Go WEST first!

Turn left at Brynderwyn Junction SH1 and Sh12, travel through the farming township of Maungaturoto with its gardens and waterfalls nearby. Move on to Paparoa and visit ye olde Bank Restaurant, antique shop, craft shops and homestays etc. Several of the turnoffs to the left take you through farmland territory to Whakapirau, Pahi and Tinopai, all quaint little settlements at the water's edge of the magnificent Kaipara Harbour. Good shell fishing, access to deep water fishing, unsophisticated, tranquil and beautiful.

46 kilometres from Brynderwyn Junction is the famous Matakohe Kauri Museum where you can spend hours viewing the wonderful displays of the 'Kauri pioneering days'. Cafe facilities and outdoor areas to picnic. Campervans are able to stay here and other accomodation is available at nearby Paparoa. Take the historical tour operating from the Museum - share with the oldest established settler family their farming present and past through the evolution and development of the Kauri Country landscape.

The next town en route is Ruawai (Two Waters) where the Northern Wairoa River meets the Kaipara Harbour and is a launching spot for deep sea fishing. This is (as is Dargaville) a 'Kumara' Town, (kumara being the sweet potato of New Zealand's indigenous race, the Maori). Two thirds of all kumara grown in New Zealand come from the Kauri Coast area.

Move on through historic past settlement areas, past Tokatoka (unusual in that it has the core remaining rather than the outside of the volcano) and onto the rural town of Dargaville, Heart of the Kauri Coast, nestled alongside the Northern Wairoa River which is steeped in history. Kauri logging, gumdigging, shipbuilding and 150 shipwrecks off the Pouto Pt and Ripiro Coast are the heritage of this progressive area. Dargaville is a service centre to outlying farmland districts, with numerous motels, motor camps. Hotels, bed & breakfasts, self contained, restaurants, cafes, service shops and ethnic and art and craft studios as well as the usual commercial enterprise and is 10 - 25 minutes from most activities on beach or lakes.

High on Mt Wesley Hill overlooking the town and river is the Dargaville Maritime Museum portraying relics from many of the districts' shipwrecks, wonderful displays of the pioneering and maritime 'past'. View New Zealand's finest pre-European Maori war canoe and the now famous Rainbow Warrior Masts and look for the ancient carving discovered on our coast and thought to be of the Waitaha.

The Kauri Coast is an outdoor playground with the 100km drivable West Coast Beach, Ripiro Beach New Zealands longest driveable beach.Take a tour on the magnificent unbroken stretch of sand and take a tour to the remote Pouto Lighthouse view the site of some of the Shipwrecks. Fish, gather Tuatua, Surf, Walk and view the wondrous surroundings of nature especially our renowned sunsets. Take a trip on the River or a Fishing Charter down to the Kaipara Harbour, for all varieties of shellfish and wet fish including Marlin during January and February.

There are various entrances onto the Ripiro Coast, Baylys, Glinks Gully etc. Bayly's is the main one with campground, stores for supplies and two cafes for food and beverage.

Move on north and turn Northwest to Omamari (a residential settlement on the Ripiro Coast) and Taharoa Domain which is the setting for the jewel-like Kai Iwi Lakes. Beautiful, clean, turquoise blue, and surrounded by pines and white silica sand. You can Camp, Swim, Sail, Windsurf, Kayak, Water Ski, Jet Ski, Trout Fish or simply relax - another world altogether. From the Lakes you can walk across farmland to the Beach (Ripiro Coast) and for the more adventurous walk along the beach to Maunganui Bluff where you can gather mussels off the rocks. It is well worth walking around Lake Taharoa (about 3 hours) and quite suitable for children. Take your picnic with you and stop in secluded little bays on the way. There is accomodation here at the Lakes as well as utilising the accomodation in Dargaville which is approximately 25 minutes away.

Back on SH12 and heading north, don't forget to view the wonderful Auditorium portraying swamp kauri in all its different forms. Everyone should call here to view or buy the beautiful kauri furniture or turned wood exhibits.

From here one continues through little settlements, Kaihu, Aranga, to Trounson Kauri Park. Guided night time walks take you through the forest where you may see Kiwi, Weta, Glow-Worms and more. Horse Treks amble through bush farmland alongside streams and the beach. The Department of Conservation has established an extensive pest control programme which has allowed regeneration of the plant life and recovery of the Kiwi and other native bird population within Trounson Park. A wonderful place to be.

On the way to the Waipoua Kauri Forest, home the largest kauri tree Tane Mahuta and the second largest kauri tree Te Matua Ngahere. Truly an imposing sight as you stand beneath it and a must to see when you visit Northland, just a few minutes easy walk off SH12. . There are many walks through the forest, some several minutes, some several hours and for all ages. The Department of Conservation has a wonderful camp just off SH12 at the beginning of the forest, beautiful surroundings with the stoney bottomed river for swimming. There is also a Visitor Information Centre on this land.

After Waipoua Forest comes the little settlement of Waimamuku, very pretty, and a left turn a little further North will take you out towards the coast which has to be reached on foot for the last part.

Onwards North and over the hill, and there at the top - the breathtaking and awesome sight of the golden sandhills that guard the northern entrance to the Hokianga Harbour. Truly a sight that will stay etched in your mind forever.

Moremonui or Moremunui is a location in the Northland Region of, 12 miles south of Maunganui Bluff. It is known principally as the site of a Māori battle fought in either 1807 or 1808 between the Kaipara branches of the Ngāti Whātua, Te-Uri-o-Hau and Te Roroa iwi on one side and the Ngā Puhi iwi on the other. The battle is known as Moremonui, Moremunui or Te Kai a te Karoro (The Seagulls' Feast).

The outcome of the battle did not follow technological advantage. While reloading, Ngā Puhi were overrun by the defenders' counter attack, their rangatira (chief) Pokaia being killed. It has been claimed that up to a thousand warriors died, the majority Ngā Puhi hunted down after their ranks broke. Future Ngā Puhi war leaders Kawiti and Hongi Hika escaped due to Ngāti Whātua rangatira Taoho's restraint in stopping further pursuit. Taoho literally drew a line in the sand, beyond which Ngā Puhi were not to be killed.

Although only a small number of firearms were used, Moremonui could reasonably be called the first battle of the Musket Wars, as a thirst for utu (justice through revenge) motivated Hongi Hika's campaigns against the Ngāti Whātua over the next twenty years.

Waoku Coach Road
This is the Kauri Coast Walk for adventurers.  The isolated and historic Waoku Road, once the only transport link between the Kaipara and Hokianga Harbours, is a tribute to pioneer roadmaking.  Waoku Coach Road is located between Tutamoe and Taheke, traversing the Mataraua and Waima Forests.  The length from north to south is 20 kms and takes a full days walk.  The southern entry is at Tutamoe and the northern entry is at Waima.  The route is lightly marked and little used so adequate preparations should be made, including good maps, boots and wet weather gear.

See the Department of Conservation web site for more info

Maungaraho Rock

This interesting feature on the landscape is a huge rocky outcrop rising from the countryside not far from Tokatoka.  There are 2 tracks, the lower track circles the base of this bushclad rocky bluff and the other leads off this one to the top.  It is a 45 minute walk around the base, while the track to the summit takes 30 minutes.  The track to the summit requires fitness as it is steep and entails some climbing.  In places ropes and ladders assist this.
Located on Mititai Road, Arapohue, off State Highway 12, 11 kms south of Dargaville.

Pouto Lighthouse

Located at Pouto Point, 69 kms south of Dargaville on the Pouto Peninsula.  There is a 7 km walk along the Kaipara Harbour Mouth's northern shores and then an energetic ten minute climb up sand dunes to the Lighthouse.  The three storey wooden lighthouse was built in 1884 and is now protected by the Historic Places Trust.

Tane Mahuta, Waipoua Forest