Kauri Coast & Hokianga

Towns and Villages
Discover the Kauri Coast & Hokianga

Rāwene

Horeke, Rāwene, and Kohukohu

Horeke, a picturesque little port town was the first settlement in the Hokianga and the second oldest town in Aotearoa New Zealand. With its houses built on piles, the first tavern ever built in Aotearoa New Zealand in Horeke, and the Māngungu Mission nearby there is a multitude of reasons to visit this historic little town. The nearby Wairere Boulders is the only valley worldwide of its kind where there are thousands of volcanic boulders stacked on top of each other, some around 30m high.

Further down the Hokianga Harbour, Rāwene, Aotearoa New Zealand’s third oldest European settlement has great cafés, craft shops, and the historic Clendon House. Hop on a ferry to see some amazing scenery and enjoy the Victorian village of Kohukohu. It was the bustling heart of the kauri industry and now home to a fantastic creative community.

All three towns are linked by the Pou Herenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail, the Kauri Coast Cycleway and the Far North Cycleway. A harbour tour boat also ferries cyclists between the towns. If exploring at a slower pace is your thing, be sure to allow enough time to truly experience this beautiful region.

Ōmāpere, Opononi and Waipoua

The seaside sister settlements of Opononi and Ōmāpere are the main hub for the southern Hokianga Harbour, home to cafes and restaurants, plenty of accommodation options including boutique and luxury stays, cultural experiences and historical points of interest. 

As you approach you’ll notice the immense sand dunes of Niwa, the northern head of the harbour. At the south head, a walking track leads to an old signal station on Arai Te Uru, with spectacular views. Take a boat trip across the harbour to the giant dunes where you can try dune surfing, or get your adrenalin pumping with an informative jet ski tour of the harbour. At low tide a walk on the beach between Koutu and Kauwhare further up the harbour will reveal the Koutu Boulders, one of the Hokianga’s best kept secrets. Manea Footprints of Kupe is a must visit in this area, sharing the story of Kupe the great Polynesian explorer in a 4D theatre, and immersing visitors in Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) through storytelling and carvings.

Further south of the harbour is the Waipoua Forest, domain of Tāne Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest, and Te Matua Ngahere, the Father of the Forest - Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest and oldest living kauri trees. Learn of legends, gods and myths on a guided journey through Waipoua Forest, or explore the forest trails and discover the giant kauri trees, on your own.

Trounson Kauri Park, Kaihu, Kai Iwi Lakes, Omamari, Baylys Beach

Trounson Kauri Park is a predator-free mainland ‘island’ of kauri forest and native wildlife and is a window into the ancient and pristine kauri forests of Aotearoa New Zealand. Self-guided night-time walks available to guests of the nearby Holiday Park are a chance to encounter thriving native species, including kiwi, in their natural habitat. Just south, Stage One of the Kaihu Valley Cycle Trail has opened, winding through the beautiful green farmlands of Kaihu Valley alongside the Kaihu River at times and currently ending at the northern end of the Kaihu settlement.

Along the coast, Ripiro Beach stretches for 100km between Maunganui Bluff and Poutō Point. High sand dune cliffs line most of the beach, with entrance and exit points at small coastal settlements like Omamari and Baylys Beach. Omamari is a quiet settlement with holiday homes close to the picturesque Kai Iwi Lakes while Baylys Beach is great for camping or relaxing in a café.

The freshwater dune lakes at Kai Iwi Lakes are one of the highlights along this coast, crystal clear with sandy shallows perfect for families, and deeper drop-offs into brilliant blue water, perfect for activities like paddleboarding. The lakes are also a popular camping area that fills up quickly in summer. 

Maungaraho Rock

Dargaville, Ruawai and Poutō

Nestled beside the Northern Wairoa River, Dargaville has a rich heritage of kauri logging, gum digging, and shipbuilding. Local galleries specialise in kauri timber and swamp kauri products, perfect gifts and souvenirs to remember your trip. The Dargaville Museum offers a fascinating look at the area’s history, and hosts shipwreck relics including the mast of the ill-fated Greenpeace protest ship Rainbow Warrior. Next door sits the Kaipara Heritage and Machinery Museum, and both boast an outstanding panoramic view of the town and river. The town is a treasure trove of cafes, restaurants, and little shops, as well as a service centre for the wider farming community, meaning it's the place to stock up before heading up the wild west coast. For those with more time, enjoy a rail cart cruise, wander the river walk, or enjoy the riverside gardens.

Dargaville and nearby Ruawai are the principal centre of kumara (sweet potato) production in Aotearoa New Zealand so keep an eye out for roadside stall selling their crops. Between the two towns you can climb the amazing Tokatoka Peak and Maungaraho Rock - the core or plugs of an ancient volcanos, both with spectacular views over the countryside.

At the very southern end of this Northland coast, Poutō Peninsula is one of Taitokerau Northland's best kept secrets, with its ever-shifting sands, petrified kauri, and fossilised leaves. Its seafaring history speaks of more than 100 shipwrecks entombed in dunes and sandbars around the treacherous Kaipara harbour while Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest wooden lighthouse stands proud at Poutō Point.

Matakohe, Paparoa, Maungaturoto

The deservedly famous Kauri Museum in Matakohe is a must-see whilst in Taitokerau Northland. Learn the story of the kauri tree, about the timber and gum trade, and the people who were a part of these kauri industries. The grounds consist of a pioneer schoolhouse, original church and museum, and the area also is home to a cycle trail and artist galleries.

Nearby at Pahi you'll find a giant tree of another kind - a Moreton Bay Fig Tree with a canopy over 50m wide. Further south along State Highway 12 you'll find Paparoa, complete with charming historic buildings, a local country pub and Saturday farmers markets. Maungaturoto is a classic country town with quirky collection of shops and great little cafes.