Dargaville

Dargaville is known as the kumara capital of New Zealand, as the vast majority of the country's kumara (sweet potato) is grown in the area. It is also in the heart of the region of where the giant native kauri tree grows, and where the gum (fossilised resin) of the kauri was dug up to make products such as varnish, and nowadays decorative items.

It's a 55-km drive from Whangarei.
When coming from Wellsford and Auckland, turn off State Highway 1 at Brynderwyn, and it's 70 km from there (think about stopping at the Kauri Museum at Matakohe on the way – see below).
If coming from the Hokianga, from the Tane Mahuta kauri tree in Waipoua Forest just carry on south for 62 km.

• Baylys Beach, 12 km west of town.

• Dargaville Museum, also known as Dargaville Maritime Museum

  address: 32 Mount Wesley Coast Rd
• Kai Iwi Lakes, 32 km north of Dargaville

• Kaipara Vintage Machinery Museum

  address: Harding Park

• The Kauri Museum

  address: 5 Church Rd, Matakohe
  This large museum in a small village tells the story of the pioneering days through the use of kauri timber and kauri gum (fossilised resin).

• The Kumara Box

  phone: +64 9 439-7018, +64 21 109 1813
  address: 503 Pouto Rd
  One-hour show about the kumara (sweet potato), a major crop in the area, and a half-hour ride (weather permitting) on the kumara train made out of oil drums. Booking essential. Lunch or teas by arrangement. There is also Searle's Marine Collection, which includes items of geology, fossils, seashells, fish, kauri gum, ship wrecks.

• Woodturners Kauri Gallery and Studio

  address: 4 Murdoch St (on SH 12)
  Worth visiting just for a look at items made in the studio from beautiful kauri wood.

• Waipoua Kauri Forest and Hokianga to the north
• Wellsford and the rest of the Auckland Region to the south
• Whangarei