Back to Auckland

From Paihia, we travelled westwards passing through Hokianga Harbour, then southwards heading towards Dargaville. En route, we stopped for a short visit to Waipoua Kauri Forest before heading for Auckland.

While we travelled along state highway 1 on the eastern side of the island when we travelled from Rotorua to Paihia, we covered the western side of the island for the return journey using state highway 12 before joining back highway 1. Distance from Paihia to Auckland via Dargaville is 310km.

Hokianga Harbour (along the west coast)

Waipoua Kauri Forest

Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) (above and below)
Largest kauri tree in New Zealand and estimated to be
between 1200 and 2000 years old. Trunk height 17.7m,
total height 51.5m and trunk girth 13.8m.


Close-up view of Tane Mahuta

‘Little China town’ at a suburb in Auckland

Yummy! Roast chicken, mussels, baked potatoes,
sweet potatoes and carrots. Sumptuous dinner
prepared by our friend’s son in Auckland.