Despite a heavy shower of rain early morning, we have enjoyed our night at Kauri Coast Holiday Park and decide to stay another night and do our Kauri Tree Walks today rather than when we leave here towing the caravan.
Duncan goes for a short run, then we are off through lush green pasture with impressive stock and sheep. We had been expecting drought conditions, but it looked in very good order.
Our first stop is at Trounson Kauri Park which is a loop track. We had to go through a hygiene Area where our boots are scrubbed and sprayed with disinfectant because of Kauri dieback.
 |
| As your foot stands on this grid the weight activates the disinfectant spray. I probably got an extra big dose! |
Trounson Park is over 500Ha of closely growing Kauri Trees. The track is 1.7km, dotted with information boards - not whole sentences - so the effect is rather poetic. For example, by the Weta display:
Scary in your gumboots
Around since the dinosaurs.
 |
| Well maintained boardwalks |
 |
| Lots of large specimens |
 |
| A chip off the old block, I guess. |
 |
| Lots of epiphytes on the upper branches |
 |
| Beautiful Bark |
 |
| A few young specimens |
Trounson Park was probably the highlight of my trip North.
Its a long and winding road to Tane Mahuta. Duncan remembers going to see it with his grandfather - a very dour Scotsman from Southland - who pronounced it dead. We are happy to report that it is still living 64 years later
 |
| Photos never do things on this scale justice. |
 |
| A selfie of course! |
Although it is heading in the other direction we decide to go to Kai Iwi Lakes. before returning to the caravan. Kai Iwi Lakes are dune lakes - a hard pan of rocks was covered by sand during the Pleistocene Period, then the three lakes gradually filled up. This is where Duncan learned to waterski - a skill he has failed to try again in the next 53 years.
Shops or cafes are very scarce in this area, but we manage to pick up a loaf of bread and head back to the caravan for a very late lunch. The weather is quite squally now, and we are happy to relax in the caravan.
No comments:
Post a Comment