The Warkworth and District Museum is located in the beautiful Parry Kauri Park.  Take an easy stroll along one of the well-made boardwalks, through the native bush, to the lookout and kauri tree grove. Pick up a brochure from the Museum souvenir shop that describes and identifies the native trees and shrubs found along the path.

In the early years of European settlement, Parry Kauri Park was part of the property owned by the Rev McKinney, the first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Warkworth and the Mahurangi. The land was later purchased by the Simpson family who requested that on the sale of their land, the trees and bush be offered for purchase as a public amenity.

The two large kauri trees are named in honour of these former landowners. The park and the driveway into it bear the names of Harry Parry and Tudor Collins, local identities who were largely responsible, along with the Kauri Bushmen’s Association, for raising the money to purchase the land. The Mid-North Branch of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society is responsible for providing signs along the boardwalk that winds through the park.

Inside the Museum are displays of the kauri digging implements, photographs of gum-digging, giant pieces of kauri gum, saws, native timber, bushman’s hut and other items connected with the gum digging days. On the far side of the car park, there is a “whim”, which was used to haul the logs out of the bush, and other items connected with kauri logging.