Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
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1.6 km return | 40 minutes return
Kauri grow prolifically on the reserve in symmetrical columns of untapering beauty. They grow in dense stands and are sometimes the only tree in a particular area of forest.
Trounson Kauri Park is a short walk doozy. Trounson provides a unique combination of being a mainland island (this means that predatory pests are trapped and native bird-life are more abundant) PLUS you walk amoungst the giants of New Zealand forest - the mighty kauri trees.
Less busy than the Tane Mahuta walk.
Stay the night in the connected DOC campground and have a chance of seeing wild Kiwi at night. What a treat!
Trounson Kauri Park is signposted from S.H.12 along Kaitui Road from the north (8km) and Trounson Park Road from the south (7km).
There is a DoC campground (open only in summer) and toilets nearby.
The track entrance is signposted 100m from the junction with Mangatu Road along Trounson Park Road, where there is a large parking area.
The track is wide, even and metalled. It performs a loop through the forest, over a substantial boardwalk and alongside a stream.
Information panels and two poetic auditory accompaniments give information on the kauri and ecology of the forest.
The forests of Northland are presided over by a conspicuous, eerie quietness that is only broken by the occasional chuckling of a stream or the rusting of foliage in the wind. The rush of wings or the melancholy tunes of the forests’ avian residents are sadly absent.
Predation by stoats, ferrets and cats; loss of habitat through land clearance for farming and exotic forestry; and competition for food from possums and rats have crushed bird numbers to low levels. Some populations are below the threshold needed to survive.
The mainland island concept was introduced to preserve environments where predator numbers are controlled through trapping and poisoning. The native plant species are given a chance to proliferate, supplying an abundant food resource to the native birds.
Species such as North Island brown kiwi, kukupa, pekapeka (bats) and kauri snail now have recovering populations in Trounson’s protected confines.
In 1890 James Trounson set aside 3.14 hectares of land for a reserve and added 21.45 hectares later. Before the park was officially opened in 1921 a further 367 hectares were added. The total area now comprises 457 hectares
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Dargaville |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km |
Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 30 mins to 1 hour |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Easiest walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
DOC Track Category |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Short walk Easy walking for up to an hour. Track is well formed, with an even surface. There may be steps or slopes. Suitable for people of most abilities and fitness. Stream and rivers crossings are bridged. Walking shoes required. |
Track Accommodation |
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Track AccommodationWhat type of accommodation is available on this walking track? Campsite At least one campsite is available on this track to stay at overnight. |
Disabled Access |
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Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? Disabled access provided This location provides access for wheelchairs. |
Crowd Factor |
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Crowd FactorHow crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
The best experience so far!!
Beautiful walk to giant Kauri trees.
A loop track with a length from 1.5 km.
Nice 40min walk, lots of kauri trees.
Nice walks and not over crowded.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 14 |
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32% |
9/10 | 14 |
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32% |
8/10 | 10 |
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23% |
7/10 | 5 |
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11% |
6/10 | 1 |
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2% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.5/5
Very pretty, nice and easy walkway (mostly boardwalk).
Beautiful forest!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Great walk for kids too.
Stroller-friendly. Sad to see the dead kauri’s - take care to follow the instructions. The parking lot has many young kauri’s if you know how to spot them. We saw a huge snail alongside the road, unfortunately it was ‘sleeping’ inside its house.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
12 September 2018.
Basically as previously described. We walked in light and dark. Glow-worms in places. Saw one or possibly two kiwis, just about! Great place to go. Shame about the kauri die-back but good protections in place, please use them.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
4.5/5
A loop track with a length from 1.5 km.
A nice collection of Kauri trees. A beautiful walk. The DOC campsite Trounson Kauri Park is directly next door.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
5.0/5
Beautiful walk to giant Kauri trees.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.5/5
Great walk through the forest, mainly on a boardwalk.
We did it twice - initially to familiarise ourselves and then at night, but sadly we didn't see any kiwis,
We stayed overnight at the DOC site next to the park - great value for money as it has a number of powered sites, plus a kitchen for those without their own facilities. Best approach is from the south; the one from the north requires 8km drive over a gravel road.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
5.0/5
Beautiful walk, because of the big kauri trees and forest experience.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
A wonderful introduction to the native forests.
We repeated the walk in the dark but failed to spot a kiwi - only met other campers and one scared possum!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
I really recommend to do this walk if you want to see kiwi birds but cannot afford a guided tour (the local guided tours will bring you to this same place anyway).
Try to avoid big groups or you won't see any. We were lucky to see one kiwi bird (we heard many others) but loud people were also around so we had to be patient.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.0/5
Walkway through a very nice Kauri forest, less tourists than at Waipoua - very good!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
Interesting to see how big the Kauri trees can grow and unbelievable that they are so old.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
3.0/5
Sweet walk through kauri forest.
Not crowded (like the 'big' walk to the giant Kauri trees).
Reviewed over 13 years ago
4.5/5
Very pretty, nice and easy walkway (mostly boardwalk).
Beautiful forest!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
4.0/5
Great walk for kids too.
Stroller-friendly. Sad to see the dead kauri’s - take care to follow the instructions. The parking lot has many young kauri’s if you know how to spot them. We saw a huge snail alongside the road, unfortunately it was ‘sleeping’ inside its house.
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
12 September 2018.
Basically as previously described. We walked in light and dark. Glow-worms in places. Saw one or possibly two kiwis, just about! Great place to go. Shame about the kauri die-back but good protections in place, please use them.
Reviewed about 6 years ago
5.0/5
Beautiful walk to giant Kauri trees.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.5/5
A loop track with a length from 1.5 km.
A nice collection of Kauri trees. A beautiful walk. The DOC campsite Trounson Kauri Park is directly next door.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.5/5
Great walk through the forest, mainly on a boardwalk.
We did it twice - initially to familiarise ourselves and then at night, but sadly we didn't see any kiwis,
We stayed overnight at the DOC site next to the park - great value for money as it has a number of powered sites, plus a kitchen for those without their own facilities. Best approach is from the south; the one from the north requires 8km drive over a gravel road.
Reviewed over 7 years ago
4.5/5
A wonderful introduction to the native forests.
We repeated the walk in the dark but failed to spot a kiwi - only met other campers and one scared possum!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Beautiful walk, because of the big kauri trees and forest experience.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Walkway through a very nice Kauri forest, less tourists than at Waipoua - very good!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
I really recommend to do this walk if you want to see kiwi birds but cannot afford a guided tour (the local guided tours will bring you to this same place anyway).
Try to avoid big groups or you won't see any. We were lucky to see one kiwi bird (we heard many others) but loud people were also around so we had to be patient.
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.0/5
Interesting to see how big the Kauri trees can grow and unbelievable that they are so old.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.0/5
Nice walks and not over crowded.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in January 2015
5.0/5
Nice to walk in the shadows of these giant trees.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.0/5
Night walk to see Kauri amazing.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
5.0/5
The best experience so far!!
Walking in the forest, hearing the Kiwi call and simply seeing one in the wild!!
Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013
3.5/5
Nice 40min walk, lots of kauri trees.
Found big kauri trees at the west coast more impressive, but if you have time stay here for the night (at the campground) and look for kiwi's in the wild! Took me 5 minutes to see one :).
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.0/5
Not as well known as the giant kauri trees (Waipoua Forest), but a very nice walk.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in November 2012
4.5/5
It is free and really impressive to see.
Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012
4.5/5
A beautiful taste of things to come (when travelling from the south, up the West Coast).
Meandering through the forest, chance to stay at the DOC Site.
TopTip Take yourself on the nighttime Kiwi-Tour and do so before 9pm or after 10pm (to avoid paid group)
Reviewed almost 12 years ago
5.0/5
Perfect park - perfect walk.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
3.5/5
The track in the Trounson Park is less known that the other tracks to the Kauri Trees but well worth it, beautiful kauri trees.
You can go at night and take a flash light you may see a kiwi!
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
5.0/5
Beautiful, silent, exciting to see such big trees, and hear about their story and ages.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
5.0/5
The parks are all clean, the ways are well prepared, the signs leading to attractions are good - we just get enough information.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
4.0/5
Well signed, well described and well kept up.
Good effort.
Reviewed over 12 years ago
5.0/5
40min walks with kids was very nice and also to the kauri trees in Waipoua Forest was easy to go to with kids aged 5 & 8.
Reviewed over 12 years ago
3.0/5
Sweet walk through kauri forest.
Not crowded (like the 'big' walk to the giant Kauri trees).
Reviewed over 13 years ago