Lake Ohia

Lake Ohia is a destination with a distinctive seasonal landscape: the temporary lake holds water in winter and usually dries up in summer. The former lakebed is also home to remnants of a once-lush Kauri forest. These two features—the changing water levels and traces of the former forest landscape—give Lake Ohia a clear thematic focus for your trip.

Lake Ohia Through the Year

The annual cycle is the most important practical reference point for the landscape. If you are considering Lake Ohia as a destination, the timing of your trip may therefore influence which seasonal scene you can expect. The term “temporary lake” sums up these changing water levels: the lake holds water in winter, while it usually dries up in summer. Lake Ohia cannot therefore be described as a lake that remains the same all year round; seasonal change is part of its distinctive character.

The former lakebed is also part of this landscape. It contains remnants of a once-lush Kauri forest. Traces of the former forest landscape and the seasonal lake offer two different points of reference for understanding the place: one concerns the changing seasons, the other the former shape of the lakebed. When considering Lake Ohia thematically, you can therefore take both the temporary lake and the Kauri forest remnants into account without combining them into a single type of landscape.

Far North District: Landscape and Culture

Within the wider destination of the Far North District, the Te Paki Coastal Track offers a distinct perspective on the landscape. The route provides views of the northern coast, regenerating bush and large wind-sculpted sand dunes. You can walk the entire track or selected sections; there are four campsites along the route. This choice between the full route and individual sections gives you different ways to plan your walk. Conditions and possible closures may change, so check current notices before planning a section.

Historic buildings also offer distinct points of interest in the Far North District. The former Mangonui Courthouse in Mangonui is a well-preserved courthouse from the late 19th century, built in 1892. As an unusually intact example of a small courthouse, it is of national significance. The Stone Store in Kerikeri was built between 1832 and 1836 and is New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building as well as its oldest surviving warehouse. Pompallier in Russell was built between 1841 and 1842 and is among New Zealand’s earliest surviving French colonial buildings. The construction dates and different building types offer several specific ways to explore the district’s history and architecture.

The Te Ahu Museum at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitāia presents the history of the Far North District. Topics include pre-European Māori artefacts, gold mining, Dalmatian heritage, Kauri gum and timber, early shipwrecks, and missionaries and pioneers. The museum offers films, interactive exhibits, virtual landscape tours and informative displays for visitors of all ages. Its extensive archive also includes documents, journals, newspapers, maps and photographs; more than 500 records are available online. Its range of topics therefore extends beyond buildings and landscapes to collections and regional history.

For planning your trip, it remains helpful to make a distinction: Lake Ohia is characterised by its temporary lake and the remnants of its Kauri forest. The routes, historic buildings and museum mentioned above belong to the wider context of the Far North District and are separate topics. This allows you to consider Lake Ohia in terms of its local landscape features and place it within the regional context separately.

Discover more destinations: Matapouri, Kaeo, Kaikohe, Matakohe, Whangaruru, Awanui, Otaika, Waipu

For the broader travel overview: Northland.