Kaipara District
Kaipara – Two Oceans Two Harbours. Being washed by the untamed Tasman Sea on the west and the magnificent Pacific Ocean on the east, Kaipara District has it all for a perfect adventure.
Kaipara is Northland`s least populated district. It is located among the beautiful hills around the northern shores of the Kaipara Harbour, a large natural harbour open to the Tasman Sea. Also Kaipara Harbour is known for being one of the biggest in the world. It covers around 947 square kilometers at high tide.
Photo credit: NZ Places
The Harbour was named by one of the Māori chiefs who visited his relatives in the area. He was so impressed by the cooked root of the fern that he named this are Kai-para, where “Kai” means food in in the Māori language. Due to the wilderness of the waters and nasty conditions, Kaipara Harbour is rarely used for shipping these days. Some of the shipwrecks can be seen at certain tides.
There are no major cities or urban centres in the district. The biggest town is Dargaville which is located on the bank of Northern Wairoa River. It is a primary gateway to the Waipoua Forest – home of Tane Mahuta, the biggest Kauri tree in the world.
The district is having an oceanic climate, with 30 C in summer and plenty of rain throughout the year.
Stats provided by climate-data.org
The second biggest township is Magical Mangawhai. With its absolutely gorgeous surf beach, it is one of our personal must-see places in New Zealand. The gorgeous view on the islands, epic colour of waters and white sand make this place Heaven on Earth.
The nearest city is Whangarei, 45 kilometers northeast of Dargaville.
Panoramic view from Mangawhai Heads Coastal Track
Places not to miss in Kaipara District – Outdoors and Nature
- Tāne Mahuta Walk – Easy 5 minutes access to the biggest Kauri Tree in New Zealand
- Maunganui Bluff Track – 1 hr 30 min to Maunganui Bluff | 5 hr to Waikara Beach. Enjoy one of the best views in Kaipara District
- Kai Iwi Lakes Coastal Track – a beautiful walk across the farmland leading to the longest drivable beach in New Zealand – Ripiro Beach (yes, it is longer than Ninety Mile Beach!)
Art, Craft & Heritage
The Mangawhai Tavern – a humble, heritage venue that have passed through over the last 150 years.
Kaipara North Head Light House was built in 1884 to guide ships crossing the bar at the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour. Can be accessed from the beach at any time.
Mangawhai Artists Gallery – the Mangawhai area inspires painters and photographers, mosaic, ceramic, wood and glass artists, sculptors, jewellery makers, weavers and many other artists.
The Kauri Museum – with truly stunning collections, it offers something that is like no other and will amaze all with galleries of lifelike scenes of pioneering life.
