On SH12 between Waipoua and Hokianga you’ll see the uninspiring sign “Waiotemarama Bush Walk” next to the sign for Labyrinth Wood Works. Go see! Drive a few km and park at Louis’ Labyrinth and go in to enjoy his ever-present Kiwi charm. Afterwards set off for an easyish tramp. This mild tramping track is unheralded, yet packs plenty of bang for the buck. Head to the waterfall, hop the stream and up some steps to the ridge and the “#7 loop”, which is a short loop track through a damn impressive grove of Kauris. These are no mere rickers—these are big virgin ones! In a nutshell, for a fit tramper, this is a 70-minute total loop (skip the trig option.) As Louie Louie would say, “we gotta go now!”
A word of advice…don’t do this track fresh off of seeing the Waipoua Kauri giants — nothing on Earth will impress after Tane and Ngahere. But here’s an idea: after a day of Hokianga beauty (or a cloudy day), head here with a six of Lions and stash them at the falls. Have a go on the upper Kauri loop (a happy hour), explore up the stream, then down to the waterfall for a dip and a new Happy Hour.
