Reviews of Gumdiggers Park. (Museum) in Whangārei (Northland).

Gumdiggers Park

364 Reviews

144 Comments

Museum

Tourist attraction

Craft store

Ecological park

Museum

Park

171 Heath Road, Waiharara 0486, New Zealand

Description

Information of Gumdiggers Park, Museum in Whangārei (Northland)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Gumdiggers Park

Popular times

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Reviews of Gumdiggers Park

P. B.

Quite an interesting place to visit when in Northland. You can learn a bit about the history of the area and it's people and see some facinating structures from another time. Was interesting to find out how it was made and to see some of the gum. Definately worth a visit

R. H.

Such a great lil trek to do. Family friendly, was able to take a pram through. Interesting and educational. Lovely host, eftpos machine was down and she kindly offered for us to go through for free. Luck we had cash on hand. Highly recommend and a must do in the FN.

K. V.

After seeing the big brown sign to Gumdiggers Park on the way back from the Cape, we decided to spontaneously pop in and we’re very glad we did so! The road might be a bit bumpy going there, but we made it just fine in our big camper. Once we got there, the owners were lovely and welcoming. The park itself was charming and peaceful, and the place is teeming with native birds and insects. There’s lots to read about and see - our highlight was definitely the geckos for sure! Would definitely recommend a quick stop by if you have the chance.

A. C.

My wife, son and I received a warm welcome and a brief history of the site. Good place to spend a couple of hours, with an easy flat walk and informative signage along the way. Also some geckos to try and spot, this added 30mins to our walk ;-). Well worth the visit for something a bit different. There is a shop/museum and also a nice deck to relax with an ice cream.

M. C.

Great walk and quite interesting. Kids 8&10) enjoyed it too. Not too long and in the shade mostly. Owners were very nice and set up a picnic area for us! So good!

F. W.

Very interesting and informative. Highly recommend. A must see. Beautiful kauri gum necklaces for sale there as well. Made by the owner himself. I couldn't resist and had my husband buy me one. Thank you John. We throughly enjoyed our visit

J. Z.

Great place to visit and learn about the gumdiggers of Northland. The realistic campsite, equipment and buildings are well laid out. The pathway winds its way is through native bush and the holes dug by the diggers. A half buried 120,000 year old kauri log shows how the trees and the gum were preserved in the swamps.

J. H.

Family of 4, with an 8 & 11 year old who really enjoyed Gumdiggers Park. Spent about an hour there, lovely little walk through the bush, really interesting history, super friendly owners, $30 for a family of 4.

S. S.

Thank you for such an incredible day. The park is totally amazing, we were met by the owner who had so much information on hand. He gave a us a map outlining the walkways. We took many photos to show our families n friends. It is so worth the drive out there,15mins from Kaitaia.

A. n. Z.

I've had the pleasure of walking through it a few times, it's absolutely amazing, John whom built it is passionate about its history, with newly revamped signs it's easy to find, the huts were all hand built by John to replicate the original huts it has alot of original features to. Definitely worth the drive

S. B.

Spend as little or as much time walking a small information packed track.. loads of smalls signs filled with details about the old gum diggers and wildlife etc. Also the guy running the show is very passionate which was nice.

J. B.

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Excellent trails through the park. Owners very friendly and informative.

T. O.

Enjoyed this lovely spot. The walk was manageable for all ages. Fascinating range of flora and fauna. Some beautiful and interesting items in the shop. Nice to wander in the shade on a baking hot day!

P. D. B.

Very interesting and insightfull, well worth visiting. Takes only 40 minutes and they can really do with more visitors and funding.

D. P.

Thoroughly enjoyed the park and the information from the owner, a great insight into some of the history in this part of NZ

J. v. d. S.

Go see this amazing piece of history! Although the site is a little outdated and could use a fixup, I totally support the friendly family with their fight against the avocado business surrounding them. They need all the support they can get, these kind of sites need to be protected and preserved for geological and historical knowledge to pass on future generations!

P. J.

Fantastic piece of NZ history. Definately recommend. Walk quietly and if you are lucky you might see a fern bird as we did. Beautiful Amber and Copal necklaces available crafted by John. Ask John about the families connection to the site.

T. T.

Great place to visit. Very interesting to know the history of Kauri trees and gumdiggers.

S. H.

Great place for learning about the kauri trees and the life of gumdiggers! Great for kids, families and adults

C.

A very pleasant and comfortable wander through the bush. Lots of information and some amazing sights, from prehistoric trees to gorgeous geckos. Lots of birdlife around and well sheltered from any wind too.

R. E.

Great snapshot of a moment in history, worth supporting this site

R. L.

We had a lovely experience here. You can walk through the park quickly, so take your time and read the info boards about the gum diggers. Quite interesting and had great service from the gentleman behind the counter.

M. B.

Great little walking track. Perfect for toddlers as it is only 30 mins long. Lots of signs along the way to read about the forest, wildlife and history of the area. It does cost, but the unique experience is worth the price. I was even allowed to bring my dog on lead for the walk which is an added bonus. My dog absolutely loved it and enjoyed exploring the track and new smells the whole way through. The shop attendant was also super helpful. Be mindful that there is no cell phone coverage in this area when visiting.

H. S.

Just amazing history and being in the family for so long. Bought some souvenirs of native 🐦🦜birds soap etc. John is such a lovely person explaining everything. Ross and I loved it.

U. K.

John the owner has done an amazing job over 30 years building every hut and making this an amazing place to visit..it is coming under new ownership as I post this though. And it closes during winter for maintenance..Definitely worth the trip

A. G.

Great place to visit. The insects frozen in time are pretty cool as well as the being able to see the area! Go to the Kauri museum and the Kauri forest walk as well to fully understand the historical significance.

t.

Great attraction to visit if your in the area. You will drive on an unsealed road to get here. You walk through this place surrounded by trees. There is informative plaques that tell you what trees, bird life, tools, huts and equipment were used and the work that was done. Definitely recommend if you are interested in a bit of kiwi history or looking for an interesting afford activity to do while on holiday.

C. Y.

Amazing to learn about the 100,000+ years old ancient buried Kauri forest and NZ's gumdigging history.

M. V. B.

It is lovely to see this piece of New Zealand history being preserved . To ponder what historic events could wipe out huge forests in a flash, and it is a reminder of the hard working and resourceful pioneers who played an important role in developing the north. The owner was very knowledgeable and helpful and the park is well worth visiting when you are passing. It is a lovely down to earth place , not a flashy theme park

R. Y.

A must do. This park is a valuable asset to the history of NZ run on a shoe string budget. These people deserve recognition for the wonderful asset they are protecting for future generations of visitors. Allow a good hour and only 3 kms on a good gravel road. Also has great local coffee and reasonably priced souvenirs.

W. H.

Well worth the visit! John, the proprietor, was very passionate and knowledgeable about the history of "gum digging" in NZ. The whole place is very well done, lots of interesting historical facts about the "gum rush" and the more recent geological studies with the universities. Lovely local NZ art items for sale in the gift shop. Highly recommended !!

n. B.

Loved it the guy behind the counter was very interesting. Sets your mind wondering what life was like for these people.

C. M.

A really awesome piece of New Zealand history. Both in terms of the topic New Zealand Kauri gum and also the place itself in terms of it being a traditional family run tourist attraction which is also increasingly a rarity. Great value for money considering all the information presented and sites to see and also great to be able to help keep a traditional New Zealand tourist attraction going

J.

Really enjoyed this park, very interesting. The male at the front counter was friendly and informative. It was an absolute bonus being able to take our dogs with us.

S. T.

Very interesting afternoon cool piece of Nz history with alot of well put together information would recommend stopping in we even brought our own piece of history getting a 45,000 year old necklace each (opel)

G. S.

very interesting part of Northland's history, much of the ancient Kauri forest is now lost, put into pasture and by the look of the surrounding area avocado orchards are spreading. Takes about 45 minutes or so to thoroughly explore this place. Mock ups of the gumdiggers accommodation their workplaces. They must have been tough.

P. V.

Nice Gum digging site with history. Not sealed road to the site.

P. H.

Interesting walk around the outdoor exhibits/museum. John is very knowledgeable about the history of gum digging and the 120,000 year old trees. You can buy jewellery made from the wood or amber found in the area, many made my John himself. Spent about an hour here.

J. M.

Really cool experience, priced well, and John who owns the place is very friendly and informative. Self guided tour highly recommended

C. M.

This is a great experience for slightly older children (and adults) who are happy to read. I went during July so not sure of the full experience but it was $20 for a family of 4 which goes in the honesty box (which, as it turned out, was being observed. As we were some of the few the owner came out to talk to us and was very helpful explaining where to go. As a Brit I had no knowledge of this industry and found it fascinating along with the huge stumps and trunks of simply massive Kauri trees. If you're not into history or nature it is probably only half an hour to walk round, if you read and watch the film allow an hour and a half and don't forget to spot all the geckos.

P. B.

wonderful walk with beautiful bush, incredible piece of preserved history that might otherwise be lost. My mother and I particularly enjoyed seeing the native new zealand bees everywhere busily pollinating manuka and kanuka. Also if you go you can find out why we call them gumboots but no other country does. Aroha nui

J. P.

We where recommended to come here by 2 lots of people and it was a great experience. The guy that owns the place spent time explaining things and made sure that we knew what to look out for. Lots to see and loved the wildlife around the park. Got my best photo of a Gheko. Easy five stars and would go back anytime

K. N.

A brilliant attraction depicting all aspects of a gum diggers life and the kauri gum industry. An easy walk amongst the many holes and a re creation of the living conditions at the time. Our family thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

M. G.

Great piece of Far North History.

R. H.

Authentic museum which tells the story of kauri gum digging beautifully. Great nature notes and John is a real enthusiast for his place. Really sad to see the area being ruined by industrial avocado orchards

H. B.

What a fantastic experience! Amazing history. Very well done. Super friendly owner. And a beautiful gift store. Highly recommended!

C. G.

Interesting learning about the history of gum digging in the area.

M. L.

Amazing owner who is clearly passionate abour the Kauri and his park. He puts a lot of effort to conserve these trees and the walks offer great insight in the gum industry and the history behind it. Loved the whole experience :)

L.

Great experience, nice to see that they care to preserve history and one of the few remaining wetlands in New Zealand.

J. P.

This place is great ! We stumbled across it and my partner and i think it is just amazing what the owners are doing to keep this historical site alive without any help from the government! The owner is so passionate and knowledgeable. Keep up the good work guys, all the best and good luck.

M. B.

Awesome place to visit Lots of history here Host was great gave us loads of information on the park. Highly recommend a visit

M. P.

Very nice nature exposition about history of gumdiggers at this place. Worth visit, short walk through bush, good option for children. 12 $ adult, children under 8 free.

B. N.

Interesting and easy flat walk

P. B.

We visited at the beginning of December 2018 and were all alone in the park, as tourist season only just started. I would definitely recommend to visit this park if you are interested in history and Kauri Trees. You get to see and truly feel how the gum diggers lived and worked in the area when this industry was thriving. We also felt very welcome there and the Park owner and operator took the time to show us around and explain the important do's and don'ts to ensure an enjoyable visit. Only thing I would "complain" was the lack of snacks you can buy in the shop. But the owner said that he ordered food, however, the delivery did not yet arrive :-) So full 5/5 stars from my side. This was definitely one of the highlights of our northland trip! Gumdiggers Park will be on our list of places to go see again when we visit NZ in the future.

K. R.

Awesome track. Interesting and fun.

T. H. F.

Interesting place. Beautiful walk and we learned lots. Our kids (aged eight and 10) enjoyed it too.

C. C.

Valuable living piece of NZ history. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Give yourself at least an hour. Must start by 4 not 5.

M. W.

Great time! Totally worth the entry fee, John was really helpful! Neat little spot off the main highway, good for some fun facts, and a different unique experience

C. W.

Great place to visit. Learning about NZs history. They did it hard back in the day...

s. k.

Clam and relaxing.. especially around gig kauri stump

J. D.

A wonderful place to visit. Thank you for preserving and caring for this unique part of Northland, your knowledge and genuine love for the park are evident. Recommended to all!

S. W.

We got there late in the afternoon but still received a great welcome. This place is definitely worth a visit to see the details of the local history and part of NZ that 'down South' we don't really know of.

P. H.

Great dive back in history, even managed to get some gum

S. P.

Great spot. Amazingly friendly owner. Kids and adults all had a great time. Very informative.

M. W.

A unique experience, much better than any museum. Well worth the trip.

M. W.

Hard to believe 150 years ago the smallest part of the country produced its largest export in Kauri Gum very interesting worth the detour heading north also learnt how gum boots got there name.

W. C.

Neat wee park for the kids to walk around and explore. Informative and quite interesting.

G. H.

Really cool little walk. Interesting reads along the way about the history. The owner of the site was very helpful and shared some of his knowledge.

C. B.

Great place with good history of local area. Owner met us behind counter. Friendly informative. Clean facilities with ramp for handicaed good place to stop on a weekend journey

A. M.

Great experience and learnt things I never knew. Had a great chat with John too. Thanks John.

C. W.

Very interesting. Nice to learn some more of our own NZ history.

S.

Nice historic and scientific place to visit if you are in Northland.

T. W.

An interesting park worth walking around to understand life on the gumfields. This is an important part of NZ history

K. H.

Great park with lots of interesting information to learn. Owner is super enthusiastic!! Recommend about an hour for looking around everything.

A. W.

it was very interesting. Enjoyed the park and all I learned

B. M.

Beautiful forest walk on a hot day, full of interesting information and displays. And the proprietor is a very nice chap.

M. F.

Great park with a very interesting history. Everything well researched

S. W. (.

Lost of great history here and totally worth the trip off the beaten track to check it out.

H. T.

Very interesting learning about the ages of the trees found buried and seeing the different layers in the earth's crust dating back thousands of years.

F. M.

Very interesting and Informative about gum digging and the diggers lives. Also about the various plants and birds along the track.

B.

A fascinating wander through Manuka scrub, looking at old gum-diggers shacks & lives. Interesting plaques/signs all around.

A. M.

Nice and peaceful looking around and reading all about the gumdiggers etc

M. P.

Absolutely brilliant, well worth a visit, friendly owners & staff, very educational & fun, good value, will definitely return

H. H.

Real nice park about the history of the Kauri Gum diggers and lots of information on the history and Nature today.

M. D.

Educational. Lots of wasps around the day we went.

H. B.

Really interesting. Authentic and off the beaten track. High value for money and great for the kids.

I. T.

It was an easy well showing the old gumdiggers' lifestyle and a little known history of NZ. Totally unpretentious.

M. R.

Such an amazing place

P. D.

Very interesting to know the work of gumdiggers. Pleasant walk. We stay 2h. However price too high.

J. M.

Awesome place with loads of cool history, both recent and geologically.

M. Z.

Great place to visit. Highly recommend if you travel in the area.

T.

If you want history and heritage go visit here very helpful owner willing to discuss and suggest other places to visit to

J. H. T.

This place is super cool if you wanna see some very old Kauri trees

R. P.

Lovely place with interesting things to see. And well priced too.

D. W.

Really enjoyable. Nice walk and interesting exhibits.

P. H.

Awesome trip back into gum diggers history

G. B.

Amazing history well worth it

G. H.

Moderately interesting. Pleasant walk and knowledgeable operators.

W. A.

Really interesting history of early industry in NZ and ecological consequences.

N. R.

It was left as natural as possible,very informative

l.

Very interesting and informative. Allow at least 1.5 hours to look around.

A. E.

This for me is archaeology/history all rolled into one at its best.

T. P.

Amazing place and history thanks

T. E.

Well worth while. Passionate history of NZ

k. k.

Gum diggers is so awesome definatley worth it :)

A.

Interesting place. Loved it!

s. j.

Very informative a pleasant comfortable walk

J. C.

Great place to see some real history

N. B.

Interesting look into the history of early new Zealanders

P. W.

Loverly walk. Great place for picnic.

A. D.

Cool you can get free kauri tree

N. V.

Good place if you going up towards cape.

K. F.

A must to see when in the far north. Last place of its kind.

T. B.

interesting and unique historical site

V. H.

Very interesting and informative

l. l.

Very I interesting and well done.

T. W.

Great place to stop and have a walk through

N. B.

Thoroughly enjoyed it

C. H.

Very interesting and friendly place

R. A.

very interesting park!

J. J.

A must visit in Northland

P. M.

Two Moons Private Tours

D.

Very friendly :)

t. h.

Fantastic customer service!

K. D.

Well worth a visit

D. C.

Very enlightening

J. D.

Awesome experiences

P.

(Translated) A natural curiosity devoted to kauri trees used not as a building material but a supplier of valuable resin in various forms from so-called rubber to the well-known amber. Residents of New Zealand have found that in a place where thousands of years ago the kauri trees were sunk, you can find valuable material used in the furniture industry as a natural varnish and also in the form of amber as decorations. An interesting fact may be that the so-called rubber was used by Maoris as a pigment for their tattoos. In Gumdiggers park you can learn the history of mining, see what methods it was used for and how the settlement and workshops of diggers looked. Interestingly laid paths for visitors. The attraction is the 100-year-old kauri tree. In the building at the entrance, in addition to exhibits almost museum, you can buy many products from kauri and resin and other souvenirs from NZ. (Original) Ciekawostka przyrodnicza poswiecona drzewom kauri wykorzystanym nie jako budulec ale dostarczyciel cennej żywicy w roznej postaci od tzw gumy az po doskonale nam znany bursztyn. Mieszkancy Nowej Zelandii odkryli ze w miejscu gdzie przed tysiacami lat zatopione zostaly drzewa kauri mozna znalezc cenny material wykorzystywany w przemysle meblarskim jako lakier naturalny a takze w postaci bursztynu jako ozdoby. Ciekawostka moze byc to ze tzw guma wykorzystywana byla rowniwz przez Maorysow jako pigment do ich tatuazy. W Gumdiggers park mozna poznac historie wydobycia zobaczyc jakimi metodami sie to robilo oraz jak wygladala osada i warsztaty kopaczy. Ciekawie poprowadzone ścieżki dla zwiedzajacych. Atrakcja jest pien drzewa kauri majacy 100 tys lat. W budynku przy wejściu oprocz eksponatow prawie muzealnych mozna nabyc wiele wyrobow z kauri i zywicy no i inne pamiatki z NZ.

M.

(Translated) Anyone who wants to learn something about "Kauri trees" and "Kauri resin" in NZ can not beat Gumdiggers Park in the far north of the country - and it's also very convenient. almost on the way to Cape Reinga. (Original) Wer in NZ etwas zum Thema "Kauribäume" und "Kauriharz" erfahren will, kommt an Gumdiggers Park im hohen Norden des Landes fast nicht vorbei - außerdem liegt es sehr praktisch. fast an der Route zum Cape Reinga.

J.

(Translated) Nice source of information about the "Gumdigger" with very friendly staff. Driveway about 2.5 km Gravelroad but also good to drive with camper (Original) Nette Informationsquelle über die "Gumdigger" mit sehr freundlichen Angestellten. Zufahrt ca. 2,5 km Gravelroad aber auch mit Wohnmobil gut zu befahren

m.

(Translated) A UNIQUE experience, I transported you centuries ago, you discover it in the store you will like it (Original) una experiencia ÚNICA, te trasporte siglos atrás, lonque descubres en la tienda te gustará

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