New Zealand Walks
Walking through old forests in Whirinaki Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park is a publicly accessible conservation park in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is centered on the town of Minginui and part of the eastern boundary flanks Te Urewera. The Whirinaki Forest is one of the world’s last prehistoric rainforests. Whirinaki has an interesting and varied history. Within the forest, are historic pa sites of the Ngati Whare, and wooden bird traps have been found high in the trees. In early days By Barbz Lowther the forest pro vided timber for housing, canoes, weapons and fortifications. Bark was used for roofing; and vines for lashings and eel pots. Fern root was a staple food and many forest plants were used for medicine. The 1920’s saw the beginning of Abov right: One of the waterfalls on the loop track. Below left: A kaka nibbles away.
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Walking New Zealand, issue no 286 - 2022
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