Lakeside Leisure
Mangakino's picturesque lakefront is stunning for a family picnic. It also has its own unique waterfront cafe - enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Free Camping - Mangakino Lakefront Reserve - toilets, power, swim in the lake. Take the boat out, or just relax on the shore and enjoy this ever-popular part of New Zealand.
Fishing Lake Maraetai is a great destination for the 'boys' wanting a few days away fishing. Stay at Lake Maraetai Lodge where there is ample room for boats and trailers, B-B-Q on hand and full kitchen, bathroom & laundry facilities.
Bird watching • Bird watching is quite popular with fantails and other local birds.
Mangakino Golf Club • Play a round of golf, try out the challenging Mangakino course; enjoy the lake views and meet some of the local talent. It is a flat undulating 10 Hole easy walking course with picturesque views of Lake Maraetai and the surrounding forests. Although classed as a 9 hole course there is a separate 9th and 18th green with the other greens played twice to make up the 18 holes. For the men the course is 5600 metres par 72 and for the women 5140 metres par 73. Green fees are $10 for 9 holes or $15 for 18 holes. Subscriptions are $220 for men or women or $400 for a couple. New members and green fee players are always welcome. Address: Konini Terrace Mangakino P O Box 42, Mangakino, New Zealand Phone: 07 882 8075 Email: sportsground.co.nz
Outdoors
Pureora Forest Park • Pureora Forest Park can be explored from multiple entry points along State Highway 45 west of Lake Taupo. It is one of the largest intact tracts of native forest in the North Island and has high conservation value due to the variety of plant life and animal habitats available. The park offers excellent camping, picnicking, swimming and forest walking. There are more than fifteen Department of Conservation managed walking tracks, ranging from ten minutes to three days in length. A highlight is climbing Mount Pureora (1165 metres). Tall native trees - such as rimu, totara, matai, miro and kahikatea - are found at lower altitudes along with tawa and tree ferns. As you climb higher, the forest changes and hardy plants like kamahi and Hall's totara are found. Near the summit, sub-alpine herb fields dominate. A specially built forest tower takes you right up into the forest canopy to listen to the chorus of songs from the many native birds that live here. The popular Waihora Lagoon Walk takes just 20 minutes. Surrounded by tall rimu and kahikatea trees, the lagoon is one of Pureora Forest Park's most beautiful locations. Camping facilities and simple clean cabins are available at the Pureora Forest Park Headquarters and Information Centre.
Hiking • Mangakino/Whakamaru Cycle & Walking Trails will cover 100km once completed. The Pureora Forest Park's 78,000 hectares is also available and hides numerous impressive bush walks beneath towering Totara, Rimu and Matai. Somewhere amid the native bush is a plaque marking the centre of the North Island and New Zealand's largest Totara tree. Guided forest tours are available and are an entertaining and informative blend of ecology and Maori culture.
Mangakino/Whakamaru Cycle & Walking Trails and Mangakino Swing Bridge • Discover Mangakino's beauty with its native bush and farmland. Spend family time together and or just go out for a group bike ride.
The 100km of cycling and walking tracks along the banks of the Waikato River provides access for visitors to engage with the dramatic and beautiful natural environment of the Waikato region.
The popular attraction showcases the area’s wetlands along the banks of the Waikato River and Waikato Hydro lakes. Journey along the Waikato River and take in interesting geological rock formations, historical landmarks, native plants, bird and animal life.
This trail is one of the seven start-up projects for the Governments National Cycleway initiative and is part of the network of tracks of New Zealand’s longest walks. It will potentially join the country’s list of “great walks.” There are nine “great walks” in New Zealand, six in the South Island and three in the North Island.
Mountain biking • The Waikato River Trails will cover 100km once completed giving mountain bikers plenty of tracks to choose from or try the purpose cut bike tracks around the lake Taupo region.
