Pureora Forest Park

Pureora forest was the site of one of NZ's most important conservation battles, in 1978, when protesters perched on platforms in the remaining treetops following 40 years of logging. Their actions led to a government-imposed logging moratorium and the end of native forest logging in the park in the early 1980s. It is now an important regrowth area for native trees.

The Pureora Forest Park is located between Lake Taupo and Te Kuiti, covering the area either side of the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto ranges. Rare wildlife calls the dense new-growth forests of the park home, and sparkling clear rivers flow through it.

About 1800 years ago Mt Taupo erupted, completely burying the surrounding land, and allowing the transformation of the forest we see today. Uncovered logs can be seen at the buried forest site along Plains Road.

As you climb the ranges in the park, several forest types can be seen, due to the great range in altitude (from 560m above sea level to 1175m). The lower altitude forest consists of rimu, matai and tawa (native hardwoods, with the middle altitude slopes dominated by Hall's totara and kamahi. The upper-altitude vegetation consists of sub-alpine scrub and mossfields.