The Kaimai Range – One of New Zealand’s ‘Best Bush Tramping Gems’
The Kaimai Range is a very distinctive mountain range which separates the northern end of the western Bay of Plenty from the eastern Waikato and Thames Valley regions. It is the northern part of the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park which stretches 70 km from the Karangahake Gorge in a narrow, precipitous spine of volcanic ridges, down to the broad, flat reaches of the Mamaku Plateau near Rotorua. The range has similar volcanic origins to the Coromandel Range, which continues north on the same fault line. Altogether, it forms a magnificent tramping resource that is within easy reach of 1.5 million Kiwis and overseas visitors.
Some parts of the range present a very rugged profile and the broken country along the flanks can be off-putting. However, the positive benefits of tramping in this area are; the relatively low average height of 800 metres, the reasonably dependable mild climate, luxuriant bush and clean bush streams with plunging waterfalls. The area boasts a wide selection of short walks and multi-day tramps on over 300 km of tracks when the Mamaku region is included. To explore this truly great kiwi wilderness, you first need to obtain maps and brochures from visitor centres in either Tauranga, Paeroa, Te Aroha or Matamata. Once you have worked out your ‘plan of attack’, then it is simply a matter of travelling from these towns along access roads that run directly into and around the park to connect with well-marked tramping tracks.
Many of the tramps, especially those around the Te Aroha Area, are day walks which encompass a wide variety of scenery. There are many tracks in this area to suit all manner of tramper. From Te Aroha Domain, tracks lead to the summit of Mt Te Aroha, the highest point on the Kaimai Range (952m), which gives expansive with views over the whole central North Island on a clear day. After a long walk up the mountain, stop in and enjoy a hot mineral spa to relax those tired muscles at the Te Aroha Domain. The nearby Waiorongomai Valley has numerous relics of the gold mining days, including mines and shafts, water races, stamping batteries and iron tramway tracks. Only 15 minutes drive south from Te Aroha is the most historic trading route across the Kaimai Range where a steep track skirts around to the 153 metre high Wairere Falls. To the north only 30 minutes drive, is the Karangahake Gorge which has the start of the Waitewheta Track follows a kauri log tramline to old milling sites in the bush, passing rocky bluffs, deep gorges and waterfalls. This track brings you right back to the western flank of Mt Te Aroha and the track which comes over from the Waiorongomai Valley. Lesser walks rather than tramps include the lower and upper Domain Walks, the Reservoir Walk, the Tui Domain Walk, The Howarth Memorial Wetlands Loop Walk and the Whakapipi (Blad Spur) Lookout Walk just to mention a few.
So if you are contemplating a weekend or a week of tramping and want a region that has plenty of variety, then you cannot go past the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park. As an accommodation focal point for ready access to these splendid tramping areas, you cannot go past ‘Shaftesbury Glade Cottages’. These boutique, rustic yet luxury cottages provide all that the ‘avid tramping couple’ requires especially after a tiring days walking. The additional facilities of an outside bath with hot water provided by a wood fired boiler and a steam sauna make this accommodation place well suited to people who enjoy tramping. So find yourselves a free weekend, pack your 4WD boots and spend a couple of nights at ‘Shaftesbury Glade Cottages’ and enjoy what the Kaimais have to offer ‘the tramper’ in you.