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Peiying Mo | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> The Down Under 2008 >> North Island, New Zealand >> Waipoua Forest tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Waipoua Forest

Along State Highway 12 lies the Waipoua Forest, 25km2 in size, home of three quarters of kauri forest in New Zealand. It preserves some of the mightiest ancient living kauri trees, several are over 2000 years old. This area also has the largest population of brown kiwi birds in the country, but we only saw road signs, not a single live kiwi.

The kauri trees, brought in by the Maoris, were recognized by European settlers for their unsurpassed quality in size, hardness, and lack of knots - ideal for building ships masts and spars. The result was massive exploitation in a very short period of time. It is now against the law to cut down the tree except for salvaging the dead ones. Many wooden artworks and practical household containers, kitchen tools are made of kauri.
State Hightway 12 runs through forest
State Hightway 12 runs through forest		 The biggest kauri tree - Tane Mahuta or Lord of the Forest
The biggest kauri tree - Tane Mahuta or Lord of the Forest		 Girth: 45ft; trunk height: 58ft; total heigh: 169ft
Girth: 45ft; trunk height: 58ft; total heigh: 169ft		 Top of Tane Mahuta
Top of Tane Mahuta
View of Tane Mahuta from highway 12
View of Tane Mahuta from highway 12		 The forest is filled with other varieties including ferns.
The forest is filled with other varieties including ferns.		 One of the younger kauri trees
One of the younger kauri trees		 The top grows many times taller than the trunk.
The top grows many times taller than the trunk.
The ferns are like umbrellas on the beach
The ferns are like umbrellas on the beach		 Narrow walkway
Narrow walkway		 Hard to get the whole picture
Hard to get the whole picture		 Cathedral Cove - a few younger kauri trees
Cathedral Cove - a few younger kauri trees
These young kauris are a few hundred years old
These young kauris are a few hundred years old		 Yakas Kauri - 7th largest living kauri
Yakas Kauri - 7th largest living kauri		 The narrow track is usually elevated to protect the soil
The narrow track is usually elevated to protect the soil		 The ground is covered with ferns
The ground is covered with ferns
Te Matua Ngahere or Father of the Forest is the thickest of all with a girth of 53.8ft
Te Matua Ngahere or Father of the Forest is the thickest of all with a girth of 53.8ft		 Another young kauri
Another young kauri		 Four Sisters: these kauris grow extremely close to each other
Four Sisters: these kauris grow extremely close to each other		 Fern with braided-like trunk
Fern with braided-like trunk
Fern covered forest
Fern covered forest		 Like sheep and kiwis, the 'koru', an unfurling fern, is a symbol of New Zealand
Like sheep and kiwis, the 'koru', an unfurling fern, is a symbol of New Zealand		 A kauri with seemingly dead top branches
A kauri with seemingly dead top branches		 More fallen trees
More fallen trees
Some trees have shallow roots
Some trees have shallow roots		 This bark looks like an Australian aboriginal artwork
This bark looks like an Australian aboriginal artwork		 Kauri bark
Kauri bark		 Tree fungi
Tree fungi
Waipoua River
Waipoua River		 Waipoua River
Waipoua River		 Fern
Fern		 The winding highway showcases many varieties cascading from top to bottom
The winding highway showcases many varieties cascading from top to bottom

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