The Kauri Museum

Discover the incredible legacy of New Zealand’s giant trees with Great North Tours at The Kauri Museum in Matakohe. This award-winning heritage site tells the gripping story of the pioneering kauri industry, showcasing massive logs, specialized machinery, and the rugged lives of the early gum-diggers and bushmen who shaped the North. Marvel at the world’s largest collection of kauri gum and explore life-sized historic recreations, including a 1900s schoolhouse and a fully equipped blacksmith shop. Admire the exquisite, intricately carved furniture that highlights the wood's unique golden grain and learn about the environmental efforts to protect these giants today. It is a fascinating, immersive journey into Northland’s heritage that perfectly complements a visit to the living giants of the Waipoua Forest.