# The Kauri Coast and Hokianga from Kaikohe to Matakohe

> 3-day road trip of about 175 km (109 mi) with 11 stops, from Kaikohe to Kauri Museum, Matakohe. About 1 h 54 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/nzn-kauri-coast-hokianga/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 175 km (109 mi) with 11 stops, from Kaikohe to Kauri Museum, Matakohe. About 1 h 54 min of driving in total. A three-day drive down SH12 through the great kauri forests, the Hokianga Harbour, the Kai Iwi Lakes and a kauri museum.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 175 km (109 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 54 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 11 |
| Route | Kaikohe → Kauri Museum, Matakohe |
| States | New Zealand |
| Updated | May 11, 2026 |

## Route description

Start at Kaikohe, where SH12 turns west towards the Hokianga Harbour. The road runs about 50 km through farmland and hills to Rawene, a small village on the harbour shore. Clendon House is worth an hour, and the vehicle ferry to Kohukohu leaves from the wharf here, so check its timetable. Fuel up before you continue, because services are scarce on SH12.

The road follows the harbour to Opononi, about 30 km further, where a short boat trip crosses the entrance to the great sand dunes on the south shore. From Opononi the highway climbs into Waipoua Forest. Both Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere are short walks from car parks beside SH12. Clean your boots at each station to stop the spread of kauri dieback.

South of the forest, the road reaches Trounson Kauri Park off SH12 near Kaihu, where the DOC campsite sits among kauri, with night walks in the forest. Check the fee and booking details first. A little further south, a turn west leads to the Kai Iwi Lakes and Taharoa Domain, three blue freshwater lakes and a campground behind the dunes. Allow a leisurely half day.

From the lakes the road runs on to Dargaville, the main town of the Kauri Coast, with supermarkets, fuel and holiday parks. Matakohe lies about 45 km south on SH12 and holds the Kauri Museum, with its wooden displays and gum collections. Expect about five hours of driving overall, with winding sections where campervans should take corners slowly and keep well left.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Kaikohe** (New Zealand)
2. **Rawene** (New Zealand)
3. **Clendon House and Hokianga Ferry, Rawene** (Rawene, New Zealand): A nineteenth-century house of a trader on the Hokianga Harbour, in the small village of Rawene on SH12. The vehicle ferry to Kohukohu leaves from the nearby wharf. Check the timetable, since the ferry runs on a limited schedule and may skip bad weather.
4. **Opononi** (New Zealand)
5. **Hokianga Harbour Sand Dunes** (Opononi, New Zealand): Large dunes on the southern shore of the harbour mouth, reached by a short boat ride from Opononi wharf. Climb to the crest for views over the entrance and the open Tasman. Crossings depend on the tide and wind, so book locally.
6. **Tāne Mahuta, Waipoua Forest** (Opononi, New Zealand): The largest known living kauri, standing a few steps from SH12 in Waipoua Forest. A short boardwalk leads to the trunk. Clean your boots at the stations to help stop kauri dieback, and stay on the path so roots are not damaged.
7. **Te Matua Ngahere** (Opononi, New Zealand): The Father of the Forest, a very thick kauri of great age, reached by a 20-minute walk through quiet bush from a car park off SH12. Use the cleaning stations before and after, and keep to the track to protect the shallow roots.
8. **Trounson Kauri Park Campsite** (Dargaville, New Zealand): A DOC campsite inside a small kauri reserve with pest control and a loop track among large trees; kiwi are sometimes heard at night. It is off SH12 near Kaihu on a sealed road. Check the fee and booking rules before arrival.
9. **Kai Iwi Lakes (Taharoa Domain)** (Dargaville, New Zealand): Three clear freshwater dune lakes with white sand and blue-green water, set among pines on the Kauri Coast. Taharoa Domain has a campground, a lake-edge beach and walking tracks. Check fees and booking rules, and bring insect repellent in summer.
10. **Dargaville** (New Zealand)
11. **Kauri Museum, Matakohe** (Dargaville, New Zealand): A museum devoted to the kauri timber and gum industries, with giant polished slabs, gum specimens and rooms of pioneer life. Allow two to three hours. The car park takes motorhomes, and the village sits directly beside SH12.

## Suggested stages and overnight stops

1. **Day 1: Kaikohe → Hokianga Harbour Sand Dunes** (56 km, 0 h 37 min) On the way: Rawene, Clendon House and Hokianga Ferry, Rawene, Opononi.
2. **Day 2: Hokianga Harbour Sand Dunes → Kai Iwi Lakes (Taharoa Domain)** (52 km, 0 h 34 min) On the way: Tāne Mahuta, Waipoua Forest, Te Matua Ngahere, Trounson Kauri Park Campsite.
3. **Day 3: Kai Iwi Lakes (Taharoa Domain) → Kauri Museum, Matakohe** (67 km, 0 h 44 min) On the way: Dargaville.

## Best time to go

The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. Hot in January–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is The Kauri Coast and Hokianga from Kaikohe to Matakohe?**
3-day road trip of about 175 km (109 mi) with 11 stops, from Kaikohe to Kauri Museum, Matakohe. About 1 h 54 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for The Kauri Coast and Hokianga from Kaikohe to Matakohe?**
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 54 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does The Kauri Coast and Hokianga from Kaikohe to Matakohe start and end?**
It starts in Kaikohe and ends in Kauri Museum, Matakohe.

**Which states does The Kauri Coast and Hokianga from Kaikohe to Matakohe pass through?**
New Zealand.

**When is the best time for The Kauri Coast and Hokianga from Kaikohe to Matakohe?**
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)