Blogs from Matakohe, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Zatímco zátoka Bay of Islands je omývaná vodami Pacifiku, západní pobřeží Tasmanským mořem. Dnešní první zastávkou byl výhled právě na toto moře, které je lemováno písečnými plážemi, v některých místech i písečnými dunami, které se dají sjíždět na prkně. Z pobřeží se přesouváme do vnitrozemí, abychom poznali kolosy jménem Kauri (damaroně jižní). Vskutku nevšední je opakované čištění bot před vstupem do jakéhokoli parku. Musíte projít přes čistící kartáče a dezinfekci, abyste do lesa nezanesli něco, co by mohlo kauri stromy ohrozit na životě. Dechberoucí byl pohled na Tana Mahuta ("Pána lesa"), který se považuje za vůbec nejstarší strom, jehož stáří se odhaduje cca na 2000 let. Vysoký je 51,5 metrů a objem jeho kmene je 244 m3. Navštívili jsme ještě 2 místa se stromy kauri a nakonec se zastavili u další z písečných pláži, na které ... read more

No internet access last night as stayed in camosite in a Kauri wood. Amazing bird song though. Still cannot upload photos and cannot get NZ sim to work in phone so relying on wifi at campsites. Yesterday I saw solar eclipse, walked to Kaitu boulders and a waterfall. Almost came a cropper so remembered to take my walking pole today. Today I walked in Trounson Kauri Park and went to Kauri museum. I had a bad reaction to insect bites from last night but have managed to ge some anti histamines. Going to walk to the beach now!... read more

On Saturday 3 October we visited the museum for the "Settlers' Day event. Lots of people were there and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day. Michael and Cathy were there also - with Jason and Anita also a friend of Jason.... read more

Our first night in the campervan was spent at Matakohe. We had the most beautiful campsite - one of the Top 10 Holidayparks, which had amazing views of the Kaipara Harbour. The Kiwis certainly know how to set up a campsite - a kitchen with everything you could need, bbqs, sitting area with t.v. We certainly weren't going to be roughing it. We were close to the Matakohe museum which was brilliant. We're not really museum people but this one was great. It showed the lives of the kauri bushmen since the pioneering days - loads of very visual displays: you got a very real insight into how tough life had been and into the sheer size of the kauri trees. Rob was kept out of mischief looking at all the tools and machinery. After the ... read more

Having seen "gum digger holes" earlier in our trip, our quest was to find out more about them. The opportunity came when we visited Waipoua Forest, to see "Tane Mahuta" the largest known Kauri tree in the world. It's said to be 2,000 years old. The photo we took did not do it justice as we weren't able to get too close to it, for fear of damaging it's roots. But take our word for it, it's a giant... All fired up from this, we decided to call in to the Kauri Museum in Matakohe. We spent hours there.... (unlike the tour parties that were rushed through on their day trips) As well as having the largest collection of kauri gum in the world, a replica boarding house, a school and a historic post office with ... read more