The Kauri Museum Tour
Pioneer history and giant kauri timber at the museum in Matakohe.
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.