Lake, Stream and Cascades.

Waikare-iti is but a tiny size in water sheets—two miles and a quarter in length by a bare two miles in width. But it seems larger, with its many-bayed shore, meandering among the woody hills, and its isles of calm that seem part of the mainland from some points of view until you come to boat in and around them. A true mountain lake, for it lies 2,600 feet above sea-level, and is fed by the clear cold streams that come swiftly down from the central ranges of Maunga-pohatu and Manuaha, snow-clad in winter.

From Little Waikare a stream goes bounding down through the bush to Waikare-moana, 500 feet below. On this little river there are several waterfalls. Two of them, the Papa-o-Korito and the lower Aniwaniwa (Rainbow), otherwise Te Tangi-a-Te Hinerau, are cascades of great beauty, tumbling over ledges of red-mossed rock. Below there are pools holding rainbow trout.

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Waikare-iti is a natural sanctuary. I hope it will never be robbed of that hallowed air of peace and seclusion. Oars and sails and the canoe paddle are the fitting motive power there for exploration and pleasure-cruising. There are some places in our land that should be guarded with loving care against the disturbing touch of modern inventions, and the queen of these sanctuaries is Little Waikare.