Papamoa Hills Regional Park (Te Rae o Papamoa)
From the park visitors can see Mauao (Mount Maunganui), the Tauranga harbour and up to Whangamata in the west through to Putauaki (Mount Edgecumbe), Moutohora (Whale Island) and Whakatane hills in the east. Many islands can be seen including Tuhua (Mayor), Motiti and Whakāri (White Island)
This park should be a CULTURAL WORLD HERITAGE LISTING
History, Culture and Heritage
The Papamoa hill sites are important to local iwi.
The hill is a boundary between the Mataatua and Te Arawa waka and the sites have significance to a number of iwi/hapu.
Maori have long understood the importance of the hills with their commanding position over the surrounding coastline.
From Te Rae o Papamoa they could control the south-eastern access to Tauranga Moana and the coastal strip down to Maketu. Archaeologists suggest the history of Papamoa hills may begin around 1650 AD or even earlier. Papamoa is a large archaeological complex. There are at least seven pa sites in the Papamoa Hills Regional Park, and others can be seen in the surrounding landscape.
The bulk of the park was bought from the McNaughton Family who owned and farmed the land for more than 100 years. Further additions to the park include nine hectares provided by Fulton Hogan Ltd and 28 hectares adjacent to SH2. The total size of the park is 135 hectares.
Walking
There is one walking track from the car park to the summit. It takes 45 mins to reach the summit and the track rises steeply through pine forest up to the open ridge.
Visitors may use any of the Park land. Sunscreen and a sun hat for sunny days and good walking shoes are recommended.
There is an information board at the car park that provides further information about using the park.
How to get there
- Distance from Tauranga: 20 km (20 minutes)
- Distance from Rotorua: 65 km (45 minutes)
- Distance from Whakatane: 80 km (60 minutes)
From Tauranga, travel east on State Highway 2 towards Whakatane. About 1 km past the Papamoa/Bell Road turn-off on the left, turn right into Poplar Lane. The carpark access is on the right, before you reach the quarry gate.
From Rotorua, travel towards Te Puke via Tokerau. The park is 5 km after Te Puke on the left. Turn left from SH2 into Poplar Lane.
From Whakatane, follow State Highway 2 towards Tauranga. The park is 5 km after Te Puke on the left.
Attractions and recreation activities
- Historic place
- Farm land
- Tramping
- Walking
- Wildlife
Park rules
- No dogs permitted at all times
- No camping
- No motorbikes
- No mountain biking
- No horse trekking
- No fires
- Rubbish free park - care for our environment and take your rubbish home with you where it can be recycled
Further information on
http://www.boprc.govt.nz/discover-our-region/regional-parks/papamoa-hills-regional-park/
or
http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/getting-involved/consultations/closed-consultations/nz-tentative-list-papamoa.pdf
Access
As well as the poplar road access the geocache can also be accessed from Ried road via Summerhills. For more information please refer to cache
GC36460
Park Opening Hours
Opens: 7.30 am
Closes: 6.00 pm (winter), 8.30 pm (summer)