Kaikohe
Kaikohe was unfortunately a town where much Maori blood was shed during the Maori land wars. It was here that Hone Heke, the guy who had instigated rebellion against colonial oppression, died in 1850. Today his monument stands on Kaihoke Hill. The other tourist attraction here is a Pioneer Village with typical historic buildings of the era such as a general store, jail, fire station and mill
Puketi and Omahuta Forests
This joint forest area has become a sanctuary for the kauri and kokako, an extremely rare native bird. If you want to try your hand at bird watching or simply enjoy the forest there are several walks available starting from the Manginangina Kauri Walk (15mins) to the Waipapa Track (2 days). There's more info at DoC as always