Eco New Zealand

Yes, yes, more New Zealand...

Anyway, one of the side trips that we embarked upon while experiencing destination Auckland was the Northland Region, which encompasses the northernmost geography of North Island, yes, you guessed it, north of Auckland. Northland is home to some of the most amazing vistas I've ever experienced.



This piece of the planet is riddled with breathtaking beaches (overlooking the Tasman Sea shown above) and bays as well as some of the oldest forests I've ever had the privilege to step foot in. Dubbed the Kauri Coast, no traveler should miss an opportunity to explore this region and stand at the base of a 2000 year old tree.

Yes, a 2000 year old tree! Its Maori name is Tane Mahuta, which translates to God of the Forest, for those you who didn't click the link above. It is the ultimate example of a Kauri tree. What the heck is a Kauri tree you ask? Well, just click here for a much more cogent explanation than I could ever give.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but for a change of pace on this here bloggidy, blog, blog I shall let my pictures do most of the talking...

First stop on the Northland tree tour, Parry Kauri Park!

Take a look at that sky...



Basically we took a stroll through the dense brush of Parry. Lovely brush, but yeah, pretty darn impermeable. Despite the density, I took some excellent shots and I, my friends, am NOT a photographer. Be that as it may, I still was able to pull this shot off...



Okay, how awesome is that shot??? Ethereal mist gently rising off of the dampened bark, bathed by the morning sun...oh yeah, definitely having Shutterfly shoot me a print of this one...

After finishing up at Parry Kauri Park we traveled deeper Northland to meet up with a man who makes wonderful turned wood pieces from fallen Kauri trees extracted from swamps. He showed us his lathe and quickly turned a lovely box in a matter of minutes, including finishing! I was impressed for I know my way around a woodshop my friends. Yep, there's more than just yarn lurking about my torrid crafty past...

I did say that I was going to let my photos do the talking. Oh well, I just can't help myself!

Anyway, after bidding fond farewell to the woodturning guru we headed even further north to Trounson Kauri Park for another stroll through more dense and beautiful flora. In fact, so solid is the forest canopy that even though it was raining pretty hard at the time of our visit we were spared a shower. Maybe just one or two droplets of water, but that was it. How cool is that?

It felt otherworldly surrounded by such amazing plant life...



Finally, our tree tour hit its apex with our introduction to none other than THE God of the Forest...



Here's big P, the hubs, for size comparison...



It's pretty darn awesome to stand next to a living being that's been on the planet for 2000 years. Um the tree, not the hubby. Anyhow for me, this immersion into the heart of ecological New Zealand was really the highlight of the trip. Yes, even above and beyond Hobbiton. Although I'd wager that Tane Mahuta is probably an Ent...