How Whirinaki Forest Footsteps started
Whirinaki Forest Footsteps was born from a deep love and lifelong connection to the ngahere. For us, the forest has never been just a place to walk—it is a living sanctuary that restores balance, quiets the mind, and reconnects the spirit. Our founders, Karl and Maurice Toe Toe, whakapapa to both Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Whare, the tribes whose histories, guardianship, and identity are bound to these sacred lands. They grew up surrounded by the stories of their Nan and Koro, learning that the forest provides not only sustenance and medicine, but also grounding, healing, and a sense of belonging.
In Whirinaki, every step tells a story. This ancient Jurassic Podocarp rainforest is rich with biodiversity, birdsong, and the natural rhythms of life. It is our classroom, our supermarket, and our pharmacy—but also our place of therapy and wellbeing. Our tours invite visitors to slow down, breathe deeply, and be still. To listen. To reconnect with the healing vibrations of the forest through the practice of forest bathing—to feel the energy of the taiao and understand why these places must be cherished and protected.
When we began, we invested in a 22-seater bus to bring visitors from Rotorua into this hidden taonga. COVID-19 paused our journey, but never our purpose. Today, we continue to respectfully share this sacred space—guided by whānau steeped in bush knowledge, rongoā, and aroha for the ngahere. We may be a small whānau business, but our vision is vast: to tread gently, teach respectfully, and ensure every visitor leaves grounded, rejuvenated, and a lasting connection to Aotearoa’s living, breathing taiao.
