Pureora Forest is a superb choice for a short walk in a thousand-year-old rainforest on a drive through the centre of the North Island. There are several short and long walk options starting on the north and south sides of the forest. We chose the short Tōtara Walk, which starts beside the northern end of the Timber Trail (cycling). This amazing walk is a stunning introduction to what much of the North Island once looked like.
The forest is considered one of the best rainforests in the world, and its establishment was a watershed moment in the history of NZ forest conservation. By the 1970s, the forest was one of the few large remaining native forests in the North Island, but despite this, the intention was to cut it down and replace it with radiata pines, the most common exotic commercial tree in NZ. After a series of protests and tree sittings, the government agreed to establish a park to protect the forest in 1978.
The north side of the forest can be accessed from either of the two main routes heading south: SH30 from Te Kuiti or SH32, which connects to SH30 from Tokoroa. Allow 20 minutes extra each way.
