Kauri Coast Information Centre Dargaville

The “Kauri Coast” of Northland – the western coast of the peninsula - is a region of productive dairy and cropping farms and forestry, with the town of Dargaville, (population 4500) as its focal point. The town lies on the Wairoa River and was an important port in the 19th century for the shipping of kauri gum and timber.

Dargaville is about 2.5 hours’ drive from Auckland, on the way to Kai Iwi Lakes, Trounson Park and the Waipoua forest. Nowadays, as well as serving the farming community, it offers attractions for the visitor, including jet-boating and parasailing, fishing, a couple of peaks (180 metres and 221 metres) for climbers, and a museum. Kauri timber products are sold at a number of local galleries.

As the area is the source of 90% of the country's Kumara (sweet potato) Dargaville claims to be 'New Zealand's Kumara Capital'. Up on the hill the museum with its nautical emphasis is worth a visit.

Dargaville is the base for Circus Kumarani, a community based organisation promoting circus.

Thirteen kilometres to the west of the town is a popular holiday spot, Baylys Beach, part of an 85-km stretch of coastline open to the sometimes turbulent Tasman Sea. Baylys Beach walkway is a 15 minute walk across sand dunes and low cliff between Baylys Beach and Chases Gorge, which are two small neighbouring coastal settlements. From the top you can see the wild majesty of the coast and the turbulence which make swimming unsafe.