Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge

Walk #193, 9th April 2026

Te Koutu Lake, or ‘Lake Te Koo Utu” is located in the town of Cambridge. The name of the lake loosely translates as ‘to scoop up water.’ The trees and gardens were established in the 1880s. There are two tracks, the upper track leads to a rotunda, recreation area and conservatory while the lower track goes around the lake.

The lake was formed indirectly from the last major eruption of Lake Taupo around 1800 years ago, when tonnes of debris swept down the Waikato River and blocked off many side streams. Here, water backed up behind the debris dam and formed this small lake.

In the 1880s the Cambridge Domain Board took responsibility for the area. Gradually they converted the gorse and manuka covered land into a park filled with chestnuts, elms and gum trees. Carp and catfish were let loose in the lake and white swans were released too but failed to establish.

It’s a good place to break the journey between Auckland and Rotorua. The best times to visit would be May when the trees are turning red and golden, our walk on April 9th was a bit early for that. The other time is summer when the water lilies are out.

Walk: Waikato 9

Links

There’s a lovely statue of a horse and foal in Victoria St, Cambridge

Cambridge Museum: Mare and Foal

Equine find in Town Hall

Jubilee Park, Hamilton

Walk #171, 10th September 2025

Jubilee Park, known locally as Claudelands Bush, is a tiny bush remnant of what was a 200-hectare forest, dominated by Kahikatea, Rimu and Matai. Development has seen the forest shrink over the years to its current size, with some of the remaining trees part of the original forest.

The park is also home to the endangered long tailed bat, the pekapeka, one of New Zealand’s only mammals.

Walk: Hamilton 17

Links

Long tailed bats: Andrew Styche, from the Department of Conservation (DOC), thinks bats have mostly survived in Hamilton thanks to tiny islands of remnant bush within the city limits.

“There’s not much original vegetation left around here so it is amazing they’ve survived,” Andrew says.

Urban bats: Long-tailed bats thriving in Hamilton

History

From the signboard, the land was originally a renowned native bird forest hunting area. The first inhabitants of the area were the Mokohape, a sub-tribe of an extensive tribal group known as Nga Iwi (the people). They were replaced by Tainui people from Mokau and Kawhia.

In the 1800s battles were fought against Te Rauparaha from the west, Ngapuhe from the north and then the British in the Waikato land wars of the 1860s.

With European settlement, Francis Claude subdivided the land in 1870 and the suburb became known as Claudelands.

The Mokohape

Mokohape refers to a figure depicted on carved pou (posts) outside a casino in Hamilton, New Zealand, which represents a tribe of the Nga Iwi people who once lived on the Waikato River before being conquered by Ngaati Wairere, who occupied the land from since the mid to late 16th century.

The pou features a carved face and a lizard, symbolizing the Mokohape people’s struggle for survival and eventual displacement, an event captured by the proverb,“People may disappear but the land remains.” Source: Google AI

The ancient name of the Waikato River

The ancient name of the Waikato river was ‘Te Awanui O Taikehu,’ meaning the big river of Taikehu.

I wonder if it’s the same Taikehu who was the chief of a Taranaki tribe living at Patea Heads when the Aotea canoe arrived? The Patea River was also named ‘Te Awa nui a Taikehu.’ According to Tainui tradition Taikeu was a a tohunga of the Tainui waka. There are a few placenames associated with this name; the full name of Motutapu Island – the island east of Auckland is ‘Motutapu-o-Taikehu,‘ the sacred island of Taikehu. There’s also a lake Taikehu in the Bay of Plenty between Whakatane and Kawerau.

Maungatautiri Ecological Island, Waikato

Walk #169, 23rd May 2025

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is an ancient volcano in the central Waikato. It’s the largest predator-fenced eco-sanctuary in the world.

The mountain has been recognised as a reserve since 1912. In 2001, the community came together to form the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) with the goal to restore and protect Maungatautari’s ecosystem. In 2002, the fence build got under way and by 2004 all mammals were eradicated from the initial two enclosures. The mountain is now completely enclosed by a pest-proof fence.

Our walk was through the Northern enclosure. We didn’t hear any birds, they are spread out over 3400 hectares and the forest is very old and tall. The only native bird we did see was a Kingfisher (Kotare) sitting on a fence post on our way in.

You have to park your car at the Maungatautiri Marae and walk for about 45 minutes to get to the actual walk, and the last part is steep. There’s a rope to help you up if needed. The walk inside the enclosure is about 35 minutes. So budget about two hours of time for the walk including the ‘there and back.’

History

The area has a long history of settlement. The first inhabitants, the indigenous Ngāti Kahupungapunga people, were annihilated by the Maori Raukawa tribe before the 16th century. The Tainui tribes Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Wairere, Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Korokī still own lands on the slopes.

Walk: Waikato 10

Links

Te Ara, Story: Waikato places

Sanctuary Mountain, Maungatautiri

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“We are the largest predator-fenced eco-sanctuary in the world. A little fun fact: We are as big as Uluru in Australia and 10 times the size of Central Park [in New York],” SMM general manager Helen Hughes said.

Over the years, Maungatautari has become a sanctuary for endangered birds, native wildlife and plants.

Last year, SMM wrote history when it became home to a kākāpō population. It was the first time, kākāpō had been living on the mainland in 40 years.” Source: Waikato Herald, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari on the brink of closure due to financial struggle

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Kingfisher / Kotare

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Ngati Kahupungapunga | Some 400 years ago, they occupied all of the valley of the Waikato from Huntly to Taupo and Rotorua. They had many settlements along the Waikato River, including Karapiro.

Related walks:

Lake Okataina, Rotorua Lakes District

Mount Pohaturoa, Atiamuri

Hakarimata Reserve, Huntly

Yarndley’s Bush, Waikato

Walk #142, 6th December 2024

This small patch of bush near Te Awamutu is a tiny remnant of the Kahikatea forests that once covered the Waikato Basin. From the sign on the walk I read that today only 3.5% of the forests remain. There are 4922 forest fragments. A few are larger areas, but most are less than 25 hectares.

The only birds in the reserve are the more common tui, fantail and grey warbler.

The Kahikatea, more like a pine tree with its straight white trunk, was named “white pine.” It wasn’t any good for house timber, instead the wood was used for things like butter boxes.

Walk: Waikato 24

Links

Yarndley’s Bush, Te Awamutu

Hakarimata Reserve,Huntly

Walk #134 12th September 2024

Hakarimata Reserve is in the hills between Ngaruawahia and Huntly. The range of hills, Haakari-kai-mata (shortened to Hakarimata) was named after an abundance of food from a feast held between the Waikato people and nearby Ngāti Maniapoto.

The reserve has one of the largest kauri trees in the Waikato which somehow escaped the axe and a beautiful kauri grove. The trees are on the Kauri Loop track.

According to local lore Ngāti Kahupungapunga were said to be the people that populated the area around Ngāruawāhia/Karakariki. The original name of the Hākarimata is a denotion to these people, it originally was called whāwhāpunga – or pungapunga whāwhā – this was one of the many caverns of the Kahupungapunga people. There were remnants of these people who lived in caverns out west towards Te Pahu also.

Walk: Waikato 14

Links

Kauri Loop Track

The Haakarimata Ranges

Hamilton Gardens

Walk #122, 26th April 2024

Hamilton Gardens is a public garden which, for now, is free to enter. The 54-hectare park is based on the banks of the Waikato River. There are 18 themed gardens to wander through.

It’s definitely worth a return visit but car parking could be a problem, the car park was full when we arrived.

Walk: Waikato 16

Links

Hamilton Gardens

Explore 18 themed gardens that reflect the history, context and meaning of gardens over 4,000 years.

NZ Gardens Trust

Te Parapara is New Zealand’s first traditional Maori garden. It showcases traditional practices, materials and ceremonies relating to food production and storage, drawn from the knowledge of local Maori which has been passed down the generations.

The World’s Only Traditional Māori Garden Was Made From Memories …
Once gardens, then a garbage dump, then back to gardens.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/maori-garden

Hamilton Gardens, 100% pure NZ

Lake Ngaroto, Waikato

Walk #115, 31 January 2024

Lake Ngaroro is a peat lake in the Waipa district of Waikato. It’s ten minutes from Pirongia or Te Awamutu.

The lake is surrounded by farmland. When European farmers drained the swamps for pasture they pulled rata, kahikatea and totara logs out of the ground. The logs were all found lying in the same direction and it was quite likely the trees were knocked over by the Taupo eruption of 233 AD.

The path around the lake is easy and well maintained with some interesting info boards.

I liked the fish ladder and the planting that’s been done around the lake to improve water quality. It took me an hour and twenty minutes to walk around the lake.

Walk: Waikato 25

History

Battle of Hingakaka

This battle was the largest ever fought in NZ with an estimated 16,000 warriors involved. It took place between 1790 and 1807, before muskets. The war between Maori tribes was caused by a dispute over the fish harvest.

Episode 39: Hingakaka – the biggest battle in NZ Ever!

Uneuku

Maori buried their taonga (treasures) in swamps to protect them from being pillaged. Uenuku is one such treasure, found in the lake area and now cared for at the Te Awamutu Museum.

The Maori maintain Uenuku was a rainbow god and it was carried into battle before being buried in the swamp surrounding Lake Ngaroro. They claim it’s the only one of it’s kind. However, two such pou (poles) were said to be on Mount Pirongia, the home of the Patupairehe. They would have long rotted out, this one was preserved by the swamp.

Is the artifact Maori or did it belong to earlier people?

Is Te Uenuku really ‘unique’?

Links

Interestingly, for those who say the Moriori never were in NZ, the Moriori also have a god called Ouenuku. This confirms for me that the Moriori were in NZ first, which is what I was told as a child. Source: Tangata Whenua

Te Uenuku (Pt2)

Uenuku transferred to Te Awamutu Museum

Pā of Lake Ngāroto

Ebook, THE OLD FRONTIER

Huka Falls Walk

Walk 28, Huka Falls Walk, 23 Jan 2020

Huka Falls is a popular waterfall to visit. The clear blue \ green water thunders through a narrow gap and roars over a spectacular three metre drop at 200,000 litres per second.

Huka means to foam or froth.

We started the walk from Spa Park . The start of the walk began near a popular swimming hole where a hot spring joins the Waikato River.

Walk: Taupo 35

Links

Huka Falls – Lake Taupō, New Zealand – He iti kōwhao waka e tahuri te waka!

A little water through the lashing-hole shipwrecks the canoe!

A story about the explorer Tamatea going over the falls.

Miranda Shorebird Centre

Walk 16 – Miranda Shorebird Centre, 21 April 2019

Miranda on the Firth of Thames is a wetland of international significance. It’s a really important place for migratory birds as it’s part of the East Asian Australasian flyway.

Miranda Shorebird Centre

Birds like the Godwit make a non-stop 11,000 km flight from Siberia. Godwits are not big gliding birds, they flap their wings the whole way. There are many different kinds of shorebirds here, but Godwits are my favourite.

The shell banks are unusual – they’re a succession of beach ridges called cheniers. This area is regarded as the finest example in the world of an active shell chenier plain.

We were on our way home from Whangamata so didn’t visit at the best time. You need to go 2-3 hours either side of high-tide. The Shorebird Centre is a good place to start – it has excellent information on the bird life. The walking track begins from the Bird Centre.

Waikato land wars

In 1863 the Maori village of Pukorokoro was shelled by the British gunboat Miranda at the beginning of the war in the Waikato. Should this area be named after a British gunboat?

Pukorokoro -cropped

Walk: Waikato 11

Te Teo’s Pa

Walk 14 – Te Teo’s Pa, 28 Jan 2019

This walk changed the way I look at the past. I’ve learned about the New Zealand land wars and now have a better appreciation for the hurt caused to the Maori. The actions of the British in the 1860’s caused injustice we’re still paying for.

Overlooking SH1 and the Waikato river.

This is from the information boards: “Overlooking the confluence of the Whangamarino and Waikato Rivers, this old pa was briefly re-occupied in July by a Maori force led by the Ngati Mahuta chief Te Huiraima.

They were opposing the advance of British forces along the Koheroa Ridge to the north.

Thirty Maori warriors died in the skirmishing, Te Huiraima among them. They were eventually forced back and moved south across the Whangamarino River.

By August 1863 Lieutenant General Cameron’s soldiers had occupied the deserted pa and built a redoubt nearby – Whangamarino Redoubt, 150 metres to the east.

Today, the main features on the pa is this ditch and bank defence cut across the end of the ridge. The bank is likely to have been surmounted with timber palisades.”

Whangamarino Redoubt

From this site, the British shelled Meremere which is 3-4 kms south.

War in the Waikato

Governor George Grey ordered the troops led by Cameron to invade the Waikato, because of their lust for land. “Ultimately, the war was fought over one million acres of fertile farmland that, by mid 1864, was entirely under British control.”

“It was (Grey’s general) Cameron, not William Hobson at Waitangi, who sounded the death knell of Maori independance.” Unsurprisingly and understandably it looks like Cameron’s image has been slashed at.

Walk: Waikato 12

Links

Whangamarino Historic Walk