9th March

Despite not having showers we didn't smell to bad (we think) and headed bright and early to the Kauri Forest (Waipoua Forest)

We wanted to visit the largest tree in New Zealand, Tane Mahuta, "Lord of the Forest". We were lucky because just as we got there a tour guide arrived and burst into Mauri song, which lasted for nearly ten minutes. It was very eerie how the guy's voice , that was very deep,  hung in the forest. It felt like it echoed all around us and made the hair on my neck go funny - very surreal.

After such an experience we had to see the Yakas Tree ( which is in the photo below). It was a forty minute walk but well worth a visit. On the way we trekked along a well carved path through many Kauri trees, including Cathedral Grove which was an area of about 8 trees all growing close to one another.

Kauri tree in Waipoua forest

Ferns

We headed on through the Kauri forest and drove up to a lookout just before we left. the aim for the rest of the day was to try to get back near to Auckland so we didn't have too far to drive the following day and drop the van back.

We found a camp site at Muriwai. Chosen for our last night as Paul wanted to be on the west Coast for a proper sunset to see the sun plummet into the sea. What we found was completely unexpected - a site right near to the sea, within walking distance of a black sanded beach. 

We got talking to another couple on the site who commented on the quails I was feeding, saying " if you like those you have to go up to the cliffs".

Although I had read about sea birds nesting in the area I thought that we had missed them all, as they should have left by the end of February.

Quail

However, our luck was in yet again that day - there were hundreds of gannets nesting right in front of us just twenty minutes walk from the van - and blimey did they smell!

We found a spot and tried to prefect our gannet shots as they flew in front of us at eye level right in front of the setting sun. What a night - our last sunset in NZ!

Gannet colony at Muriwai beach