Once a kauri-dense native forest, Riverhead Forest now whispers tales of change. The forest stands to the northwest of Auckland. Imagine standing here in the early 1800s. The air would have been thick with the scent of kauri. That’s before logging transformed this land.
Riverhead Forest’s story is intertwined with the colonial era. The area was logged extensively. Then the soil was dug for valuable kauri gum. This gum digging peaked between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Riverhead Forest supported twelve gumdigger camps at that time.
Fast forward to the 1920s. The New Zealand Government designated Riverhead Forest as a state forest. Pinus radiata, or pine trees, became the dominant species. Planting began in 1927 and continued until 1933. But the first generation of pine trees struggled. A phosphate deficiency in the soil hindered their growth. This issue was identified in the 1950s. Correcting the nutrient balance allowed the forest to thrive. This discovery proved crucial for forestry practices across New Zealand.
Riverhead Forest spans nearly 5,000 hectares. It borders several Auckland communities. These include Huapai, Kumeū, and Riverhead to the south. Coatesville lies to the east. Rural Rodney, with its vineyards, is to the north and west. The forest takes its name from the nearby township of Riverhead.
Interestingly, Riverhead Forest once recorded Auckland’s coldest temperature. In June 1936, the mercury plunged to -5.7 degrees Celsius.
Today, Riverhead Forest is known for recreation. You might see mountain bikers speeding along trails. Horse trekkers are also common. Others pursue activities such as paintball and hunting.
Most of Riverhead Forest has now been returned to iwi ownership. This was achieved through the Treaty settlement process. The forest license now belongs to Rayonier Matariki Forests. They purchased Carter Holt Harvey’s assets in 2005.
Rayonier are friendly towards horse riders and recreational users of their forests. Horse gate keys are available with a permit to ride. All registered riders receive emails from Rayonier. These emails provide updates about activities in the forest and a map of the forest.
Entry to Riverhead Forest is permitted only during daylight hours. This excludes days when other events are scheduled. Signage must be followed. Operational areas should be avoided. Email notifications keep users informed about operational areas and truck routes.
There are terrific views from Riverhead Forest that stretch across the city and surrounding countryside. Roads and tracks are shared with walkers and cyclists. A collaborative attitude is generally seen.
The terrain is clay-based and hilly. Trails can be wet and slippery. The forest roads are formed from metal like rocks and roadbase. Some sections are hardgoing for horses. However, walking and trotting offer good fitness. There are also places for cantering. Forest roads are well signposted. But there are no specific horse trail markers or loop track markers.
Rayonier invests considerable effort in maintaining the forest for recreation. Gorse has recently been sprayed and cut back along many tracks. This makes riding much more pleasant.
Remember, access to Riverhead Forest is a privilege, not a right. Please respect the rules. Report any suspicious activity, like vehicles entering or tampering with gate locks.