Kauri Dam Walk

A nice short walk to a bit of New Zealand’s history

The Kauri Dam Walk is a short easy walk that ends at the remnants of one of the dams that were used to extract Kauri logs from the Tangihua Forest.

For more information about the Kauri felling and extraction of the logs in the Tangihua Forest visit our page on the extraction of kauri from the Tangihua Ranges.

Kauri Dam Walk Time and Difficulty Level

The track is well formed and sign posted. It is suitable for all ages and for people with low to moderate fitness levels. The few steep sections have formed timber steps.

It is an ideal walk to do for those staying at the Lodge as it is only a short walk up the road to the start of the track. The whole walk from the Lodge to the dam and back takes around 40 minutes.

What you will see on the walk to the Kauri Dam

The track travels through regenerating forest and then drops down to a tributary of the Pikiwahine Stream. This is the main stream used to extract Kauri from the forest.

In the rights conditions you may spot Kauri Snails along the side of the track. They are often out and about early in the morning or on damp, overcast days.

If you want to know more about the forest, Kauri logging and the plants, birds and insects you may discover on your walk, have a browse through the pages on this website.

What you will see when you get to the Kauri Dam

The viewing platform looks down over the Pikiwahine Stream and what remains of a dam that was used to transport kauri logs out of the Tangihua Forest to the Northern Wairoa River. The logs were jacked or carted down to the stream and placed in the river behind the dam. Once it was full the dam would be released and the logs flushed down the stream.

This dam is one of five on this side of the Tangihua Ranges. To gain the most from the dams, the releasing of the water and logs would be synchronised.

The dam was last used in 1910.

Remnants of the Kauri Dam in the Pikiwahine Stream

DOC MARKER TO FOLLOW

Important Information

When walking the tracks you are likely to notice a range of different coloured markers.

DO NOT

follow any markers other than the orange markers.

The other markers indicate the location of trap and bait station lines that are part of a range of conservation programs underway in the Tangihua Forest, including;

• Tangihua Community Pest Control Area: Targeting pests on farm land with local farmers and the Northland Regional Council
• Conservation on DoC Land: Tangihua Lions Lodge Conservation and Education project
• Conservation Education: Creating a high quality, accessible educational center surrounded by a fully functional ecosystem for schools and any one else who may choose to use the facility.
• Volunteers Options : How you can help protect our native bush.

For more information or to book the Tangihua Lions Lodge click here.

You may be interested in our conservation project aiming to restore the forest. If so, visit our conservation page.