Best Specimens of Kauri Live in
Waipoua Kauri Forest New Zealand

In 1876, slightly more than 2 thousand pounds bought the 80 hectares that constituted Waipoua Kauri Forest New Zealand from the Maori people. The forest lies between Dargaville and Omapere on Northland’s west coast.

Several years later, the forest came under the provision of the State Forests Act, encompassing 9000 hectares.

Kauri forests were once exploited, but this one managed to escape destruction because of its remote location and difficulty of extracting timber. Recommendations were made to set aside a certain amount of national kauri forests for the people of New Zealand and in 1952, Waipoua was declared a forest sanctuary.

Put Waipoua Forest on your New Zealand vacation list of places to visit on the Kauri Coast. Kauri is one of the world’s mightiest trees. The garden of Tane Mahuta, with its spectacular giant collection, plus Waipoua, Mataraua, and Waima make up the largest remaining track of native forest in Northland. There are also stands of rimu and northern rata.

Good tramping tracks give access to Tane Mahuta. Deeper into the forest are routes that cover high plateau and ranges.

A state highway runs through Waipoua Forest, and the visitor center is found right in the heart, one kilometer off the road. There’s no store or gas station, so it’s important to pack supplies and a full gas tank before visiting. A camper van New Zealand rental might be an excellent means to enable you to explore this area.

A compass and topographical map are recommended on self guided bush walks. Note that changing weather conditions and timing requirements for tidal changes should be considered before setting out on forest tracks. Streams can be uncrossable following heavy rains and should be avoided at such times.

Tracks and walks are the main attraction at Waipoua Forest, especially to view the giant stars Tane Mahuta, Te Matua Ngahere, and Yakas. Seven walks are featured.

Four Sisters Walk is an impressive stand of four kauri trees, accessed by a ten-minute walk into the forest. A short track climbs through a stand of young kauri on Kauri Rickers Walk, where you can also get a scenic view of the Waipoua River.

The Kauri Coast Visitor Center leads to Lookout Track through 2.5 kilometers through regenerating manuka and podocarp/hardwood forest. Tane Mahuta Track takes visitors to New Zealand’s largest known living kauri tree. The second largest, Te Matua Ngahere, is found on a twenty minute walk on a track of the same name.

Totoa Track loops south of the forest lookout to display toatoa (blue celery pine) and other podocarps. The longest, Yaka Kauri Walk, leads to Cathedral Grove and the seventh largest kauri tree in the forest.

The DOC campground is a convenient accommodation to base your visit to Waipoua Forest. A 2007 fire destroyed part of the forest after someone had been cooking on an open fire at a nearby beach. Tane Mahuta, very close to being victimized, was spared.

The fire was contained by local fire fighters and conservation volunteers, but many trees and endangered birds were lost in the blaze, including 20 North Island brown kiwi.