Next stop Waipoua Forest and kauri trees.  These guys are the second largest trees in the world – guess what’s first?  Most were chopped down for building but a few escaped in this area.  They can reach 60m in height and their trunks can be more than 5m in diameter.  This is Tane Mahuta named after a Maori forest god.  Standing 51m plus tall, with a trunk height of 17m + plus and girth of nearly 14m, this is the largest, and oldest, kauri alive. Estimated 1200 – 2000 years old.

The bark peels off the kauri, good job as gets rid of pests, algae and most.  Presumably may also get rid of this epiphyte (far right).

Lots of the kauri trees are suffering from a disease – kauri dieback ! – so you have to spray your footwear with disinfectant entering and leaving sensitive areas.

These are called the four sisters – there are four of them – that have fused together at the base.

Paul with a kauri behind and having a tree hugging moment.

This is Te Matua Ngahere – the father of the forest – the second largest kauri.  The biggest girth of any living kauri.  Height 29.9m, trunk height 10.41m and girth 16.41 m.  I’m sure it must have changed by now.

The bark of the remu tree.  This tree is so hard that you cannot get a nail into it.

Remu and kauri leaves

A young kauri tree – about 30 years and a German having a pee!

If you like a bit of scenery here’s some more …..  We stayed in a valley surrounded by trees and running water at Waipoua.  Great little place.