Just behind Paihia, this regenerating forest has walking trails ranging from 10 minutes to five hours. A few large trees have escaped axe and fire, including some big kauri. Information on Opua Forest walks is available from the i-SITE, including the 1.5km Paihia School Road Track (about 30 minutes each way) leading to a lookout. You can also drive into the forest by taking Oromahoe Rd west from Opua.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. St Paul’s Anglican Church

0.47 MILES

The characterful St Paul's was constructed of Kawakawa stone in 1925, and stands on the site of the original mission church, a simple raupo (bulrush) hut…

2. Williams House & Gardens

0.51 MILES

The historic buildings and gardens of Paihia's First Mission Station include a restored stone store, and now house a community library and a community…

3. Waitangi Treaty Grounds

1.51 MILES

Occupying a headland draped in lawns and bush, this is NZ's most significant historic site. Here, on 6 February 1840, after much discussion, the first 43…

4. Haruru Falls

2.15 MILES

A walking track (one way 1½ hours, 5km) leads from the Treaty Grounds along the Waitangi River to these attractive horseshoe falls. Part of the path…

5. Pompallier Mission

2.53 MILES

Built in 1842 to house the Catholic mission’s printing press, this rammed-earth building is the mission's last remaining building in the western Pacific,…

6. Russell Museum

2.62 MILES

This small museum has a well-presented Māori section, a large 1:5 scale model of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, a 10-minute video on the town’s history and an…

7. Christ Church

2.67 MILES

English naturalist Charles Darwin made a donation towards the cost of building this, the country’s oldest surviving church (1836). The graveyard's biggest…

8. Omata Estate

2.74 MILES

With a growing reputation for red wines – especially its old-growth syrah – Omata Estate is one of Northland's finest wineries. To complement the tastings…