Walk on a well-surfaced track to Cathedral Grove and then move on to experience the seventh largest kauri in the lush Waipōua Forest, the 'Yakas' tree.
About the walk
How long will it take? This is a 1.7km 40-minute one-way walk.
The walk leads you through kauri-type vegetation for 35 minutes before you arrive at the Cathedral Grove – a large group of kauri.
From Cathedral Grove, it is a further two-minute walk to the Yakas tree, and you return to the car park the way you came.
About Yakas kauri
Yakas kauri is the seventh largest kauri tree in New Zealand.
Nicholas Yakas became witness to many marvels of the Waipōua Forest when he was a young man in hot pursuit of kauri gum.
It wasn’t until 1966 when Yakas was asked if he knew of other kauri trees in the Waipōua Forest that were as big as or larger than Tāne Mahuta and Te Matua Ngāhere, that he decided to share some of his secrets.
Accompanied by Tudor Collins of Warkworth, (one of New Zealand’s top photographers of native bush scenery of that era), Sir Alfred Reed, a publisher, author and bush-lover, and Mrs Ellen Wech set out and rediscovered the kauri tree.
It was in 1968 when the name 'Yakas Kauri' was officially accepted by the general public when Tudor Collins had one of his coloured photos of the tree published in a full page display in the weekly news of July 29, 1968, edition. It was simply captioned 'Yakas' tree and has since stuck.
Measurements:
- Trunk girth: 12.29m
- Trunk height: 12.04m
- Total height: 43.09m
- Trunk volume: 134.2m³
