We had a simply fantastic last full day of exploring on the drive back down from Pahia in the Bay of Islands,ending up for our last night at Trounson Kauri Forest and one of the best sites we have stayed in,which was bang in the middle of a forest...
On the way , thanks to advice from the good old ‘ Lonely Planet’ we stopped at a little outpost called Hokiata where you can get a ferry over the bay to giant sand dunes.They lend you boards, give you a really good safety talk which comprises, dig your feet in the sand if you don’t want a complete dunking, and off you go....
Bit of a climb to the top of the dune and in very hot sand -but the thrill of the ride was worth it....whizzing down ending up in the sea , and yes we all had a go ! And if you lifted the front of the board up aquaplaning out into the bay... I think William claimed the record closely followed by Lowenna.
It was a cheap thrills of the highest order... everyone had a great time, Lowenna and Tim went double decker , I managed to get up and down again, and despite the Tsunami which hit the other side as I descended and hit the water all was well, and thanks to Will there is now a video which hopefully will not get pasted to Facebook....
After a great hour and a half we hit the fish and chip shop for the best fish and chips and headed down to Waiapoua Forest and ‘Faraway Tree’ land !
The Kauri forests are well known in NZ and the West Coast north of Auckland has the oldest and biggest in the world...and you don’t just go and see these trees, they sort of invite you to share their presence...
Nothing prepares you for these majestic and gigantuan beings and when you finally peep them through the trees they are just awesome in every sense....you can feel their massiveness and their presence and you cannot help but feel ingratiated to them....there is a whole eco system of its own way up in the branches and Enid Blyton must have known of this tree when she was inspired to write the Faraway Tree Stories, some of my favorite ever and best loved tales which for those not initiated,are probably the best childrens stories written and will get even the most reluctant reader enthralled......
Standing in front of Tane Mahuta who is over 2000 years old and with a girth of 13.8m and height of 51 m you can just imagine Saucepan Man and his friends living up there.
As someone who loves trees and forests this was one of my highlights of the trip.... the memory of being so close to them is just beyond words.....you could hear them whisper all the time you were in the forest... you cold just feel them all around..
So, sadly it was time to move on... we stayed the night at Trounson Top Ten holiday park hidden deep in the forest.... sadly it rained so we couldnt get to enjoy all it offered but anyone going to NZ ...make this a must stay.... its beautiful, peaceful, clean and just totally at one with its surroundings... and you have enough space between pitches to open your door without hitting the next camper !!!!
So our last day done.. and last night slept, a quick pack up and off to Auckland....
Definately a fitting last day full of some fantastic memories and for once -FREE... they say the best things in life are free and on this occasion they sure were...
You should see how my associate Wesley Virgin's tale begins with this SHOCKING AND CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO.
ReplyDeleteWesley was in the army-and shortly after leaving-he revealed hidden, "mind control" secrets that the CIA and others used to get everything they want.
THESE are the exact same SECRETS many celebrities (especially those who "became famous out of nothing") and top business people used to become wealthy and successful.
You probably know that you use less than 10% of your brain.
Mostly, that's because most of your brainpower is UNTAPPED.
Perhaps that thought has even occurred IN YOUR own head... as it did in my good friend Wesley Virgin's head 7 years back, while driving a non-registered, trash bucket of a car with a suspended license and with $3.20 in his pocket.
"I'm very fed up with going through life check to check! Why can't I turn myself successful?"
You took part in those questions, isn't it so?
Your very own success story is waiting to be written. All you need is to believe in YOURSELF.
Watch Wesley Virgin's Video Now!