Description
A 20-minute walk leads you to 'Te Matua Ngahere' (Father of the Forest) – the second largest living kauri tree in New Zealand.
You can admire the tree on a viewing platform without damaging its sensitive root systems.
Getting there
The Te Matua Ngahere Walk is sign posted 'Kauri Walks' from SH12, which runs through the Waipoua Forest.
From the car park, you will see a sign for the three walks 'Te Matua Ngahere', 'Four Sisters', and 'Yakas Kauri'.
A track meanders through native bush and brings you to a central point from which you can access the three walks. From here Te Matua Ngahere Walk is very well sign posted and located directly in the middle of this open space.
Nature and conservation
You get an opportunity to experience many aspects of this dynamic forest system. The forest type varies from almost pure kauri stands to mixed podocarp/hardwood, with kauri grass, kiekie, neinei and ferns in the understorey.
It is very important that you keep to the walking track at all times. Kauri trees have very sensitive surface roots, and foot traffic around the trees endangers their life span.
About Te Matua Ngahere
'Te Matua Ngahere' (Father of the Forest) is the second largest living kauri tree in New Zealand. He is also noted as being the oldest out of the two largest living kauri trees and is estimated to exceed 2,000 years. He was discovered by Nicholas Yakas in 1928 when he and other men were working to build the road that is now known as SH12.
Measurements:
- Trunk girth: 16.41 m
- Trunk height: 10.21 m
- Total height: 29.9 m
- Trunk volume: 208.1 m³
Know before you go
- Keep to the track at all times.
- In strong winds, beware of falling branches.