Tane Mahuta - God of the Forest - is supposedly the largest still-living Kauri tree in NZ. While this certainly is a most impressive tree (and arguably the most comparable to the Coastal Redwoods of California), it lacked the girth of Te Matua Ngahere - Father of the Forest. Believed to be between 1,200 and 2,000 years old, it is an awe-inspiring experience to stand below this Giant. Just try to ignore the crowds that seem to gather on the boardwalk.
We didn't go all the way along the track (due to time restraints), but it was good to see the tree. The boardwalk was good but nothing too special and very hard to get a good photo due it its size.
It is worth visiting all the old Kauri trees within the area. There are a number of walks other than just Tane Mahuta (although he is stunning!). Lovely walks. The walways make it suitable for families and those who aren't up for proper hiking. It is very pretty. If you can go earlier in the morning, or later in the afternoon when there are fewer people it is magical.
Our guide made this a fascinating visit as he clearly both loved and respected this wonderful tree and he made our experience both interesting and moving. We noticed throughout our stay how much reverence the Maori show towards their heritage.
Even in light rain, the forest walk is very worthwhile. Don't just park and see one tree - take a 20-minute walk and experience something very unique and special.
We've been up to the bay of islands 5 times since coming to NZ in 2012 and always wanted to drive down the west coast on the way home but never had the time.You need to make time for this. The drive through Opononi and through kauri country is fantastic with plenty of places to stop. The Tane Mahuta tree is only a few mins walk from the road and it is a spectacular sight. Don't miss this area.
Wow!! Its free, easy to get to, open all hours, suitable for all ages and is very awe inspiring. Giants of the forest you can stand beside, knowing they were here centuries ago its just amazing. A definite must see in Northland, in the North Island, in New Zealand, in the Pacific and in the world!! Nowhere else will you see these sights.
The Kauri trees are magnificent - these grow for thousands of years and are so tall, straight and the trunk is so large. We had a Maori guide which made the whole experience atmospheric, as he sang to the tree gods and told us the stories. May be a little off the beaten track, but well worth a visit. Do not take your dog with you as this is a kiwi area and they are at great risk from dogs. The trees are very much in their natural environment, and are now protected after the early European settlers threaten to wipe them out. I shall attach a couple of photos, but is difficult to convey the sheer size and magnificence of the tree in a photo.
The kauri trees in this area are magnificent. There is a nice view directly in front of it, but if you want to get the full tree in a photo, continue along the track (another couple of minutes) for another vantage point.Also worth seeing is Te Matua Ngahere, this is just a short drive and walk away from Tane Mahuta. It may be shorter, but incredibly wide and old.
Just a short walk from the winding road through the Waipoua forest this magnificent tree towering over 51 meters high and 14 meters wide, it was much larger than I expected. I recommend partnering with the Kaori museum which has more informaiton about these great trees, their history and you can see up close just how big their are. To think about how much this tree has survived through (an estimated 2,000+ years), it really is incredible. You could spend anywhere from 15 minutes (just walk from the road in and out) to hours walking through, admiring and exploring this forest and all it's diverse fauna - I couldn't believe how many different species were there when you really took a moment to look around.