Explore the Waipoua Kauri Forest

The natural wonders found in the Waipoua Kauri Forest in Hokianga will leave you mesmerised. There is an abundance of rare flora, fauna, nocturnal kiwis and lush ferns that dominate the 9105 hectare sanctuary. The road to the entrance to the park will give you a teaser of what is to come, as the windy roads are covered with a canopy of sub-tropical rainforest treasures. 

The turn off to the Forest Lookout is at the entrance to the Forest and offers incredible views. From there, a well-groomed walking track takes walkers on a short twenty-minute loop past some of the most famous kauri trees, which includes Te Matua Ngahere (The Father of the Forest), who is over five metres in diameter and the widest surviving Kauri tree. Nearby are also the Four Sisters, who are a beautiful collection of four kauri trees that are practically identical. The most popular tree to visit is Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest), who is the largest surviving kauri tree and looms over the rest of the forest at 47 metres high and believed to be 2,300 years old. 

Enjoy the peacefulness of the Waipoua Kauri Forest and enjoy the birdsong of many threatened New Zealand birds, including the kokako, kaka and kakariki—all who are rare sightings these days. 

Take note of the cleaning stations at the entrance of the walking track. The kauri trees are threatened by outside diseases and visitors are encouraged to clean their shoes so they don’t bring anything foreign into the park.