Tane Mahuta Walk
Waipoua Forest
Your Nature Guide
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Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
Tane Mahuta Walk
325 m return | 10 minutes return
Tane Mahuta, God of the Forest, is estimated to be 2,000 years old. He is 51.5 metres high, has a girth of 13.8 metres. He rises nearly 10 metres before there is any tapering in his trunk. He is the largest, best-known and most publicised kauri.
This is a spiritual place - According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth mother. Tane was the child that tore his parent’s parental embrace and once done set about clothing his mother in the forest we have here today. All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane’s children.
Walking Track
Timing
It can get busy so if you prefer a quieter experience then time your walk for early or late in the day. Hanging out with Tane Mahuta at dawn or dusk is gold!
Access
Tane Mahuta is comprehensively signposted on S.H.12, 11km north of the Waipoua Visitor Centre. There are toilets, picnic tables and roadside parking nearby.
Track
The track is wide, metalled, even and suitable for wheelchairs, although one fallen tree at an angle over the track may need negotiation.
Boardwalks are constructed to protect the shallow fragile root systems of the tree.
Flora
The largest ever recorded kauri had a girth nearly twice as large.
The dying tips of his branches show he is in the autumn of his years and probably hollowing on the inside. His sheltered location should allow for continued wonder for generations yet.
Over 15% of the recorded species in the Waipoua Forest live as an empire of epiphytes in the clefts between his upper branches. Moisture collects in these hollows and a moss begins to form. This creates an embryonic soil for a seed, either blown by the wind or dropped by a bird, to germinate. The leaf litter accumulates and develops humus, sustaining the plant. In this way a hanging garden evolves in the tree.
Polynesian History
In Maori mythology, Tane was the son of Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanaku (Earth Mother). With his almighty strength, he separated their embrace, creating light, air and space – the elements for life to flourish. Tane is thus seen as the life giver and all living creatures are his progeny.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Hokianga |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
Amazing to see the largest kauri tree.
Short walk from the road. Be sure to clean your shoes properly at the station on the way in and out of the walk to help stop the spread of kauri die back disease. Toilets across the toad as well as awesome fresh fruit ice cream. Worth the stop along the way.
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5.0/5
Really amazing, it's worth while a stop, just 5 min walking from the road.
A monster tree that I'll always remember.
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4.5/5
Beautiful walks and loops under the tree of Waipoua Forest with stunning stops in front of the biggest Kauri.
Quiet atmosphere and respectful people. Information and signage are helpful - congratulations!!
L![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(148,76,80)" /><path d="m 150 609 Q 276 24 -309 150 Q 276 276 150 -309 Q 24 276 609 150 Q 24 24 150 609 z" fill="rgb(236,41,88)" /><path d="m 150 460 Q 119 181 -160 150 Q 119 119 150 -160 Q 181 119 460 150 Q 181 181 150 460 z" fill="rgb(19,214,167)" /><path d="m 150 262 Q 170 130 38 150 Q 170 170 150 38 Q 130 170 262 150 Q 130 130 150 262 z" fill="rgb(107,179,175)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
A short walk to see the biggest living Kauris in the country.
It is a nice, easy flat walk.
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4.5/5
A lovely walk on well maintained paths to see the largest living Kauri tree.
Excellent.
WS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(183,122,110)" /><path d="m 150 746 Q 231 69 -446 150 Q 231 231 150 -446 Q 69 231 746 150 Q 69 69 150 746 z" fill="rgb(191,59,41)" /><path d="m 150 314 Q 95 205 -14 150 Q 95 95 150 -14 Q 205 95 314 150 Q 205 205 150 314 z" fill="rgb(64,196,214)" /><path d="m 150 192 Q 126 174 108 150 Q 126 126 150 108 Q 174 126 192 150 Q 174 174 150 192 z" fill="rgb(72,133,145)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
A short walk takes you to the biggest Kauri tree in New Zealand which is very impressive, unlike anything I have ever seen.
SS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(182,5,20)" /><path d="m 150 543 Q 98 202 -243 150 Q 98 98 150 -243 Q 202 98 543 150 Q 202 202 150 543 z" fill="rgb(28,6,183)" /><path d="m 150 430 Q 176 124 -130 150 Q 176 176 150 -130 Q 124 176 430 150 Q 124 124 150 430 z" fill="rgb(227,249,72)" /><path d="m 150 218 Q 159 141 82 150 Q 159 159 150 82 Q 141 159 218 150 Q 141 141 150 218 z" fill="rgb(73,250,235)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
A great walk under the cooling shadows of the Kauri trees.
Great conditions and clean facilities.
LF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(108,120,91)" /><path d="m 150 711 Q 124 176 -411 150 Q 124 124 150 -411 Q 176 124 711 150 Q 176 176 150 711 z" fill="rgb(158,254,198)" /><path d="m 150 379 Q 230 70 -79 150 Q 230 230 150 -79 Q 70 230 379 150 Q 70 70 150 379 z" fill="rgb(97,1,57)" /><path d="m 150 331 Q 234 66 -31 150 Q 234 234 150 -31 Q 66 234 331 150 Q 66 66 150 331 z" fill="rgb(147,135,164)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Really impressive Kauri tree.
It is an easy walk over a wooden board path. You can see the biggest Kauri tree of New Zealand!
B![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(235,86,126)" /><path d="m 150 671 Q 201 99 -371 150 Q 201 201 150 -371 Q 99 201 671 150 Q 99 99 150 671 z" fill="rgb(194,26,90)" /><path d="m 150 553 Q 134 166 -253 150 Q 134 134 150 -253 Q 166 134 553 150 Q 166 166 150 553 z" fill="rgb(61,229,165)" /><path d="m 150 115 Q 198 102 185 150 Q 198 198 150 185 Q 102 198 115 150 Q 102 102 150 115 z" fill="rgb(20,169,129)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
It is a very big tree but shorter than I imagined.
Lots of available information.
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5.0/5
Lovely short walk through the forest to see New Zealand's mightiest Kauri tree.
There is also the Four Sisters, four trees all growing together.
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3.0/5
Very big and nice trees.
I believe it was the biggest tree in New Zealand. The drive along the west coast is also very nice.
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3.0/5
Very easy to reach from the highway and a spot that you should check out when passing by.
F![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(0,12,36)" /><path d="m 150 732 Q 271 29 -432 150 Q 271 271 150 -432 Q 29 271 732 150 Q 29 29 150 732 z" fill="rgb(31,135,176)" /><path d="m 150 475 Q 185 115 -175 150 Q 185 185 150 -175 Q 115 185 475 150 Q 115 115 150 475 z" fill="rgb(224,120,79)" /><path d="m 150 328 Q 294 6 -28 150 Q 294 294 150 -28 Q 6 294 328 150 Q 6 6 150 328 z" fill="rgb(255,243,219)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Amazing to see the largest kauri tree.
Short walk from the road. Be sure to clean your shoes properly at the station on the way in and out of the walk to help stop the spread of kauri die back disease. Toilets across the toad as well as awesome fresh fruit ice cream. Worth the stop along the way.
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5.0/5
Really amazing, it's worth while a stop, just 5 min walking from the road.
A monster tree that I'll always remember.
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4.0/5
A short walk to see the biggest living Kauris in the country.
It is a nice, easy flat walk.
-
4.5/5
Beautiful walks and loops under the tree of Waipoua Forest with stunning stops in front of the biggest Kauri.
Quiet atmosphere and respectful people. Information and signage are helpful - congratulations!!
L -
4.5/5
A lovely walk on well maintained paths to see the largest living Kauri tree.
Excellent.
WS -
4.0/5
A short walk takes you to the biggest Kauri tree in New Zealand which is very impressive, unlike anything I have ever seen.
SS -
-
4.0/5
A great walk under the cooling shadows of the Kauri trees.
Great conditions and clean facilities.
LF -
4.0/5
Really impressive Kauri tree.
It is an easy walk over a wooden board path. You can see the biggest Kauri tree of New Zealand!
B -
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5.0/5
Lovely short walk through the forest to see New Zealand's mightiest Kauri tree.
There is also the Four Sisters, four trees all growing together.
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4.0/5
It is a very big tree but shorter than I imagined.
Lots of available information.
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3.0/5
Very big and nice trees.
I believe it was the biggest tree in New Zealand. The drive along the west coast is also very nice.
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5.0/5
What a nice walk to see some Kauri trees.
Two of them are more than 1000 years old and they are huge. This will make you feel how small you are against the nature. Good experience and amazing feeling.
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4.0/5
Very impressive to see something that old.
Big cultural must do. Nice five minute walk.
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