Waipoua Kauri Forest
Home for thousands of years to the oldest and largest known kauri trees in the world
An absolute MUST SEE for any visitor to Northland is TANE MAHUTA and the other ancient and mighty kauri trees of the Wai-poua (Maori for water & old) Kauri Forest
It is almost unbelievable that these kauri trees have lived for so long, the following examples may help you to put their age into perspective:
The Four Sisters were around at the same time as Henry VIII and his six wives, Tane dates back to the Birth of Christ and Te Matua Ngahere was a small kauri ricker at the time of bronze age man!
If you find these ages hard to comprehend and seeing is believing, then that’s what a visit to the Waipoua Kauri Forest will do for you !
“Lord of the Forest” and spiritual “God of the Forest” the tree is estimated to be approximately 2000 years old and is the tallest known kauri tree in the world. This tree stands over 4 metres in diameter and has a girth of 13.77 metres, a trunk height of 17.69 metres, a total heigh of 51.5 metres with an estimated volume of 244.5 cubic metres.
Te Matua Ngahere
“Father of the Forest” estimated to be approximately 3000 years old he is the oldest and widest known kauri tree in the world. This tree is over 5 metres in diameter and has a girth greater than Tane Mahuta (16.4 metres) but the trunk is much shorter at only 10.2 metres giving a total height of 29.9 metres and an estimated volume of 208 cubic metres.
The Four Sisters
Normally kauri grow alone, but this stand of four separate trees are believed to come from four seeds from the same tree and have co-existed for about 500 years. These trees have evenly spaced, slender trunks and the branches at the top all reach outwards and not in.
The Yakas is the seventh largest kauri tree with a girth of 12.29 metres, a trunk height of 12.04 metres and a total height of 43.9 metres it has an estimated volume of 134.2 cubic metres. The tree was named after Nicholas Yakas, a gum digger who had discovered the tree
Located on the track to The Yakas this breathtakingly, serene and beautiful place is a stand of kauri trees with absolute peace except for the sound of bird song.
Outstanding! Our first trip up to Northland to visit the kauri forests and the exceptionally special Kauri Museum. Our stay at the lodge exceeded all expectations which were high given the recommendations. Beautiful private suite, fabulous food and gracious and informative hosts. Many thanks – a time delight!