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Car parking at
S 35° 36.455 E 173°
32.120 |
About the Geocache
Spend an hour walking in the forest, visiting the Four Sisters
and the oldest (and second largest) living kauri.
Te Matua Ngahere is a giant kauri tree, whose name
means "Father of the Forest".
Although not as massive or tall as the better known Tane Mahuta, Te
Matua Ngahere is much stouter, with a girth (circumference) over 16
metres (52.5 feet), inferring an older age than Tane
(c.2000+yrs).
The tree is a remnant of the ancient rain forest that once grew
on the North Auckland Peninsula.
Te Matua Ngahere's measurements are as follows:
| Trunk Girth |
16.41 metres |
| Trunk Height |
10.21 metres |
| Total Height |
29.9 metres |
| Trunk Volume |
208.1 metres³ |
Don't miss the waypointed Four Sisters en route too.
Those fancying more of a tramp (c40 minutes from car park) may
also wish to go and see the seventh biggest (Yakas) kauri whilst
here.
Whilst all trees and co-ordinates are wheelchair accessible,
retrieval from the actual hide location may prove somewhat
challenging.
Please ensure that you respect the plants and animals here at
all times.
This area is threatened by kauri dieback, so please:
- Make sure shoes, tyres and equipment are clean of dirt before
and after visiting kauri forest.
- Clean shoes and any other equipment that comes into contact
with soil after every visit, especially if moving between bush
areas.
- Keep to defined tracks at all times. Any movement of soil
around the roots of a tree has the potential to spread the
disease.
- Dogs can inadvertently spread the disease if they disturb the
soil around the trees and are not permitted in Waipoua
Forest.
For more information about kauri dieback, please see this page:
Kauri dieback: how you can help.
When in the forest:
| DO NOT LEAVE
THE WALKWAYS |
The boardwalks and paths have been carefully placed to protect
the fragile roots of these awesome trees, whose health is
threatened by even the lightest foot fall. STAY ON THE
BOARDWALKS/PATHS AT ALL TIMES.
About the Cache
A 2l Sistema container with green camo.
Some stealth may be required at GZ due to spot's public
popularity.
Please ensure that you replace carefully so as it remains not
obvious!
Contents at Placement
This geocache is a relocation of the now archived
GC1G3FH - Te Matua Ngahere - Father of the Forest geocache.
- Various bits from
GC1G3FH geocache, including stash and log book
- Added a badge and keyring
- Pencil, sharpener and silica gel
Follow the
FaberOptimé Waipoua Forest Geocache Power Trail, south
to north along SH12:
-
GC1G3AW - Look Out Waipoua!
A quick driveby cache offering spectacular vistas over Waipoua
forest.
- Fancy a good walk?
There's an excellent tramping track (2.5km, about an hour's walk)
through manuka and regenerating podocarp/hardwood, between the
lookout and the Visitor Centre (plan to start/end here if walking
it both ways).
-
GC22327 - Waipoua Visitors
Learn more about the area and the Forest's flora and fauna.
- Te Matua Ngahere - Father of the Forest (this
geocache)
-
GC223222 - Forest Finders' Bonus @ Tane Mahuta
See the largest living kauri.
You'll need to find all the three preceding geocaches to get the
exact co-ordinates for this last bonus geocache.
Video
Click here to
watch a video about Waipoua Forest on YouTube.
It also includes a number of other Northland geocache locales.
Do feel free to rate/comment and/or Subscribe to our
YouTube Channel!
Problems??
Geocaches need
maintenance from time to time (as do we all?!).
If this one looks in need (new log book/container
maintenance/other), please
let us know.