Access

From S.H.1 near Kerikeri, follow Puketotara Road, then turn right onto Waiare Road (unsealed). The start of the walk is signposted 6.5km on the left, 1.5km after the Puketi Recreation Area. There are two parking bays close-by.

Puketi Kauri Forest is also signposted off S.H.10 on Waiare Road 2km south of Kaeo.

Track

The elevated boardwalk weaves a sinuous path through the forest. It is suitable for wheelchairs.

Flora

Various growth stages of the kauri are visible, indicating how the form of the tree changes. After the early ‘ricker’ stage, when the kauri exhibits a pyramidal form, it develops a solid columnar trunk. It’s lower branches are shed and it’s graceful crown opens to capture the light. Once established the tree continues to gain bulk, until after millennia, it benevolently fades.

A number of trees fell during a devastating cyclone in 1959.

Fauna

Kokako and kiwi sometimes roam the reserve although meetings now occur with unfortunate rarity.

Polynesian History

The name Manginangina means ‘in and out of sight’. Maori used the nearby hill as a lookout to watch approaching canoes on the indented coastline.

European History

Some of the trees show scars left from the days when taps were cut into the bark to bleed gum. A bushman would return months later to recover the lumps of valuable sap that formed around the wounds. This practice was later banned (but never policed) because of the harm it did to the trees.