Donnellys Crossing: Kauri Forest and Railway History

Donnellys Crossing can be explored through two specific themes: Kauri forest in the surrounding area and traces of the town’s railway past. This distinction is useful when planning your trip: Trounson Kauri Park and its loop track are in the surrounding area, while the bridge and metal train sculpture are located right in Donnelly’s Crossing. Nature and local history are separate themes, so you can consider them separately when planning your trip.

Kauri forest and a loop track near Donnellys Crossing

In the upper Kaihu River Valley, in the vicinity of Donnellys Crossing, lies the 586-hectare Trounson Kauri Park Scenic Reserve. Of this, 445 hectares consist of forest; surrounding it are areas leased as pasture. The reserve therefore includes both forest and the adjacent leased pastureland.

The Trounson Kauri Park Loop Track is an easy, 1.6-kilometre loop through an impressive stand of Kauri trees. The walk is estimated to take about 40 minutes. Its length and approximate duration give you a concrete timeframe for this nature outing. A short section is wheelchair accessible. Dogs are not allowed; other pets are subject to the rules for conservation land.

Railway history in the town

The Kaihu Branch reached Donnelly’s Crossing in April 1923. One tangible relic of this past is a rusting iron railway bridge on concrete piers. It spans a stream that flows into the adjacent Waima River. There is also a metal train sculpture on either side of a power pole, 20 metres from the store. While the date places the railway history in time, the bridge and sculpture point to specific traces on site.

More themes in the Kaipara District

Within the wider destination of the Kaipara District, Trounson Kauri Park has been managed as a Mainland Island since 1995. The aim is to restore native biodiversity and give visitors a sense of what original Kauri forests were like. Threatened species living there include the North Island brown kiwi, Kūkupa, pekapeka bats and Kauri snails.

The Kaihu Valley Trail is also part of the Heartland Rides network and the Kauri Coast Cycleway. These cycling routes mostly follow roads through the landscapes and small towns of Te Tai Tokerau/Northland. The first section of the Kaihu Valley Trail was officially opened on 10 June 2023. As further sections are developed, the route may change.

Kai Iwi Lakes are in the Kaipara District, within a 538-hectare recreation reserve. The white-sand freshwater dune lakes are known for their clear water. They are suitable for swimming, kayaking, fishing, boating and water skiing. Check water conditions and applicable safety requirements before taking part.

For a different regional focus, the Dargaville Museum has seven exhibition halls covering Māori taonga, Kauri gum diggers, transport and agriculture, pioneers, collections, maritime history and music. The Pioneer Hall displays examples of the early timber industry and bush work. The Maritime Hall features recovered shipwrecks associated with the Kaipara Bar. These themes broaden the focus on Kauri and railways to include the history of work, transport and seafaring in the Kaipara District.

Explore more destinations: Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, Paparoa, Dargaville, Mangawhai, Baylys Beach, Kaihu

Back to the main travel overview: Kaipara District.