Big Tree!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Headed for a big tree!

We finally installed the tourist radio today and it’s helpful.  As a result we stopped at a (tourist) factory where they make wood products from ancient Kauri trees. They say these trees are 45,000 years old and they are HUGE! Evidently an ancient forest of Kauri trees fell due to climate change, over time the trees were buried in a bog.  Later discovered these huge trees weigh tons and tons, requiring that they be “harvested” carefully and in chunks.  Today we’re headed to another Kauri forest with a big tree just for our kids.  Fromer’s says that Kauri trees once covered this region. today we’re headed to what’s left of that forest.  

We stopped for gas in a little town and a friendly lady came over to strike up a conversation about the motorhome.  She had lived in Lawrence, KS! Anyway, it was raining heavily for the second day, so we asked where we could buy rain ponchos since were are planning to hike to the biggest of the Kauri trees.  She directed us to the Wharehouse, which is…yes! you guessed it, the Wal-Mart of NZ!  Of course, having bought ponchos, the rain immediately stopped and the sun came out!  This area is just as beautiful as all that we’ve seen.  We see and hear sea gulls, so we know we’re close to the ocean. 

The treck to the big tree took us past Hokianga Bay.  We couldn’t figure out which way the tide was going, but either in or out, but it was moving fast.   

On the east side of the bay sand dunes meet the water. Green mountains rim with west side of the bay.  We pulled off at a scenic overlook and walked about a 500 m to a point on the cliffs.  The beaches are stunning, smooth sand broken by huge lava flows.  

 It’s only taken us three days, but finally realized we wouldn’t make our destination tonight, but we’d keep heading in that direction.  Blast that tourist radio! We were lured into a side trip to a waterfall—only a 600 m walk off the road, 15 minutes.  Remember that it’s been raining pretty hard and this area looks a lot like the Hoh Rainforest in Washington, and it was 5:00 p.m., the time when the sun was setting. The trail was often cut in the side of the mountain, the drop to the river being only about 20 feet and most of the time I couldn’t see for the trees, which is a good thing!  The climb was mostly upward in mud. However, it was worth the trip! This area is part of a National Park and contains Kauri trees, but there is some kind of disease that can attack them.  The directions were very clear that we should clean the mud off our shoes, not touch Kauri tree roots, and report anyone not following the directions.  The only problem is that we’re still not sure which one is the Kauri tree and the dirt is mud that needs to dry before we can clean it off our shoes.  Is there a recycle/rubbish bin for contaminated dirt?

 (Sorry, this picture isn't great.  It was getting dark.)

So were camped at another beautiful holiday park (campground), didn’t see the tree, listening to the rain, and thankful to be on this lovely trip. 

Random Thoughts:

·      People are trusting here.  The sign in the shower at the holiday park requested that showers be kept to two minutes and ended with, “We trust you to do the right thing.”  A roadside mandarin orange stand had three bags of oranges and a payment box.  The owner was nowhere to be seen.

·      The tourist radio is great, the music between information isn’t so great, but the information is good.

·      “Stay left! Stay left!

·      “Oh my gosh, Jim! You gotta look at this! But don’t look, just drive!”

·      Watch out for slippery steps and slipperier grass!

·      Roads really are slippery when wet! Which seems to be constantly around here.