A.H. Reed Memorial Kauri Park

This park is named after A H Reed, a well-known New Zealand author, publisher and long distance walker. His parents home is close to the park and he was a significant player in protecting the falls from quarrying and retaining the kauri trees in the forest.

The Kauri is a conifer that is found at the top of the New Zealand's North Island. The tree has small narrow leaves and smooth bark. Kauri forests are some of the world's oldest trees and its ancestors date back to the Jurassic period, 190 million years ago. The timber is very strong and was used for boat-building and house constructions. The gum for the trees has also been dug up from swamps and exported for use in linoleum and varnishes. Kauri forests, now protected, were extensively logged from the mid-1800s onwards and by 1900 the majority of the forests had been cut down. D

We have been to a few Kauri forests and have noticed signs that inform people about Kauri Dieback disease. Stations are set up so that people can clean the soil from their shoes before entering a kauri forest. The posters read -

“Stop kauri dieback and protect kauri.
Kauri dieback disease is spread through soil.
Scrub soil off shoes and gear and check it's all removed before you go.
Use a hygiene station when you enter and leave.
Always stay on the track.”

From the forest, we took a path upwards to the top of another 23 m high waterfall, Paranui. We were surprised that it had hardly any water in it.. It is the end of summer so maybe the water levels are low?

We eventually backtracked through the forest to our car and went on to the Whangarei city centre for a coffee.Read more