Hukutaia Domain — Attraction in North Island

Stepping into Hukutia, I felt as if I had crossed into another realm — a sanctuary where the air hums with ancient whispers and every leaf seems to remember a thousand stories. 🌿✨

People speak of its long-lived stones, of nature untouched, of the way this place seems to breathe alongside you. The moment I entered, something shifted inside me — a wave of energy washed over me, as though the forest had called me by name. 🌬💚 I wanted to run and hug it, even from afar, knowing we mustn’t touch the delicate ferns and flora. This is a place of reverence, where magic lives quietly.

I heard it before I saw it — the soft drip of water 💧 slipping from leaf to leaf, the gentle sigh of the wind through the canopy 🍃. And then… there it was.

The mighty Puriri tree — Taketakerau — over 2,000 years old. 🌳🕊 Standing in its presence sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t just a tree; it was a keeper of time, a witness to centuries of storms, sunrises, and stories. Its roots seemed to drink from the very heart of the earth, and its branches reached out like open arms to the sky.

Around it, 4.5 hectares of native bush whispered in unison, but my eyes stayed locked on this guardian. I read the prayers placed nearby, and I swear, the Puriri spoke back — not in words, but in a deep, knowing silence. It taught me about resilience, about surviving storms without breaking, about giving endlessly without asking for anything in return. 🌱💫

No one, I thought, can match the generosity of New Zealand’s nature. The universe had been kind to me, leading me here. This forest… it had accepted me. And I accepted it too — fully, with my whole heart ❤️.

When we entered, the sky was heavy with clouds ☁️. But as we stepped out, the sky had cleared completely — nature’s way of answering, perhaps. The wind wrapped itself around me in a soft embrace, a gentle reminder: we hugged each other from afar, and it...

Nice little gem of a walk. Suitable for most fitness levels. Was just looking to do something a bit different while on holiday and had this suggested to us. It was well worth doing just for the Taketakerau (The Burial Tree) and the massive Puriri trees (never seen anything close to there size else where). While we did not see many birds or flowers on our visit I'm sure it was the time of year we went and the very dry weather. So would be worth a revisit at different times. Donations only and a picnic area so something to take...

Lovely little walk yo do with with family with several loops to choose from depending on how much time you have. Beautiful bush with super interesting history to learn about. I often take my little baby for a walk through which she loves and the entire path to the tree is accessible with a push trike or pram. I always take our visitors through and there is even a geo catch located here and locals whom hide painted rocks which is super fun...