Monday 16 October 2017

Big sand dunes, big trees and big boulders

Welcome back to our trip around the Northlands of North Island, New Zealand.

Our last three days in the area featured the largest sand dunes in the world, enormous boulders and the second largest trees in the world.

Sadly this photo doesn't really do justice to how tall these sand dunes actually are.

We drove along the tourist drive until we came to the Hokianga Ferry.


This took us to Rawene where we booked into a B&B.

This is is the pretty front door of the B&B The Postmaster's Lodgings.

We visited Clendon House arriving just as the guide was beginning a talk about the history of the place.

Then we took a drive to Wairere Boulders.

The path around the site is mostly well defined although there were some narrow places to get through



and sometimes the path seemed to disappear.


I earned my 'mountain goat certificate' scrambling over some of these large boulders.


The next day as we travelled we stopped off at different spots to view intersting landscapes, a waterfall and view the large Kauri trees.





These were still sand dunes but some of the sand seemed to have hardened into rocks.  I always though rocks eroded into sand but there you are!

The Waiotemarama Waterfall.


Then on to the Kauri trees.  This tree is thought to be at least 2000 years old.


And a walk through the forest.





We spent the last morning in New Zealand visiting the Kauri Museum.  It was a very comprehensive museum about the Kauri tree and the amber that is taken from it.  I spotted these in the room displays.  I was supposed to be looking at the amazing furniture!

Then we were off to the airport and our flight to Sydney.  Next time - In and around Sydney, Australia.

Thanks for stopping by.
Bernice

2 comments:

  1. Lovely photos and sharing of your visit. The trees are an interesting shape and incredible for their age. If I'd seen this cabinet of buttons and knitting books I'd be tempted to ignore the furniture too!

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  2. I didn't realize that amber came from a tree. Reminds me of my surprise to learn the same of myrrh and frankincense.

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