Panorama showing the massive kauri plank on display in the Volunteers Hall of the Kauri Museum. The hall also contains pictures taken during the early days of the kauri timber industry and exhibits of the life of early settlers.

Kauri Museum Volunteers Hall - Kaipara Harbour visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Kauri Museum Volunteers Hall' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Northland.

In the Volunteers Hall or the Kauri Museum in Northland is the largest plank of kauri timber in the world. This single plank is over 22m long and almost fills the hall. The plank shows why kauri timber was so highly sought after, as the massive trees were harvested and used for all kinds of construction. The wood is highly patterned and beautifully coloured. It was used for ships, buildings, railroads, furniture, ornaments and other purposes. Much of the early settlement of the Northland region of New Zealand was based on kauri timber and gum trades.

The Kauri is the tallest conifer native to New Zealand. It was almost harvested to extinction and few stands remain today. The largest living tree in New Zealand today is Tane Mahuta (Maori for 'Lord of the Forest'), standing at 4.4m in diameter and over 17m to the lowest branches. The oldest living tree is Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest) in Waipoua Forest, and is thought to be about 2000 years old. Records and remains of kauri trees show that older and taller trees once stood in the forests of Northland. Some kauri logs have been recovered from swamps. This is called 'swamp kauri' and the logs date back to 50,000 years. An example of a decaying log of swam kauri lies in front of the museum.

Other Kauri Museum panoramas: Karui Gum Room | Smith Wing | Kauri saw mill

The Kauri Museum
5 Church Rd
Matakohe 0593
Northland, New Zealand

Take Highway 12 west from Brynderwyn (Highway 1) for 30km. The Kauri Museum is about 140km north of Auckland.