Puketi Forest is the great inland bush escape from the Bay of Islands: a remnant of the kauri forests that once covered much of Northland. Together with neighbouring Omahuta, it protects one of the region's largest and most intact native forest blocks, with kauri, podocarp, fern gullies, and enough birdlife to make the place feel very different from the coast.
The easiest taste is the short boardwalk through mature kauri, which works well as a half-day trip from Paihia, Kerikeri, or Russell. Travellers with more time can tackle longer tramping tracks and stay at the forest campsite, but check current Department of Conservation notices before setting out: some tracks have been closed to protect kauri from disease.