The park is centered on the town of Minginui and part of the eastern boundary flanks Te Urewera.

[1] The Department of Conservation is responsible for administering the 562 km2 (217 sq mi)[2] park jointly with the local iwi, Ngāti Whare.

Large parts of the park remain covered in native podocarp forest featuring rimu, tōtara, kahikatea, mataī (Prumnopitys taxifolia), and miro.

Whirinaki is the location of Nga Hua a Tane, a radical place based[further explanation needed] research program on rainforests and the ecosystem services they provide to support life on our planet, led by the local school, Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti Nui-a-Toi and its community.

As part of the settlement, the New Zealand government apologised for past injustices and acknowledged the park was integral to Ngati Whare's cultural identity and wellbeing.