Day 3 took us to the northernmost part of the north island of New Zealand. We also discovered that this is a three day Labor Weekend. Lots of people everywhere. At the lighthouse, below, an Asian family asked me to take their picture. After doing so, I asked where they were from. They said 'Oakland', I said, Oh, I am from California too. Then I realized they said Auckland. Lost in Translation.
We ended up in Waipapakauri for the night. A nice seaside cottage on the 90 Mile Beach. It is indeed 90 miles long with only a small handful of people and vehicles on it. AND, no pollution, no plastic no driftwood, etc. Pristine. The tides and currents are good to Northern New Zealand.
 |
Portuguese Man of Wars everywhere. From this little guy about 2 inches long to
monsters a couple of feet across. They will go back into the ocean at the next high tide. |
We also learned about ancient (and modern) Kauri. This is a tree that has been around for 45,000 years. When they died in millennia past, they submerged in the peat swamps of the day and became mummified, not petrified. Now, they are digging them up with bulldozers lifting them out with cranes and sawing them up with chainsaws to be made into very expensive bowls and carved sculptures.
 |
| Gloria on a staircase they carved on the inside an ancient Kauri. |
But, there are many living Kauris today. I would compare them to the Giant Sequoias in California. They are honored here in New Zealand. The few that remain are highly protected. The trees are cordoned off from the public and before you enter the area you have to clean and disinfect your shoes.
 |
| This bad-boy is 45 feet across at the base. Huge! |
Day 4 was more pastures, cows and sheep. It is hard to distinguish between the fields and golf courses here. All beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment