Tāne Mahuta Walk: Visit New Zealand's Largest Kauri in Waipoua Forest

Overview

Tāne Mahuta, the "Lord of the Forest", is New Zealand's largest known living kauri tree. It stands in Waipoua Forest on Northland's Kauri Coast. A short, wheelchair- and buggy-accessible walk of 166 m (about 5 minutes) leads under the forest canopy until a sweeping corner brings you face to face with the giant.

The track is open 9am to 4pm daily, and the gate is locked outside these hours.

The tree in numbers

In Māori tradition, Tāne is the son of Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatūānuku (the earth mother). He separated his parents and clothed his mother in forest, so all living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tāne's children. Road builders surveying SH12 came across the tree in the 1920s.

The walk

• At the entrance, you'll go through a kauri dieback wash station. Scrub and clean your shoes, and wheelchairs too. A ramp to the left of the wash station gives wheelchair access.
• A wooden fence and seat face the tree. Walk a little further for a second viewing platform with a broader view.
• Stay on the track. Kauri have very sensitive surface roots, and foot traffic shortens their lives.

Getting there

Tāne Mahuta is signposted on SH12 through Waipoua Forest, 65 km north of Dargaville and 18 km south of Ōmāpere. The road widens into a car park. There's a picnic area, and toilets 25 m back on the opposite side of the road. The gate and toilets are locked overnight.

Safety

Beware of falling branches in strong winds.

Good to know

No dogs, except with a DOC permit for hunting or management. Waipoua Forest has other kauri walks nearby, including Te Matua Ngahere.