Exploring the Ancient Totara Walk
The Totara Walk in Pureora Forest Park in Central Waikato, northwest of Taupō, provides an accessible window into New Zealand's ancient forest world. This short walking track winds through towering native trees that long predate human settlement, creating an immersive rainforest experience. The walk brings you face-to-face with some of the country's oldest living trees in a format suitable for most fitness levels.
Features and What to See
The 30-minute loop track begins at the Timber Trail entrance on Barryville Road, taking you through a cathedral of ancient podocarps. Towering tōtara, rimu, mātai, miro, and kahikatea trees dominate the canopy, with some specimens estimated at around 1,000 years old. The forest floor and tree trunks are covered in moss, lichen, and epiphytes, while native ferns create multi-hued layers of green.
Interpretative signs along the track identify native plant species and explain the forest ecosystem. The well-maintained path is wheelchair-accessible, making this one of the most reachable examples of an ancient forest in New Zealand. Creepers wind through the understory, and the dense canopy creates a cool, dim environment even on bright days.
Listen for the calls of tui, piwakawaka, kākāriki, tomtits, and robins moving through the canopy and understory. Early morning visits typically provide the best opportunities for bird activity.
A Conservation Victory
Pureora Forest Park became a focal point for New Zealand's conservation movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Native forest logging threatened these ancient trees until protesters occupied the forest in 1978, establishing tree platforms to prevent felling. The campaign succeeded in protecting the remaining old-growth forest, leading to the creation of the forest park.
The Totara Walk now preserves trees that survived both natural cycles and human threats. These ancient podocarps represent a forest type that once covered much of New Zealand's North Island, making the walk an important reminder of the country's ecological heritage and the efforts required to protect it.
Camping Nearby
The nearby Ngaherenga Campsite on Barryville Road provides a base for exploring the wider Pureora Forest Park. The campsite allows visitors to extend their time in the forest and experience the area at different times of day.
How to Get There
The Totara Walk is located on the northeast side of Pureora Forest Park, approximately 20 kilometres west of Taupo. From State Highway 30 between Te Kuiti and Mangakino, turn onto Barryville Road and follow it to the Timber Trail entrance, where the walk begins.
The track is well-signposted from the car park. Allow 30 minutes for the loop, though you can spend longer examining the forest details and reading the interpretative signs. The wheelchair-accessible path makes this walk suitable for visitors with varying mobility levels.
Other places to visit around Pureora Forest include Forest Tower, Vintage Equipment, Link Road, Historic Crawler Tractor and the Rimu Track.
