Lake Waikaremoana

About

Lake Waikaremoana is located in Te Urewera in the North Island of New Zealand, 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Wairoa and 80 kilometres (50 mi) west-southwest of Gisborne. It covers an area of 54 square kilometres (21 sq mi). From the Māori Waikaremoana translates as 'sea of rippling waters'.

The lake lies within the tribal boundaries of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Ruapani and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa. The hamlet of Aniwaniwa and the Waikaremoana Holiday Park are located on the lakeshore, along SH38 (from Wai-O-Tapu via Murupara to Wairoa), which connects the lake to the central North Island (Rotorua) and Gisborne. There is a Department of Conservation office at Aniwaniwa. Several walks start here, including a short stroll to Āniwaniwa Falls.

The village of Onepoto is located on the lake's southern shores, close to the lake's old overflow channel and the intake of the Waikaremoana hydroelectric power scheme. The name Onepoto means short beach, and refers to the small bay to the north of the village with a beach only 60 metres (200 ft) long.

Lake Waikaremoana is a holiday destination for people who use the lake for fishing, tramping and other recreational activities. The Lake Waikaremoana Track, one of New Zealand's "Great Walks", is a three- to four-day tramp which follows approximately half of the lake's circumference. The track can be walked independently, or as part of a guided group. There are huts dotted on the walk which require booking to use. Camping is permitted unless you are more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the track.

The climate of the area is temperate In the summer and cool during the winters, snowfalls occur a few times a year in the region.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.