Lake Okataina is picture-perfect through the surrounding trees.

This Rāhina we walked a medley of short, easy trails in the Lake Ōkataina Scenic Reserve.

Thick fog cosseted our vehicles as we cautiously made our way to Reporoa where we suddenly popped out into clear surroundings and blue skies.

A mirror perfect lake greeted us as we finally reached the end of the windy Lake Okataina Road.

This road follows one of the routes Māori carried canoes on between lakes Ōkataina and Tarawera.

Once Lake Ōkataina was an arm of Lake Tarawera but later volcanic activity dammed drainage from this section and created Lake Ōkataina.

After back tracking to the Outdoor Education Centre, we began the day by walking the Te Auheke Track.

An easy and well-defined loop trail amid huge trees leading to a sheer cliff covered by glistening ferns, mosses, and apparently home to glow worms, and then, true to the track’s name, to cascading water tumbling down some ten metres.

Returning to the centre we accessed the Tarawhai Track.

A short open area was followed by a forested one with dizzyingly tall rimu, buttressed pukatea, tawa, māhoe and many tree ferns.

The mid story trees and undergrowth were sparse but in a fenced enclosure the picture was very different.

A graphic demonstration of what could be if pests such as pig and wallabies could be removed from the area.

In a muddy section in another part of the reserve we saw imprints of both animals’ feet.

By crossing the road, we were able to link another series of trails.

The Ngahopua had a hundred metre elevation, more huge trees and two tiny crater lakes just visible from structured viewing points.

The Rotongata and Rotoatua are very different in appearance.

Walkers take a break during the journey around Lake Ōkataina Scenic Reserve.

Although the smaller lake is called the mirror lake, on Monday it was the larger green lake that reflected the dark shapes and hues of the trees surrounding it.

On this track there were hollowed out trunks of dead trees with spaces big enough to stand in and thick vines of white rātā entwining still living trees.

Two further linking tracks showed evidence of old logging sites and clearings.

A little green frog sitting in damp foliage well away from water caught the eye of one walker.

It was briefly held but no-one was quick enough to identify it before it wriggled its way to freedom.

Along each track we found many varieties of fungi, perhaps because autumn is a common fruiting time for fungus.

Blue pouched fungi tucked in the leaf litter, rows of tiny orange spikes arranged in an orderly fashion along dead branches and even a patch of snow fungi shimmering like a blob of opaque jelly.

White fragile looking frills probably from the agaric family contrasted with sturdy, woody porebrackets firmly attached at all heights and angles from standing and fallen wood.

The last track we followed paralleled the road but was in bush and led back to Lake Ōkataina.

Recent windfall presented a few obstacles.

Minor ducking under one small trunk was followed by a short off track to skirt a large tree completely blocking the way.

Although an easy walk this track is steeply downhill with protruding tree roots to trip the unwary. There are also great glimpses of the lake below.

Once at the shore we met some fishermen who shared stories of their day and even gave us a rainbow trout.

A plaque on a shelter near the foreshore reminded us that Ngāti Tarāwhai gifted the original reserve to the people of New Zealand while each walk served as a reminder of what New Zealand forest once was and the ongoing consequences of human activity.

An interesting day with lots to see and think about.

If you would like more information about our group, please email walkersmondaytaupo@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook at ‘Taupo Monday Walkers’.