Kiwi adventurer BareKiwi took the Road Less Travelled and discovered the heartland of the Whakatāne district.
Kohutapu Lodge
"This place was a surprise and a half, because when you get to Galatea there’s some farmland, there’s some forestry, and more farmland. Then you drive down their driveway and it opens up to a stunning location overlooking Lake Aniwaniwa. Kohutapu Lodge is super high end - just like what you would expect from somewhere like Queenstown. But the best part is not the location or the setting, it’s the people. The hospitality is amazing and Nadine is a natural. You can’t train people to host like that. What’s refreshing though is it wasn’t put on for us. I know tour bus drivers who have visited the place, and they all said it was the friendliest place they used to stay on tour. That’s impressive considering these drivers have been everywhere! Kohutapu is a perfect gateway to the Whirinaki. We were briefed on what was coming up, and it made the experience that much more special.”
"But the best part is not the location or the setting, it’s the people."
Whirinaki Forest Footsteps
“This place – Whirinaki-te-Pua a Tane – was just magical. It’s another world, as both the forest and bird life was like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life. My guide, Himi, led me through the forest to a towering 1,000 year old Totara tree. Along the way Himi foraged for berries, explaining what each one was. This introduction to the Whirinaki Forest cemented the fact that I had to see The Canyon of Toi for myself.”
