Lake Waikaremoana Huts and Campsites in Te Urewera

Where you sleep

You can start at Onepoto in the south or Hopuruahine in the north. DOC's 3 night plan from Onepoto stays at Panekire, Waiopaoa and Marauiti huts. Huts and campsites are not always in the same place, and Whanganui Hut is closed.

From Onepoto, DOC's stages are:

• Onepoto to Panekire Hut: 8.8 km (5.5 mi), 4 to 6 hr, the hardest climb, up Panekire Bluff
• Panekire Hut to Waiopaoa Hut and Campsite: 7.6 km (4.7 mi), 3 to 4 hr
• Waiopaoa to Korokoro Campsite: 3.6 km (2.2 mi), 1 hr 30 min, near Korokoro Falls
• Korokoro to Maraunui Campsite: 6.8 km (4.2 mi), 2 hr 30 min, then 1.7 km (1.1 mi) to Marauiti Hut
• Marauiti Hut to Waiharuru Hut and Campsite: 6.2 km (3.9 mi), 2 hr
• Waiharuru to Hopuruahine Landing: 9.5 km (5.9 mi), 4 hr 30 min

Booking it, in DOC's order

DOC sets out the steps: choose your direction, choose your huts or campsites, pick a date for each, check availability, check transport for those dates, then book the huts and campsites and then the transport. Children and youth need a booking too. For a campsite, you also give the number of tent sites.

In 2026 Great Walk bookings opened at 9:30 am NZ time on DOC's booking service, bookings.doc.govt.nz, with a virtual queue. DOC's 2026 tips: make an account and test your login before the day, and be online by about 9:15 am. Our guide on how to book a Great Walk covers the rest of the system.

DOC has not announced the 2027/28 opening day. Going by past seasons, booking for the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk usually opens around 4 to 28 May. Last year's opening, for stays from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, was Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 9:30 am NZ time.

DOC's March 2026 release names Lake Waikaremoana as a Great Walk that often has space, with strong growth after storm repairs.

Water taxi and roads

The two ends are about 30 km (18.6 mi) apart, so book transport too. Tūhoe runs a water taxi to both ends and to huts and campsites around the lake from Te Urewera Visitor Centre (Te Kura Whenua), usually from October to April and not in winter. Hopuruahine Road is not suitable for 2WD vehicles at present, and State Highway 38 is gravel for about 90 km (55.9 mi).

Tūhoe wardens are at the main huts in the peak season. The huts have no gas cooking, lighting or toilet paper.

Changing or cancelling

Date changes stay inside the 1 July to 30 June booking season, and DOC does not move a booking to a different hut or campsite. Cancelling costs nothing on the day you book or the day after (if your first night is more than 2 days away). After that DOC keeps 10% of a Great Walk booking from 15 or more days out, 50% from 14 to 4 days out, 75% from 3 days out, and all of it on the day you arrive.

What PermitSnag does here

Each permit page says whether you can set a PermitSnag alert for it, and links to the agency that sells it.

Questions