Lake Waikaremoana is located in Te Urewera National Park in the North Island of New Zealand, 60 kilometres northwest of Wairoa and 80 kilometres southwest of Gisborne. It covers an area of 54 km².
The North Island's deepest lake (256 m deep), its surface is at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level. Other geographical features include Panekiri Bluff and Puketukutuku Peninsula, which is the site of a kiwi conservation programme. Surrounded as it is by mountains clad with native forest which has never been logged, it is widely regarded as the North Island's most attractive lake. Many native bird species scarce in most other parts of the North Island can be found in the area. A possum-hunting programme operates in the area to help protect the forest.
From the Maori Waikaremoana translates as 'sea of rippling waters'
The lake lies in the heart of Tuhoe country. The hamlet of Āniwaniwa and the Waikaremoana Motor Camp are located on the lakeshore, along SH38 (from Wai-O-Tapu via Murupara to Wairoa), which connects the lake to the central North Island (Rotorua) and Gisborne. There is a Department of Conservation office at Aniwaniwa. Several walks start here, including a short stroll to Aniwaniwa Falls.
Lake Waikaremoana is popular as a holiday destination by people who use the lake for fishing, tramping and other recreational activities. The Lake Waikaremoana Track, one of New Zealand's "Great Walks", is a three to four-day tramp which follows approximately half of the lake's circumference. The track can be walked independently, or as part of a guided group. There are huts dotted on the walk which require booking to use. Camping is permitted unless you are less than 500 metres from the track.
Numbers of visitors to the area are mitigated by the unsealed road that must be taken to reach it.
The smaller Lake Waikareiti lies four kilometres to the northeast.
