Rainforest Route limited time bonus attraction

One of New Zealand’s most spectacular drives, Te Urewera Rainforest Route, has become even more spectacular with a temporary diversion.
The route, between Rainbow Mountain south of Rotorua and Wairoa on the East Coast, winds its way through the North Island’s largest tract of native forest passing through the Ngai Tuhoe settlement of Ruatahuna and the magnificent Lake Waikaremoana on its way.
Normally a distance of 197km, the drive was extended by another 37km last week thanks to nature’s intervention with a tree falling and damaging a road bridge between Ohuka and Ruapapa roads towards the Wairoa end of the road.
While the bridge will be out of action for some time, the diversion route is well signposted and takes drivers high onto the ridges behind Waikaremoana’s Panekire Range.
Extensive views across the broken inner Hawkes Bay landscape extend all the way to the central North Island mountains of Ruapehu and Tongariro which can be seen at various points along the way.
Visitors to the area are encouraged to take their time to explore the temporarily enhanced Te Urewera Rainforest Route, take in some of its stunning short walks and maybe even take an extra day to experience the manaakitanga (hospitality) to be found in the many small communities along the way.
A temporary replacement bridge is expected to be in place within a week or 10 days.
In the meantime drivers should allow an extra hour for their journey between Wairoa and Tuai.