Wairoa District: Water, Walks and Culture

In Wairoa District, you can experience nature in different ways: at a lake, in a significant lagoon landscape, and along routes through riverside, forest and cultural landscapes. There are also places with their own history and a film festival that puts Indigenous storytelling traditions at its centre. The accommodation that suits your trip therefore also depends on whether you plan to spend most of your time outdoors, on walking tracks or exploring cultural themes.

Lake and lagoon: nature with different points of focus

Lake Waikaremoana is in Te Urewera, in Wairoa District. Fishing, hiking and other recreational activities are available at the lake. It offers a clear focus for days when exercise and activities on the water are a priority. Whakakī Lagoon offers a different natural highlight: it provides habitat for waterbirds and wading birds of regional significance. If you like to combine nature watching with outdoor activities, you can plan around a range of different interests.

The two landscapes appeal to different interests: specific recreational activities are listed for Lake Waikaremoana, while Whakakī Lagoon stands out for its importance as a habitat. This can help you organise your priorities before looking for accommodation, without turning the different places into a single route.

Walks, a waterfall and landscapes

The 7.7-kilometre Wairoa Riverside Walkway runs from Wairoa Lighthouse to Whakamahia Beach. The one-way journey takes about 30 minutes by bicycle. This time estimate is for one direction, so you can distinguish it from longer outings when planning your day. The route connects two specific landmarks: the lighthouse and the beach.

On the Māhia Peninsula, the Te Aratia Walkway crosses farmland, forest and a large project to restore native nature. This sequence gives the track a different character from the riverside walk: its description is shaped by several landscape types and the restoration project. At Te Reinga Falls Scenic Reserve, a short walk from the car park and picnic area leads to viewpoints overlooking the 35-metre-high Te Reinga Falls on the Wairoa River. Check the current notice about the viewpoints before your visit.

Cultural history in Wairoa and Nūhaka

Since renovations were completed in 2001, Wairoa Museum has been housed in the former ANZ bank building on Marine Parade in Wairoa. An interactive Discovery Space with educational activities and related materials was also developed for the museum. The museum thus combines a specific historic location with an educational offering designed to help communicate its content.

The Wairoa Māori Film Festival was founded in 2005 to support, recognise and showcase Indigenous storytelling traditions. The festival is based in Nūhaka in Wairoa District. Portland Island Lighthouse is considered an iconic part of the history at the heart of Wairoa Township. Together, the museum, festival and lighthouse represent different ways to engage with the district’s culture and history.

Find accommodation to suit your plans

This way, you can base your choice on the things you actually want to experience, rather than reducing the different options to a single type of trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wairoa, Tuai, Morere, Kotemaori, Hastings District, Central Hawke's Bay District.

Back to the main travel overview: Hawkes Bay.