Pureora Forest

Pureora Forest Park straddles the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges between Lake Taupo and Te Kuiti. It is a hidden wonderland of tall trees, clear rivers and rare wildlife.
Location
Pureora Forest Park lies between Te Kuiti, Taumaranui and Lake Taupo and is easily accessed by SH 30 and SH 32.

Maps and I recently visited Pureora Forest - we liked it so much we're returning this week and aim to walk to the top of Mount Puriora (Maps assures me it's an easy 2 1/2 hour trek - I'll let you know if we make it!).
We are lucky today to be able to visit Pureora Forest and see the ancient native trees like Totara. It is only due to the efforts of people in the 1970's that the forest still exists. In 1978 protestors occupied the treetops of Pureora Forest in a bid to protect the native forest from logging. Their actions were successful and the government eventually ended native forest logging in the Park. You can listen then local MP Ian Shearer expressing his concern over the logging plans here and here you can read a story of tramping in Puriora.

One of the things you can do in the Park is climb a forest tower and be among the treetops like the protestors would have been in the seventies. It's 12 m high and only a 10 min walk from Bismark Road car park. You can hear & see the native birds calling from the tower - it's a great view.