MOUNT PIRONGIA (959 METRES) IS AN ANCIENT VOLCANO CENTRAL TO THE 17,000 HECTARE PIRONGIA FOREST PARK THAT, WITH ITS DRAMATIC SKYLINE, IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURES IN THE WAIKATO DISTRICT. |
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Welcome to Mt Pirongia! (by Clare St Pierre)
I am delighted to lead you on the Mangakara Nature Walk located at the end of Grey Rd, Te Pahu. With me, you will be able to experience firsthand the native biodiversity, wildlife and beautiful natural areas of the mountain. Enjoy the 1 hour walk with a commentary from Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society.. Drive to the start of the walk, and we will follow a well maintained track that is easily accessible to discover one of the most popular spots on Mt Pirongia, with its magnificent mature specimens of native trees, native birds and an attractive mountain stream. This dormant volcano is home to the 'patupaiarehe' you’ll learn more about them and other aspects of Maori culture from members of Purekireki Marae who also feature on the podcast. The mountain offers many walking tracks of varying lengths and levels of difficulty. Pirongia Forest Park is the largest tract of unbroken native bush in the Waikato and stretches to the west coast between Raglan Harbour to the north-west and Kawhia Harbour to the south-west. From the summit of Pirongia on a clear day a climber is rewarded with breath-taking views of:
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