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The Kauri Museum, Matakohe

4.6
#1 of 39 in Museums in Northland Region
History Museum Museum Must See
Delve into the history of some of the nation's first European settlers at The Kauri Museum, documenting the profound impact of the local forestry industry. Visit the museum's extensive undercover outdoor grounds, housing an array of artifacts and displays related to the harvesting of indigenous kauri trees and the lives of 19th-century pioneers. You'll find, among other things, sets of kauri-wood furniture, period clothing, a working sawmill, and even a gigantic kauri tree stump. Don't miss the displays detailing the usages of kauri gum, a resin extracted from the trees and turned into intricate artwork, fire starters, and more. Use our Matakohe online trip itinerary planner to add The Kauri Museum and other attractions to your Matakohe vacation plans.
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Tours to The Kauri Museum
Story of New Zealand's oldest living resident 'The Kauri Tree' BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $20
Duration: 45 minutes
Buy tours from $20
26 days Fully Guided motorcycle tour of NZ's Kiwi Trails BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $1,197
Duration: 27 days
Buy tours from $1,197
The Kauri Museum Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5
760 reviews
Google
4.6
TripAdvisor
  • By Eli B
    Don’t let scepticism about a museum dedicated to trees, fob you off. Your jaw will drop as you enter this vast and impressive place, with more than 4500 sq m of exhibits. Everything that pertains to t...  more »
  • By WoodgateFamily
    We visited the Museum before continuing onto the living trees in Trounson Kauri Park. This museum is slightly overwhelming as it holds so much and the way everything is displayed is amazing; not just ...  more »
  • By Helen A
    A hugely informative museum about kauri and the people whose livelihoods depended on it. It gives you the opportunity to understand a little of the hardships our pioneers faced when milling kauri and ...  more »
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Google
  • By Grant Bremner
    If you call in past the Kauri Museum in Matahohe in the North West of New Zealand you are in for a treat. Detailing the history of the logging industry and life you will be amazed at what is on show. Models depicting real people of the times at work and at play are scattered around the museum and we found them to be very realistic. There are so many interesting artifacts on show you could easily spend the whole day in the museum absorbing all of the visual displays and taking in all of the available information.
  • By Rob Russell
    VERY worth a visit. A great re-creation of life in early New Zealand, especially in the Northland region. The Kauri Museum depicts the great many ways in which the mighty Kauri tree, as well as it's gum resin, played a central role in many fledgling colonial New Zealand communities.
  • By Steve Brown
    What an interesting museum, that is well worth a visit to learn about Kauri trees. The building looks tiny from the outside but you can lose yourself in their for hours looking at the Kauri gum, trees and machinery. Suitable for all ages.
  • By noel Birchfield
    Amazing place well worth a visit. Great value for money. Best museum I've been 2
  • By Penny Ross
    Fascinating museum lovingly put together. Well worth a visit. The cafe also makes lots of homemade treats .
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13 days in North Island BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND December, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife, slow & easy, hidden gems PREFERENCES: December, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Slow & easy 15 days in Auckland, Sydney & Fiji BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES February, culture, relaxing, historic sites, museums, slow & easy, hidden gems PREFERENCES: February, culture, relaxing, historic sites, museums ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Slow & easy 15 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA December, popular sights PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 28 days in Auckland BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND January, popular sights PREFERENCES: January ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 60 days in Asia, New Zealand & Australia BY A USER FROM IRELAND April, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, wildlife, hidden gems PREFERENCES: April, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium 13 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM INDIA December, culture, romantic, beaches, museums, shopping, popular sights PREFERENCES: December, culture, romantic, beaches, museums, shopping ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 15 days in Paihia BY A USER FROM CANADA March, popular sights PREFERENCES: March ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 40 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND December, popular sights PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 50 days in New Zealand BY A USER FROM NETHERLANDS January, popular & hidden gems PREFERENCES: January ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems PACE: Medium 10 days in Auckland BY A USER FROM INDIA December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular sights PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 42 days in Auckland BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA December, popular sights PREFERENCES: December ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights PACE: Medium 60 days in Australia, New Zealand & Philippines BY A USER FROM FINLAND December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife, hidden gems PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems PACE: Medium
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