We returned to the North Island for our last two days in New Zealand! We headed from Auckland by car to the more desolate North country called Hokianga to see the subtropical rainforest of giant Kauri trees. The living trees are between 1000 and 2000 years old. Some of the fallen trees were covered with swampland and are now being reclaimed - the preserved wood was carbon-dated back to 45,000 years ago. We spent some time in a phenomenal Kauri museum which simulated how the trees were felled in the 1800's and the furniture that was made from them. The gum or sap from the trees was very valuable and had been made into carvings and jewellery. Today only 4 % of the original forest remains.
The scenery was spectacular up north. During the day the view of the sand dunes out in a harbour on the ocean was spectacular! Then at night we took a tour with a Maori guide for a guided walk through the forest to see the giant kauri trees. The rains let out a torrent of water for the entire four hours of the hike! We were soaked! Then when we returned like drowned rats to our hotel, we discovered that the hydro was out! The villages have been preserved as original right from the 1800's. We took a ferry to one village where time seemingly stands still. We saw a modern day school which has a swimming pool for the students' recreation, and we saw an old-fashioned school which posted the rules for teachers in 1915 - it will give you a chuckle to read all the rules applicable back then.
By now we have seen four different rain forests and each one is uniquely different from the other. The vegetation is all unique and unlike anything that we have ever seen before. What a beautiful creation God has made! We loved New Zealand!
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