Puhoi: River, Bohemian History and Walking Tracks

Puhoi lies on the banks of the Puhoi River, which flows through the town. In 1863, Puhoi was settled by immigrants from Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. The river provides a habitat for tuna (eels) and numerous native bird species. This means both the town’s history and its riverside landscape are highlights of a stay in Puhoi. If you’re looking for a hotel in Puhoi, you can consider whether you’d most like to explore the historic village, trails through the forest or views of the valley.

Village history and historic sites

The Pūhoi Heritage Trail leads through the village and its pioneering history; the Landing Stone is one stop along the route. The Puhoi Heritage Museum is housed in a school building that opened in 1923. It replaced the public school that had been in existence since 1872. In the village, you can visit both a stop on the Heritage Trail and a museum in a former schoolhouse.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul (Catholic) at 83 Puhoi Road is listed as a Category 1 historic place and is privately owned. It is not open to the public, so visits are not possible. The Church of Sts Peter and Paul Puhoi was built by Bohemian settlers to a design by architect James Wrigley and opened on 10 August 1881 at a cost of 264 pounds. This building history adds to the story of the settlement, which is linked to Bohemian immigrants.

Riverside landscape and walking tracks

The Puhoi to Remiger Road Track leads into the Puhoi Scenic Reserve. There, you can enjoy a level walk through podocarp forest with kauri, pūriri, tōtara and nīkau trees. The main entrance is at Puhoi Domain, across the bridge from the historic Puhoi Pub and beside the toilet block. From the car park at the Domain, the track climbs through a community reserve to an open ridge, with views from there over the village and surrounding valley.

The Puhoi Track is part of the Te Araroa Trail. Along the way, you’ll encounter different types of forest, abundant birdlife and views of the Puhoi Valley. Another option is the Puhoi Lookout Track: this moderately difficult walk takes about 40 minutes and reaches an elevation of 100 m. The track can become boggy after rain.

When choosing between these tracks, you can compare the terrain and stated durations: the Puhoi Lookout Track has a difficulty rating and approximate duration, while the walk in the Scenic Reserve is described as level. The track from Puhoi Domain, in contrast, leads to an open ridge. This lets you plan your walking days around the trail conditions and the experiences described for each route, without treating the different tracks as the same.

The Puhoi Track is currently open. The bridge, destroyed by heavy rain in 2023, has not yet been replaced. A short ford detour about 100 m upstream connects the track to the site of the bridge. As river and ford conditions can change in extreme weather, check them before setting out.

Puhoi River Canoes is in the village, opposite the historic church. Together with the Puhoi River and the surrounding trails, this landmark provides another point of reference when planning your stay.

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