Puketi is well known in Northland for its protected kauri forest; less than one percent of original kauri forest remains in New Zealand, and the Puketi kauri forest is especially dense and well preserved. You can explore the kauri cover from the forest’s boardwalks, designed to protect the sensitive kauri roots. The rest of the forest is covered with other native tree species, and there are plenty of native birds and animals living in the forest, including geckos, bats, and wood pigeon (kereru).
The forest is full of nature walks, ranging from easy strolls that run under an hour to multi-day hikes. Guided tours of the rain forest are a great way to learn more about the forest ecosystem. Mountain bikers can ride the forest’s old logging roads, but check with the Department of Conservation first to confirm which roads are accessible.