Northland exploring - Dargaville

Travelling back to Rotorua today. Stopped in at Dargaville, at the Chapel.

 This a tiny chapel, seats about 8 people, and is set amongst a quirky garden.

The rear of the chapel.

 Bottle trees in the garden.

 A bottle shed / tunnel

 Quinn really liked this scene next to the garden...

Exploring Northland - Waipoua Kauri

 

One of the highlights of the Hokianga and  Kauri Coast is this superb Forest Sanctuary abounding with rare New Zealand flora and fauna, mighty kauri, nocturnal kiwi, feather-like ferns, amongst a sub-tropical rainforest - Waipoua Kauri Sanctuary.

The road through the forest passes by some splendid huge kauris. There are holes in the road so the tree roots can get water.

A fully grown kauri can reach 60 metres and have a trunk five metres or more in diameter. They are slow growing and some kauris are 2,000 years old.

Fungi on roadside

We spent the morning at the Four Sisters reserve.  Gentle walk in the bush, lots of kauri.

Northland exploring - Car ferries and Kauri trees

 The Hokianga harbour is large and it is a windy drive to catch the ferry at Rawene.

 The ferry goes at every half hour, so we had time to experience the weather conditions while waiting.

The ferry on it's way.

Travelling across the Hokianga

 Rawene is a small village at the other side. 

Once off the ferry, we stocked up with fuel and popcorn, and continued to the Waipoua Kauri Forest, as we wanted to see Tane Mahuta before dark.

Tane Mahuta, "Lord of the Forest", the largest kauri tree in New Zealand. It stands 47 metres tall and is estimated to be 2,300 years old. 

Tane Mahuta

 Spent the night at Waipoua campgrounds.  The showers were wonderfully hot, and the insects BIG!

Exploring Northland - Wairere Boulders, Hokeke, Hokianga

 Going West to see the Kauris.  On the way, stopped in Horeke, to see the fluted basalt boulders.

Relaxing bushwalk, with lots of different formations in the rocks.  The urchins had a good time.

Tighe and Quinn "holding' up the boulder

Lots of crevices, caves, steps to climb

Reminded me of a giant claw

 The stream gently winds down the valley, but we went up the valley to the viewing platform.

 Lots of fern, moss, and fungi

 The view from the top showed the boulders cascading down the valley.

 The visit to the boulders finished with a picnic lunch at the stream.