Te Matua Ngahere, or “Father of the Forest,” is the second-largest living kauri tree in Aotearoa and is located in Waipoua Forest, Northland. This kauri is estimated to be around 2,500 and 3,000 years old and can be reached via an easy 20-minute walking trail leading to a viewing platform.

Located in Waipoua Forest in Northland, Te Matua Ngahere, or “Father of the Forest,” is the second-largest living kauri tree in Aotearoa and is estimated to be around 2,500 and 3,000 years old.

To visit Te Matua Ngahere, park your car and follow an easy 20-minute (750m) walking trail through Waipoua Forest before arriving at a viewing platform.

Know before you go

If you plan to visit Te Matua Ngahere, you MUST stick to the boardwalk. Like so many of our precious native trees, Te Matua Ngahere is threatened by kauri dieback disease, a devastating infection that spreads through the soil and attacks the roots. That’s why it’s so important to use the shoe-cleaning stations and follow the path.

If you’d like to spend more time in Waipoua Forest, I highly recommend driving 3 minutes to Tāne Mahuta, the largest known living kauri tree in New Zealand.