Enjoy views of rivers, lakes, wetlands and mountains, and learn about native species.
Whakamau ngā kanohi ki ngā awa, ngā roto, ngā rohe kōreporepo, ngā maunga. Whakaakona mai ki ngā momo kararehe hoki o ēnei wāhi.
Overview
Tirohanga whānui
2 days2 rā
Take in a range of this region’s unique and varied natural features. Hear insights from local experts on the many rivers that wind through the Waipā area; the lakes Te Koo Utu, Karāpiro and Ngā Roto; and the mountains Pirongia, Kakepuku and Maungatautari. To visit all stops on this itinerary, we recommend allowing 2 days. For best experience of the mobile tour, pack some earphones so you can easily hear the video stories while out and about.
Tirohia te ātaahua o tēnei rohe me ōna rawa katoa. Whakarongo ki ngā pūkōrero ā-rohe e kōrero ana mō ngā awa maha o te rohe o Waipā me ngā roto o Te Koo Utu, o Karāpiro me Ngā Roto, tae atu ki ngā maunga, ki Pirongia, Kakepuku me Maungatautari. Whakawāteahia te rua rā, kia haere koe ai koe ki ngā tūnga katoa i tēnei haerenga. Kia riro pai i ngā hua o te haerenga nei mā runga waea, kawea mai ētehi purutaringa kia rangona pai ai ngā kiriata whakamārama. He kōrero āpiti: He ataata kei tēnei haerenga e whakaatu ana i tā ētehi mātanga Pākehā titiro. Kia pai ai, whakamahia te putanga reo Pākehā o tēnei haerenga ā-waea.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Directions
Ngā tohutohu
Day 1: Ngā Roto
Te Rā 1: Ngā Roto
A
A
Head to the Ngā Roto Zone Overview (Ngā Roto Carpark)
Haere ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Ngā Roto (Te Tūnga Waka o Ngā Roto)
If you’re travelling from Te Awamutu Museum, allow a 10 minute drive to get to this first stop.
Mehemea e haere ana koe i Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu, whakawāteahia kia 10 meneti mō te taraiwa ki te tūnga tuatahi.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Cyclists: please travel anticlockwise from the south end of the lake.
Dogs on leash pleaseKaipahikara mā: Haere kōaro mai i te taha tonga o te roto.
Me here ngā kurī
Walk anticlockwise around the lake to Stop 1 (15 min)
Haere kōaro mā te taha tonga o te roto ki te Tūnga 1 (15 meneti)
B
B
Ngā Roto Stop 1 (Taurangamirumiru Pā)
Te Tūnga 1 Ngā Roto (Taurangamirumiru Pā)
Hear how the people who inhabited pā (Māori settlements) near Ngā Roto found the waters and shores to be plentiful in resources that could be used for food, building and clothing.
Whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō ngā tāngata i noho i ngā pā e tata ana ki Ngā Roto me tā rātou whakamahi i ngā rawa maha o ngā wai me ōna tahatika hei kai, hei hanga, hei mahi kākahu hoki.
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Continue walking around the lake to Stop 2 (15 min)
Whīkoi tonu i te taha o te roto ki te Tūnga 2 (15 meneti)
C
C
Ngā Roto Stop 2 (Ecology and Restoration)
Te Tūnga 2 ki Ngā Roto (Te Hauropi me te Whakahaumanu)
Learn about species of flora and fauna native to this peat lake and surrounding wetlands, then hear about the current lake restoration project.
Haere mai ki te ako i ngā koiora o ngāi tupu me ngāi kīrehe, taketake ake nō tēnei roto rei me ngā repo tūtata. Whakarongo hoki ki ngā kōrero mō te kaupapa whakahaumaru i te roto.
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Continue walking around the lake until you return to the carpark (30 min)Whīkoi tonu i te taha o te roto kia hoki rā anō koe ki te tūnga waka (30 meneti)
Drive to Pirongia (10 min)
Taraiwa atu ki Pirongia (10 meneti)
Day 1 Continued: Pirongia
Te Rā 1: Pirongia
D
D
Head to the Pirongia Zone Overview (Central Pirongia)
Haere ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Pirongia (Te Pokapū o Pirongia)
A picnic area with a view of the mountain Pirongia. From here you can also glimpse the Waipā River, which winds around the town.
He wāhi pikiniki e titiro atu ana ki te maunga o Pirongia. Atu i konei, ka kite hoki koe i te awa o Waipā e pikopiko haere ana i te taone.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Playground nearbyHe papa tākaro
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk south into town, to Stop 1 (<1 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga ki te tāone, ki te Tūnga 1 (<1meneti)
E
E
Pirongia Stop 1 (Granary)
Te Tūnga 1 ki Pirongia (Whare Witi)
Hear about about the cultural significance of Mangauika Stream: one of around 16 tributaries that meander down this side of the mountain Pirongia, to meet the Waipā River.
Whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō te hiranga ā-ahurea o te manga o Mangauika, tētehi o ngā kautawa 16 ka rere mai i ngā tahatah o te maunga o Pirongia, tūtaki atu ana ki te awa o Waipā.
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk to Aubin Close (5 min), where you will find Stop 4
Whīkoi ki te ara o Aubin (5 meneti), ka tūpono koe ki te Tūnga 4
F
F
Pirongia Stop 4 (Alexandra East Redoubt)
Te Tūnga 4 (Te Rāihe o Te Rāwhiti o Arekahānara)
Take in a view of the maunga (mountain) Pirongia and hear a traditional Māori account about its significance.
Tirohia te maunga o Pirongia, whakarongo anō hoki ki ngā pakiwaitara Māori e kōrero ana mō tōna hiranga.
Return to your carE hoki ki tō waka
Drive to Kakepuku Historic Reserve (22 min)
Taraiwa atu ki te Papa o Kakepuku (22 meneti)
Day 1 Continued: Kakepuku
Te Rā 1: Kakepuku
G
G
Head to Kakepuku Zone Overview (Kakepuku Historic Reserve)
Haere ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Kakepuku (Te Papa o Kakepuku)
Park at the carpark
Whakatūria tō waka i te tūnga waka
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
No dogs allowed on the reserveKāore e whakaaetia te kurī i te papa nei
Walk to Stop 2 (10 min)
Whīkoi ki te Tūnga 2 (10 meneti)
H
H
Kakepuku Stop 2 (A Changed Landscape)
Te Tūnga 2 ki Kakepuku (Te Huringa o te Whenua)
Take in a view of farmlands that were once lush wetlands, and across to Te Kawa mountain, from a lookout a short walk from the foot of Kakepuku.
Tirohia ngā pāmu i kapi katoa i te repo i tōna wā me te maunga o Te Kawa i tētehi tirohanga kāore noa e matara atu te whīkoi mai i te pūtake o Kakepuku.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Follow the track up the mountain, to Stop 3 (approx 30 min)
Whāia te ara piki i te maunga, ki te Tūnga 3 (tōna 30 meneti)
I
I
Kakepuku Stop 3 (Flora and Fauna Today)
Te Tūnga 3 ki Kakepku (Ngāi Tupu me Ngāi Kīrehe i Tēnei Rā)
Learn how conservation projects are helping wildlife, forests and waterways on and around Kakepuku.
Ako mai i ngā kōrero mō ngā kaupapa manaaki i ngā kararehe, i ngā ngahere me ngā wai, huri i te rohe o Kakepuku.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Continue following the track up the mountain, to stop 4 (approx 1 hr)
Whāia te ara piki i te maunga, ki te Tūnga 4 (tōna 1 hāora)
J
J
Kakepuku Stop 4 (Summit)
Te Tūnga 4 ki Kakepuku (Te Taumata)
Hear how the tūpuna (Māori ancestors) named this area Te Nehenehenui, for a great kahikatea forest that covered these lands.
Whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō te āhua o tā ngā tūpuna Māori tapa i tēnei rohe, i Te Nehenehenui mō te ngahere kahikatea nunui i tupu i ēnei whenua.
Walk back down the mountain (approx 1 hr)
Whīkoi i te ara heke i te maunga (tōna 1 hāora)
Day 2: Cambridge
Te Rā 2: Cambridge
K
K
Start at the Cambridge Zone Overview (Whitaker St Carpark)
Tīmata i te Tirohanga Whānui o Kēmureti (Te Tūnga Waka o Te Tiriti o Whitaker)
If you’re travelling from Te Awamutu Museum, allow a 30 minute drive to get to this first stop. Park in the car park.
Mehemea e haere ana koe i te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu, whakawāteahia kia 30 meneti mō te haere atu ki te tūnga tuatahi. Whakatūria tō waka i te tūnga waka.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Walk down to Lake Te Koo Utu, via the memorial gates at the Victoria St end of the lake (5 min)
Whīkoi ki te roto o Te Koo Utu mā ngā kēti whakamaumahara i te pito o te roto kei reira te tiriti o Victoria (5 meneti)
L
L
Cambridge Stop 1 (Lake Te Koo Utu)
Te Tūnga 1 ki Kēmureti (Te Roto o Te Koo Utu)
Experience the tranquil Lake Te Koo Utu, whose waters and shores once supported communities of hapū (Māori subtribes) and visiting guests.
Kia rongo koe i te āio o te roto o Te Koo Utu. Nā ōna wai me ōna takatika ngā hapū me ngā manuwhiri i ora ai.
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Return to the carparkE hoki ki te tūnga waka
Drive to the Cook St Reserve (4 min)
Tarawai atu ki te papa o te tiriti o Cook (4 meneti)
M
M
Cambridge Stop 4 (Riverbank)
Te Tūnga 4 ki Kēmureti (Te Takatika o Te Awa)
Walk across the 38-metre high Victoria Bridge (1907) and enjoy the views of the Waikato River.
Whakawhitihia te arawhata o Victoria e 38 mita te teitei me te titiro anō ki te awa o Waikato.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Drive to the Don Rowlands Centre (9 min)
Taraiwa ki te Don Rowlands Centre (9 meneti)
Day 2 Continued: Karāpiro
Te Rā 2: Karāpiro
N
N
Head to the Karāpiro Zone Overview (Mighty River Domain)
Tīmata i te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Karāpiro (Mighty River Domain)
Park in the carpark beside the Podium Cafe.
Whakatūria tō waka i te tūnga waka kei te taha o te Podium Café
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Playground nearbyHe papa tākaro
Swimming zones nearbyHe wāhi kaukau
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Swimming zones nearbyHe wāhi kaukau
Walk south along Te Awa trail to Stop 1 (2 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga i te ara o Te Awa ki te Tūnga 1 (2 meneti)
O
O
Karāpiro Stop 1 (A Unique Landscape)
Te Tūnga 1 ki Karāpiro (He Whenua Ahurei)
From this vantage point on the shore of Lake Karāpiro and beneath the mountain Maungatautari, learn how the land and water bodies of Waipā were shaped by geological events in the distant past.
Ka ako koe i tēnei taha o te roto o Karāpiro i raro iho i te maunga o Maungatautari ngā kōrero mō te āhua o te waihangatanga o te whenua me ngā wai o Waipā e ngā pāpono ā-nuku i ngā rā o uki.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Continue walking south along Te Awa trail, to Stop 4 (18 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga tonu i te ara o Te Awa, ki te tūnga 4 (18 meneti)
Karāpiro Stop 4 (Maungatautari Mountain)
Te Tūngā 4 ki Karāpiro (Te Maunga o Maungatautari)
Learn about flora and fauna conservation on Maungatautari, and discover the spiritual and historical importance of the maunga (mountain).
Ka ako koe i ngā kōrero mō ngā kaupapa whakahaumanu i a ngāi tupu me ngāi kīrehe i runga i a Maungatautari, ā, tūhuratia hoki te whai tikanga o te taha wairua me te taha hītori o te maunga.
