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Today dawned overcast and a bit damp. It continued showery so today was a good day for being under cover. Just as well then that I already planned to be under tree canopies followed by a long drive.
Leaving the Bay of Islands, I headed west to the Waima Forest. Here I embarked upon the Waiotemarama Loop Track. Now if, like me, you assumed a loop track is a circuit then you'd be wrong. This is a 3km track, which follows the Waiotemarama Gorge to a stunning 20 metre high waterfall. The track then gets a bit trickier as it climbs up to a view point overlooking the gorge. As if that's not enough, the track continues to climb, where the track loops round with lovely views of the kauri trees before going back. Therefore, it's a 45 min tramp, 20 min loop then the 45 min tramp back. Nevertheless, it was well worth it.
The kauri tree has shallow feeding roots, so it's important to avoid treading on them. Also, they are suffering from dieback, so I will not be using these boots again until I've washed them tonight. Hopefully, if everyone files the precautions, these beautiful trees can flourish for generations.
Kauri trees were used by the Maoris to build their war canoes, carving them out of a single trunk. Indeed, the massive ceremonial canoe at Watiangi is an example. Therefore, these trees are very much part of the New Zealand identity.
I then took small detour to the South Head view point, with great views over Hokianga Harbour.
Next more trees!
A short drive brought me to the Waipoua Forest. The following walks are all on well made paths and boardwalks, thereby helping to protect the trees and meaning I didn't have to use my muddy boots. Of course, seeing boardwalks always infects me with the classic earworm, adapted for today, 'Under the boardwalk, down by the trees, under the boardwalk, where no one should go as you might damage the trees'.
A short walk of about 200m led to Tane Mahuta, Maori for Lord of the Forest. According to Maori legend, Tane is the son of Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatuanuku. Tane covered his mother in forest, breaking their parental embrace. All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane's children.
Back to the tree. Tane Muhuta is New Zealand's largest living kauri tree. It is an impressive sight. The trunk girth measures 13.7m while the trunk alone is 17.7m high. The total height of Tane Mahuta is 51.2m. The tiny dots at the bottom ofbthe picture really are fully grown adults - no hobbits there.
A further 1km south are three kauri walks.
The first is to the 4 sisters. Like siamese quads, they are joined together.
Next is Te Matua Ngahere, Father of the Forest. This is the second largest living kauri tree in the forest, and older than Tane Mahuta, estimated to exceed 2000 years. The girth is 'only' 16.4m, but the total height is significantly smaller at 29.9m.
Finally, a longer walk leads to Yakas. Only the 7th largest tree but still impressive, it's named after the leader of the team building State Highway 12 (SH12), Nicholas Yakas, who discovered the trees in 1928. The walk also passes Cathedral Grove, a stand of Kauri trees.
By the time I'd got back to the car, it was proper raining. Sitting in the car, eating my well earned brie sandwiches made with the last of that yummy cheese bread, the rain hammering on the roof reminded me of so many British summer holidays!
So, having concluded my kauri conversation, I set off on a 300km drive south. The first part of the drive through the forest was amazing - really twisty. Shame the weather was so bad. The route then passes through Dargaville and then onto the alternative route south, the SH16 via Helensville. While a bit longer, this is a quieter road than the SH1, twistier, more fun to drive and, as if I haven't seen enough already, has some great views.
The drive took about 4.5 hours, and it rained all the way. Would've been quicker if I hadn't got caught up with the evening rush leaving Auckland. Hopefully, having got south of Auckland, I'll avoid the traffic when I set off on tomorrow's venture.
Total distance driven today, 420km. So both my feet and JB have taken a pounding today.
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