Now I know why the greenery up here is so bloody lush: it never. stops. raining. To prevent cabin fever we took a drive via Dargaville (stopping for Science Guy to perform the obligatory doughnut on Bayleys Beach) and up through the Waipoua Forest. We visited the Kai Iwi Lakes – an idyllic camping spot full of families gearing up for the festive season.
Into the heart of the forest (where Dr Death struck again). Disappointingly the lookout station at the highest point was boarded up and we could see very little from the car park. We braved the rain and wandered through the wet bush to see Tane Mahuta. And he is breathtaking. The ‘lord of the forest’ is the largest kauri still standing. He is 51 metres (169 feet) in height, and has a circumference of 13.8 metres (45 feet). There is no proof of the tree’s age, but it is estimated to be between 1250 and 2500 years old. According to Maori mythology Tane is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku the earth mother. Tane was the child that tore his parent’s parental embrace and once done set about clothing his mother in the forest we have here today. All living creatures of the forest are regarded as Tane’s children.
The rain was coming down harder so we kept driving stopping briefly in Opononi to see the small memorial in honour of Opo the Dolphin, who the townsfolk killed with their love, during the summer of 1965.
By the way, if anyone is looking for a holiday house, most of the bach’s on Northland’s beautiful little beaches appear to be for sale. Sign of the times I guess.
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