The Ahipara Gumfields Historic Reserve is a fascinating site that sheds light on New Zealand's kauri gum-digging past, a thriving industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The reserve offers insight into the lives of gum diggers who worked in the area and showcases a unique landscape shaped by this bygone era.
The kauri gum industry was one of New Zealand's largest economic drivers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Kauri gum, a type of fossilized tree resin, was harvested from ancient kauri trees and used for making varnish and linoleum. At the reserve, you can see remnants of gum digger camps, tools and even tracks made by their work. Rusted equipment, old horse-drawn carts, and other artifacts can sometimes be spotted, giving visitors a feel for the hard, rugged life that gum diggers endured.
Visitors can explore the gumfields through self-guided walking trails, which are marked with informative signs that detail the history and significance of the area. These trails are generally flat and accessible, allowing people to walk through and imagine what life was like for the gum diggers. There are opportunities to see kauri trees regenerating in certain areas, which gives hope for the forest's gradual restoration.