People are celebrating 100 years of kauri forestry in the Karangahake Gorge on Saturday. The Department of Conservation is holding a centenary celebration by turning the Victoria Battery gold mining site into Log Fest.

The centenary is to mark 100 years since the Kauri Timber Company's first shipment of kauri logs from Waikino to Auckland.

Finishing touches going into the construction of the Log Fest venue.

'In 1910 people were cutting down the giant kauri and sending them by tram to Auckland for timber”, says Department of Conservation community relations ranger Pete Huggins.

'In 2010 the forest is protected, and people are enjoying the old tramlines as walking tracks.

'The logging history of the Coromandel, Karangahake and Kaimai areas are important, and Log Fest is about bringing a few of the amazing stories to life for the current generation, for us all to understand and to learn from.

'We'd like to invite people from nearby towns and cities to come and explore this exciting piece of historic conservation land.

'DOC is working with local groups to put on a really special day. We have an historic bush camp where kids of all ages can try using traditional saws, cooking on an open fire, and trying woodturning.

'There will also be train and horse rides, both of which hark back to the grand old days of rail and horsepower.

'We also have some excellent talks and guided walks for those who want a bit more detail, and to discover the mining history and relics. It will make a great day out for the last weekend of the school holidays.”

Entry to the event is free, and extra parking will be available at the Waikino Station, SH2, Karangahake Gorge.

Games and activities run throughout the day, but the following set times apply:

10am – opening of Log Fest

11am – unveiling of new tracks and displays

12pm – presentation on bush tramways by DOC expert Paul Mahoney

2pm – presentation on gold mining by DOC expert Paul Mahoney

4pm – close