on the first day you need to walk 17 kilometers as there is no campground close to Panekire Hut.

Lake Waikaremoana Track is a moderately difficult trek in New Zealand.

HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION

Although it is possible to choose only a part of Lake Waikaremoana Track, and not to stay in Te Urewera protected area overnight (for example to walk only from Onepoto Shelter to Panekire Hut and back) most of the visitors opt for a multi-day trek, therefore, they need to make a reservation.

One night in hut costs NZD 32, and one night in campsite costs NZD 14, and you cannot use your Backcountry Hut Pass here (discount can be applied though).

Out of all Great Walks we've done in New Zealand, Lake Waikaremoana seemed to us the least popular, but we believe it is more well-known among Kiwis than among foreign visitors, and you should reserve your stay as soon as possible, especially when traveling in New Zealand in high season between November and March.

You can make your reservation via the official Department of Conservation website here.

TIPS ON HIKING LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK

Here are several tips you should know before hiking Lake Waikaremoana Track:

Although this hike is one of the least popular Great Walks, it is still necessary to book huts and campgrounds several months in advance, especially during New Zealand's hiking season from November to late March, especially if you are not flexible with your travel dates.

Weather in the area is quite unpredictable - it is often windy, and you should pack smartly as it can snow even in the summer.

Lake Waikaremoana Track is a one-way hike, so you can decide what direction you want to walk - it is possible to start either in Onepoto Bay in the south or Hopuruahine Landing in the north.

We never carried purifying pills or filtered water bottle when hiking in New Zealand, as there was always drinkable water in the huts or streams along the way, and we never had any troubles, so pack only a standard water bottle, and save space in your backpack.

If you can, we recommend you to book your first night in Panekire Hut - this place is truly amazing.

LAKE WAIKAREMOANA DAY WALKS

In case multi-day hikes are not your thing, and you prefer sleeping in comfort, but on the other hand, you still want to enjoy the best Lake Waikaremoana Track has to offer, it is still possible.

First off, it is still necessary to arrange water taxi and pick up and drop off time (and of course, pick up point).

The most popular one-day trip is from Onepoto Bay to Waiopaoa Hut. This section is the most strenuous, but you'll get here the best views of the lake from above.

Another good option would be hiking from Waiopaoa to Maranui via picturesque Korokoro Falls.

Lake Waikaremoana is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zeland and worth visiting even on a day trip.

LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK DIFFICULTY & DISTANCE

Lake WaikaremoanaTrack is 46 kilometers long hike, which should standardly take you three to four days to finish.

This is a one-way hike, and you need to get from each end by boat transport.

Unfortunately, as it is one of New Zealand's Great Walks, rules are a bit more strict, and you must decide in advance whether you'll stay on the trail two or three nights (or more), and you cannot adjust your plans according to your momentary pace, mood or weather.

When it comes to difficulty, we would say that is easy to moderately difficult hike.

The hardest is the first day as you have to climb all the way up to Panekire Hut, but from this point, the trek goes downhill and later continue mostly on a flat path.

You can follow our Lake Waikaremoana Track itin

LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK ITINERARY

What we liked about hiking in New Zealand was that we could plan our days as we wanted.

When we felt lazy as on the Abel Tasman Coast Track, we could take it slowly and spend on the trail four days or here when hiking around Waikaremoana lake we could walk a bit faster and make it in only two and half days.

Here's the exact itinerary we followed. You can either get inspired or figure out own itinerary which suits you better.

Day 1: Waikaremoana Holiday Park - Onepoto Shelter - Panekire Hut

We woke up early in the morning and had to rearrange our water taxi as the day before it was dark already, and we could not find campsite from where we booked the transport.

Luckily, it was not a problem, and around 10 AM a boat driver picked us up and drove us to Onepoto Bay Shelter. From here we started the hike to Panekire Hut, where we planned to spend the night.

The first day was the hardest, as we had to ascend about 600 meters, but the trail was quite entertaining as we had to climb across roots, and despite the fact, the almost whole trail led us in the forest, from time to time we had amazing views of Panekire Bluff.

When we started to feel quite tired, all of sudden, we emerged on clearing and spotted Panekire Hut.

We occupied two empty bunk beds, cooked a meal, and as it started to rain, we enjoyed being in a nice warm hut. After a while the rain ceased, the sun started to shine, and we got an amazing view of a double rainbow.

We slept the first night at Panekire Hut on Lake Waikaremoana Track.

Day 2: Panekire Hut - Marauti Hut

The second day, we started early, as we knew the weather is changeable in the area. The first section led us via beech, podocarp, and a Kamahi forest downhill, and in a couple of hours, we descended back to the lake's level.

If Lake Waikaremoana Track is your first hike in New Zealand, you will for sure be stunned by the greenery and the photogenic and moody forest (the atmosphere is even better after rain). We passed one hut, but carried on, as we had a reservation in Marauti for this night.

On the way, we took an hour-long detour to picturesque Korokoro Falls.

The trail easily gets muddy, so be careful if you are hiking when the weather is rainy for days. Even when it does not rain, the hike to the falls can be slippery, and there is one section where you should hold the rope as you need to cross a stream. We sat by the falls for quite a long time, as Martin was trying to take a picture without a tripod which was challenging.

Then we got back on the main trail which led us via forested sections and sections close to the lake's shore to the hut.

Day 3 - Marauti Hut - Hopuruahine Landing - Waikaremoana Holiday Park

The last day we had 17 kilometers ahead of us, and this time we had to walk faster because we needed to be at the landing on time for water taxi pick up.

This section was overall pretty, but nothing spectacular as we mostly walked in the forest and occasionally reached the lake's shore.

After some time we reached Hopuruahine Landing, where we had lunch, and waited with some more hikers for our water taxi back to Waikaremoana Holiday Park, where we picked up our car and returned to Napier.

Travel Insurance

We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.

Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.

SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.

Travel smarter and safer!

We hiked Lake Waikaremoana Track for three days.

WHAT TO PACK FOR LAKE WAIKAREMOANA TRACK

Weather in New Zealand is quite unpredictable, and when doing any multi-day hike, we always packed everything - layers, clothes for either hot or cold days, toiletries, and equipment for either sunny or rainy times.

It is essential to pack lightly, as you will carry everything on your back but concurrently smartly, so you will be ready for every type of weather and every situation.

Do not forget, that unlike many Great Walks, huts on Waikaremoana Trail do not have light, gas and toilet paper.

Here are several essential things you should pack when hiking the multi-day Lake Waikaremoana Track.

Sunscreen | Sunglasses for Him & for Her | Mosquito Repellent | Hand Sanitizer

The rule number one for hiking Lake Waikaremoana Track is to be ready for all types of weather.

Shorts for Him & for Her | Short-Sleeved T-Shirt for Him & for Her | Waterproof Jacket for Him & for Her | Fleece Jacket for Him & for Her

To make your multi-day hike more comfortable, make sure you have the following items:

Rucksack 30-40L for Him & for Her | Hiking Boots for Him & for Her | Hiking Poles | Rain Poncho

Here are packing essentials for sleeping in a hut or a tent.

When you sleep in a hut, you do not need a tent, mosquito net, and sleeping mat.

We've also created an in-depth Ultimate New Zealand Packing List where you can find more information and useful tips.

OTHER ACTIVITIES TO DO BY LAKE WAIKAREMOANA

In case hiking in the wilderness is not your favorite activity, you still can enjoy the beauty of Lake Waikaremoana, and either stay only on its shore and camp for a while, take boat rides or in case you have permission, you can fish or hunt here.

Travel Resources

Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.

Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.

We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.

Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.

Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.

Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.

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Hiking Guide to Lake Waikaremoana Track