Lord of the Forest

You can read the story if you like but another stop and a little walk to our last big tree.

Off to see the Kauris

So I bet you're wondering by now what the hell is a Kauri anyway.

So it's a big tree native only to the North of NZ and here are 2 notable examples. The Four Sisters is 2 trees with two trunks each all merged together and the other is the 2nd biggest - can't remember the name.

There you go.

Cleansing river

Stopped off at the river to clean an inch of mud of our boots. A nice place for a fag too!

In the woods

Up early and drive up into the Waipoa Kauri Forest proper. A quick stop at the Visitors Centre and then set off on the Lookout Trail. Trail went up through the forest for one very muddy hour. Luckily I had my very sensible walking boots on but Brian had his bright running shoes on - not bright any more!

Got to the top and there was a tower to climb up with views of the 9,000 hectare forest.

An hour back down the trail and time for a ham and cheese wrap!

Kauri Coast Holiday Park

Staying the night in a great little camp site right in the National Park with a river going round it with kids floating down on rubber rings. Got chatting to the neighbours (did we have a choice?!) and they gave us some tips for the next few days. Nothing like a bit of local knowledge then!