Kauri, Cows and Coming Home

Along the road to Opononi

Storm clouds on the way

On the way up. . .a fishing boat

Sun breaking through on the way

We headed back to Auckland, planning a day of traveling through lands exotic, while staying a night on the Western Coast of the North Island and then heading back to our place in Auckland. It's so hard to do the scenery justice with a photograph here. It surrounds you with it's lushness; some wild and fecund, some pastoral. While there are sheep in abundance in this rural landscape, cows dominate the domesticated animal population here; mostly dairy, but also some beefs. We headed directly across the North Island on Route 12, heading to Opononi and Onopere. And yes. The names are hard to retain. I kept calling the first Onaponi ("own a pony"), because that was something my little brain could hold onto. These two coastal towns pretty much run together. They don't feel especially touristy, and are lightly populated this time of year, which is early winter in the Southern Hemisphere. [I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it's early summer in Boise.] There is a nice hike up a hill and to the end of a peninsula that overlooks the sea on one side, and the coastal hills behind.
 The views all around really are staggeringly beautiful. I'm running out of adjectives, aren't I?

It's hard to decide what to include, and believe me, I've culled the herd considerably. Smile. I did include the image of John looking very noble indeed at the top of the hike, and I'll include several smaller ones that you can click to enlarge if you feel so inclined.


John's allergies on this trip were alive and well. It is such a humid climate, so rife with plant life. I guess we shouldn't be surprised. This has definitely nixed any notion of emigating to New Zealand, though, even if they would have us.

After this hike, we headed back south, along the coast and then further inland where we drove through the last virgin Kauri forest, called the Waipua Forest. It is a primal place, dark and verdant. The road is beyond winding, even though it's a major route, and it is full of green, brown, water and birdsong.  The oldest tree in New Zealand lives there, and you can go see it. It is only developed enough to let folks see it. No gift shop. Just parking along the road, and a path going to it that starts with cleaning one's shoes. Again. An earnest attempt to slow the advance of Kauri die-back disease, but my horticultural heart quakes at the notion.  I can only think American Chestnut. American Elm. Sigh.





This tree has a name. Tane Mahuta, the largest living Kauri tree in the world. It is also the oldest, thought to be between 1250 and 2500 years old. Big spread, but it's not like you can count the rings.

After leaving this deep dark place, we came out into more pastoral environs. We were on the road for a few minutes when we had to stop, because a herd of dairy cows were being moved down the road. It was the biggest herd I have ever seen. . .maybe a hundred individuals, all in various stages of lactation and/or pregnancy. John was a little freaked, but I kept telling him to "just hold still". They aren't a violent lot, which is good, because they ARE very large.

Steadfast readers, forgive me if this post has been over long. You would not BELIEVE how much I did NOT include regarding this trip, but I realize that it's still a bit much. I'll reward you with a final photo of an image that is real. I did not Photoshop the rainbow in. I have never seen a complete rainbow, or one that was so fat. Must be a southern hemisphere thing.