The Waipoua Forest contains the largest stand of Kauri on the island, and thus…in the world! The Coromandel had bigger trees in its day (see Kauri museum), but sadly, only Waipoua has vast acres of the dark jurassic forest that once blanketed the north half of the North Island. Home of the famed Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere trees, Waipoua is surprisingly quick and easy to visit. You’ve actually got very limited options here because most of the forest is dense trackless forest… unriddled by logging roads, untouched by the bushmen’s axe.
There are 3 main places to visit in the forest:
Waipoua Forest HQ. Home to a visitor center, picnic areas, campground, cabins, trailheads, and swimming holes. It’s a fine place to rent a cabin or camp, but when I’m in the area I’d rather go to Trounson to try to spot a nighttime kiwi (entryA12). There are no good campervan spots in the forest.
Kauri Walks. About 7km north of HQ. The “Kauri Walks” carpark is the forest’s hub for tree-lovers who crave more than Tane’s 100-step photo-op. There are two main walks here—either Te Matua Ngahere or Yakas.
Te Matua Ngahere: This head-tilting eyeslifting 16-minute stroll to see the oldest ‘n’ fattest of them all is a must-must-must! This walk traverses the finest stand of Kauri remaining in the universe. Nuff said.
Yakas Kauri: My favorite Kauri, no question, is Yakas. From the carpark it’s an easy 30-minute walk. First gaze at Cathedral Grove, then shortly comes this Dalmation wonder tree. Yakas seems wider than high! Most of all, Yakas is my favorite because You Can Touch It! No barbed wire fence here…yay, hug a tree, spread your arms wide! Finally you can get a photo that puts the immense Kauri width in perspective. You may have it all to yourself—I’d bet only one person heads to Yakas for every fifty seeing Ngahere.
Here’s perspective: sit and lean against Yakas…draw a picture, have a picnic, whatever…ponder largeness. If you’re not planning a trip to California’s Sequoias, nor have a pet Blue Whale…then Yakas may be the biggest living thing that you’ll ever touch. Wow…wow.
Tane Mahuta. About 2km north of Kauri Walks awaits the largest living Kauri. Tane Mahuta, the lord of the forest, is a tourist’s dream—mere steps from the highway. Anyone and everyone can manage the short stroll to the two viewing areas where everyone will take the same exact photos. As cheesy as this sounds, it isn’t…Tane never fails to impress. DOC commendably keeps the view clear, thus making Tane the only giant Kauri that you can stand back and see the entire tree in its glory.
For heaps of FUN bring a pencil your cell phone and laugh your way through some Kauri math. Circumference (girth)=pi x diameter. For Tane, girth=13.77m, ÷ 3.1416, = 4.38m. Ngahere’s girth is 16.41m…you go now.
