Our Story

Two people standing outdoors in a green, hilly landscape with mountains in the background, along with a black dog and a few trees.

Welcome to our family farm, nestled in the heart of Whitianga. For generations, our land has been home to beef and sheep farming, with rolling paddocks, native bush, and sweeping views across the Coromandel countryside. Farming is in our blood, but so too is a love for the land and a desire to share its beauty with others.

Opening the farm to walkers was a natural step for us. We wanted to create a space where locals and visitors alike could slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the rugged charm of the Coromandel in a way that goes beyond the coastline. Our hope is that, as you wander the trails, you’ll experience not only the fresh air and wide-open views but also the sense of peace that comes from being immersed in the rural outdoors.

This walk is more than just a scenic adventure, it’s our way of showcasing the lifestyle and landscape that make this region so special. From gentle hillsides and working farmland to hidden pockets of native bush, every step offers a glimpse into the diverse beauty the Coromandel has to offer.

We look forward to welcoming you onto our farm and sharing a part of our world with you.

Kerrie & Damon Macdonald

Meet Your Hosts

About the Land

Taranoho Farm

Spanning 300 hectares, Taranoho sits on the south-western side of the Mill Creek Valley in Whitianga.

Historic Mill Creek

Mill Creek was once home to the only water-powered sawmill in the Coromandel, a vital part of the region’s early industry.

Taranoho Stream

Flowing from the top of the farm into the Waiwawa River catchment, the Taranoho Stream is the origin of the farm’s name.

Tangata Whenua Connection

The land was once used by Tangata Whenua to hunt moa and grow vegetables, leaving a deep cultural connection to the valley.

Timber Legacy

The Mill Creek Valley was heavily logged for its native timber, with some of New Zealand’s largest kauri trees harvested from this land.

A vast landscape of rolling green hills with trees, under a partly cloudy sky with blue and white clouds.
Scenic view of rolling hills with trees and grass, overlooking a bay with sailboats, surrounded by distant mountains and a clear sky.
Lush green rolling hills with a mountainous backdrop under a partly cloudy sky.
Scenic landscape of lush green fields, dense forested hills, and mountains under a clear blue sky.
A group of people including children walking uphill on a dirt trail surrounded by green shrubs and grasses in a natural landscape.
Tall palm trees with large fronds and textured trunks in a lush green landscape under a bright blue sky.
A hillside landscape with large rocks and scattered trees under a clear blue sky.

From the History Books

Content adapted from Saltspray & Sawdust by Janet Riddle.

Scenic landscape with rolling green hills, wooded mountains in background, partly cloudy sky.

Mill Creek

Mill Creek was a key site in New Zealand’s kauri logging history, known for its massive trees and pioneering timber operations. In the late 1800s, it featured a water-powered mill and set a record by cutting and delivering 300,000 feet of kauri in just four weeks, thanks to a half-mile chute built by David Hamilton and Robert Middlemas.

Bushmen like Tommy Lowe and John “Sonny Boy” Magill became local legends, Sonny Boy once ordered a giant kauri felled straight into a gully due to its difficult location. Though illiterate, he managed wages using a notched stick and led successful logging crews.

Bullock teams were vital to the operation. Many were imported from other regions and driven over rough terrain to Mill Creek. One journey, led by George Ralph, involved hauling 28 bullocks 32 miles from Thames to Gum Town, through rivers, villages, and dense bush - highlighting the grit behind the kauri industry.

Aerial view of a dense green forest with various types of trees and foliage.

The Kauri Giants
of Mill Creek Road

In the 19th century, the forests around Mill Creek Road in New Zealand were home to some of the largest kauri trees ever recorded. Giants like the Father of the Forests reached up to 75 feet in circumference and 100 feet tall, so massive they were mistaken for cliffs by early explorers.

Many of these trees, including one near Mill Creek said to be 28 feet in diameter, were later lost to logging and fire.
Today, their legacy lives on as a reminder of the extraordinary natural heritage that once stood along Mill Creek Road.