Lake Waikaremoana is a place I grew up visiting as a kid. Both my parents actually helped build a lot of the hiking tracks in this area so it’s a pretty special place to me.
We arrived just after midday to the main campsite which after driving through vigorously windy roads and then a further 1.5hours on unsealed road is a beautiful sight. This place remains fairly untouched as it is very remote and isolated. We hired a chalet for the night due to time restrictions Which is a great choice if you are in a small group as they come equipped with a fridge and cooker. Also since the air can be very very cold all year around it’s a great place to take refuge at night with a hot cup of tea.
The walk starts at the main lake (Waikaremoana) and stretches through dense native New Zealand bush rising up to 300m in altitude. It’s really something walking along a track knowing you will more than likely not bump into anyone along the way. The air is fresh, the colours are vibrant and when you get to Lake Waikareiti the view is breath taking. The lake itself is crystal clear and you can walk out at least 200meters without in gaining any depth. Once back at our chalet at the main lake we opted for a few smaller walks to some historic native trees and different views of the lake. Definitely take warm clothes and if you want to get food from the store it closes at 6pm so be aware of that too.
Lake Waikaremoana is often referred to by Tūhoe people in the saying ‘Ko Waikaremoana te wai kaukau a ngā tīpuna’ (Waikaremoana, the bathing waters of the ancestors).
The following story is about the formation of the lake…
There once lived a rangatira named Māhu. He had many children. Māhu and his family lived at Waikotikoti on the shores of Lake Wairaumoana. One day Māhu told his daughter Haumapuhia (Hau) to go and fetch water from a certain spring. Hau refused. Enraged, her father drowned her and threw her body into the waters, where she was transformed into a monster, or taniwha.
After this, Māhu left the region. Haumapuhia remained in the spring at Wairaumoana, but she longed to reach the sea. She tried to go northward, but the Huiarau range prevented her; she tried to go east but failed again. Her attempts to force her way to the sea gouged out and formed Lake Waikaremoana (sea of rippling waters). Her final effort formed the outlet to the lake at Onepoto. It was here that Hau was overtaken by daylight, exhausted. She remains to this day in the form of a rock, with the waters of the lake running through her body.
source : http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/hawkes-bay-places/page-12
by Ben Clement
benclementphoto.com
