Kaikohe: Speedway, Cycle Trail and History

Kaikohe brings together a range of reasons to visit: speedway, a distinctive cycle route, historic sites and viewpoints. The town is at the centre of the Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail, and the Kaikohe Speedway’s Easter Stampede is a fixture on the annual calendar. The Kaikohe Fire Museum explores the history of firefighting in the Far North District; Monument Hill and the nearby thermal pools at Ngawha Springs add landscape and geothermal features to the cultural offering. You can shape your stay around the experience that interests you most.

Speedway and the Cycle Trail

Kaikohe Speedway is located on State Highway 12 in Kaikohe. The biggest event on the calendar is the annual, two-day Easter Stampede, which ends with the Kaikohe Demolition Derby. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the current event dates and programme before making plans.

Kaikohe is at the centre of the Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail, which descends in both directions from the town. Some cyclists ride the trail over two days and stay overnight in and around Kaikohe. This example gives you an idea of the time involved, but is not a substitute for planning your own trip: plan your overnight stays around your route and check availability for your travel dates.

History in two forms

The Kaikohe Fire Museum features exhibits on the history of firefighting in the Far North District. Visits are by prior appointment only; arrange your visit in advance. This makes it easy to plan a museum visit as part of your stay.

At Pioneer Village, you can visit historic buildings. These include New Zealand’s oldest surviving courthouse, the Maioha Cottage from 1875 and the Methodist Church from 1886. The dates provide specific historical reference points for the cottage and church; the courthouse stands out as the oldest surviving building of its kind in New Zealand. Historic machinery and interactive displays complement the buildings. The village thus combines architectural history with other historic artefacts and exhibits.

Views and thermal pools

Monument Hill offers excellent views and is a good spot for a picnic. If you want to add a scenic highlight to your stay, this is a different kind of experience from visiting the museums or speedway. The geothermal thermal pools at Ngawha Springs, near Kaikohe, also feature mineral-rich healing waters that have been used for generations. Confirm current access to the thermal pools before visiting.

Plan your stay around your main interest

These reasons to visit call for different planning schedules: the Easter Stampede’s event dates are key, the Fire Museum requires an appointment, and some cyclists plan to spend two days on the trail, staying overnight in and around Kaikohe. If you’re more interested in culture or scenery, consider Pioneer Village, Monument Hill and Ngawha Springs as different highlights.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ruakaka, Lake Ohia, Matapouri, Whangaruru, Kaeo, Matakohe, Otaika, Awanui.

For the main travel overview: Northland.