DISCOVER HOKIANGA
AND MEET TANE MAHUTA
Experience an unforgettable journey through the natural beauty of the Hokianga. Learn its history and hear local stories & legends.
Journey back to an era of horse n’ cart, where kauri and gum digging was industrious and the region was rich in early European settlers and missionaries. From Paihia to Hokianga you travel the path of many before you, along the original stagecoach route. A trail marked out by early Maori and then frequented by traders and merchants who transported supplies, kauri, gum and timber between the coasts during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Uncover 2.8 million year old geological rock formations as you meander along the walkways of the unique Wairere Boulder Valley. View thousands of massive basalt boulders, some over 30m high.
Through our stories and culture, we take you back to the days of Kupe, believed to be the first voyager and Maori to discover New Zealand over 1,000 years ago. Your local Maori guide will provide you with an in-depth interpretation of the many myths and legends of the local hapu (sub-tribe).
The Waipoua Kauri Forest provides a natural stage for an unforgettable encounter with some of the largest remaining kauri trees in the world. Meet a national icon, the mighty Tane Mahuta (the Lord of the Forest), the largest known kauri tree in the world. Estimated to be 2,000 years old his mighty girth is over 13 metres and he stands an impressive 51 metres tall.
- Follow the original stagecoach trail
- Visit the Wairere boulders
- Meet Tane Mahuta, a 51 metre tall kauri tree, estimated to be 2,000 years old
- Learn the history & culture of the region
