Waikaremoana
"Sunken Forest Lake Waikaremoana, Totara trees approx 2300 years old, one of our many regular weekend dive adventures."Claire Fox
This unique adventure occurs in and around Lake Waikaremoana. This trip includes all meals and getting there is an 8-hour adventure of its own. The next task is to stay up until the last of the group arrives at the Waikaremoana Motor Camp. Happy hour finishes and we hit the sack.
The first day starts with a slide presentation on the history of the area with an emphasis on the New Zealand Wars and political situation from 1863. At this stage we orient to the Lake and its history. Next we are off on a guided tour to such historic sites as the Pa and original redoubt site Tukutuku-o-Heihei, the old redoubt, Lake Kiri-o-Pukai and the grave of Trooper Noonan.
Next we dive the 2000 year old forest that was drowned when the lake formed following a landslide.
The trees appear eerily like ghosts from that time long ago. It is at this stage that we begin to feel the magic and special qualities of the Ureweras. The days guided tour finishes with a walk and crawl through the giant, house size rocks that form a small labyrinth of tunnels and arches. Moa bones have been found here. We are prepared at any moment for pre-historic creatures to appear, and in our minds they may well do that. We can feel the magic.
| Mana 04 233 8238 |
| 9 Marina View |
| nzsa@scubadiving.co.nz |
