• About Northland
  • Overview
  • Districts
• Moving
• Living
  • Art & Music
  • Food
  • Local Communities & People
  • Time Out Northland Style
  • Education & Schools
  • Buying & Renting
  • Environment
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Healthcare
• Finding Work

Deals & Packages

Kaipara District

More [?] The Kaipara District has a population of approximately 18,000 residents and a land area of just over 300,000 hectares, the district begins at about an hours drive north of Auckland and stretches to the East Coast and the South Pacific Ocean and across to the West Coast and Tasman Sea. Many small and beautiful villages and communities are dotted through the Kaipara district. Dargaville is the largest settlement with a population of almost 5,000.

The Kaipara Harbour is the largest in the Southern hemisphere and as it is no longer used commercially is a fishing and seafood haven.

History


Maori were first to settle the Kaipara in the 14th century, with Harbour providing sustenance and shelter. Europeans arrived in the early to mid 1800s, many leaving war torn Europe. They were first to earn a living from Kauri, and later from valuable Kauri gum that was then extracted from the swamps. This history is well documented and celebrated at the outstanding Kauri Museum in Matakohe.

Breathless Contrast

Wild West coast beaches with a backbone of awesome sand dunes stretching as far as the eye can see and magnificent surf 
and white sandy beaches on the East Coast.

Freshwater lakes to take your breath away More [?] Much of the Kaipara landscape is rolling farmland studded with highlights like the jewel-like Kai Iwi lakes – take a dip or catch a trout. The West coast features the awe inspiring Poutu Peninsula with its magnificent sweeping sand dunes and The Graveyard – an area where many ships went down due to the treacherous harbour mouth and sandbar. Ripiro Ocean Beach, more commonly known as Baylys Beach, is New Zealand’s longest driveable beach - even longer than the more widely known 90 Mile Beach at North Cape.

Mangawhai is the largest settlement on the East Coast. An area that was once the destination for many Kiwi families golden summer holidays, as development and investment pours into the area, many now live there year round and support a thriving art, foodies, and fishing, diving and surfing lifestyle.

Growing Delicious Things

Economic activity in the Kaipara revolves mostly around beautiful things to eat and drink – kumara (sweet potato), milk, beef, olives and grapes. Ripe for the picking are divine wines and divine chocolates.

Back to top