Waipu Cove to Ahipara


There was a tropical downpour during much of Saturday night, but Sunday dawned sunny and steamy. From Waipu Cove we backtracked a couple of kms to Langs Beach so that Rosemary could revisit the world of her childhood – summer holidays with the Aspden and Kidd Clan. The house is still there and Rosemary actually spoke to the current owner who purchased it in 1974 from Nance and Charlie (Kidd) – Gran’s sister. A very special start to the day.



Had a fascinating hour or so at the Matakohe Kauri Museum. What extraordinary wood and gum, and what extraordinary hardship, skill and ingenuity the workers displayed in the felling, harvesting and milling processes over the hundred years.   The pictures here show a replica of the kauri saw mill and a representation of the circumference of various legendary kauri - Tane Mahuta is the smallest circle.




An hour or so later – we were in the State Forest at Waipoua where we stopped off for a two minute hike into the bush to experience Tane Mahuta. What a staggeringly majestic tree. Everyone who was in there (and mercifully there weren’t many of us tourists) was very quiet and respectful; almost a spiritual experience.  Note the people at the base of the tree for scale.


Further up the island through Opononi (home of Opo the Friendly Dolphin); across the Hokianga on the car ferry from Rawene and presently we made it to Ahipara at the bottom of Ninety Mile Beach. This is on the west coast so we had the sun setting over the Tasman Sea; last night we were on the east coast looking out over the Pacific as we toasted Brendan on his 26th Birthday.

The weather has been tropical – warm, showery, sunny and very pleasant. Everything is very lush, stupidly green and for the most part rundown and shanty.    Here's the angel of Ahipara, something of a must-see thanks to Chris Blake and Barney.





  

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