After the beaches and an overnight at the Lions' Club freedom camp in Whangarei, we decided it was time for something new and headed toward the Waimere Boulders over toward the west coast and the Hokianga estuary. We overnighted at the Waimere Boulders camp, then did the boulders/bush walk the next morning. It was the beginning of a big five-event/scene day. And the best of it too.
The Waimere Boulders are a private natural reserve, featuring a set of enormous basalt boulders cascading down the mountainside, but, most unusually for basalt, fluted by aeons of acid drip from the ancient Kauri forests that surrounded them. (Acid drip, not trip). Normally we'd not be enticed by a private reserve, but the reviews were enthusiastic, and we never pass on an opportunity to see fluted basalt. We concur with the enthusiasm: an excellent, educational, and entertaining visit. Plus you have to do bush walks in New Zealand.
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The walk has three variations, of which we did the easiest--with
fluted boulders, ample interpretive signage, and some NZ whimsy |
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| Some of the boulders and the creek that flows through them |
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| Ample plant identification, in Maori and in English too |
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Some baby Kauris...the giant trees of the North Island,
more about which anon |
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| Some fluting |
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Nice tidy trail punctuated by catwalks and stairs up and down and
around the boulders |
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| More flute-like erosion |
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| Vicki exploring |
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| Some of the whimsical bits |
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| Excellent signage |
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| More fluting |
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| Fairy houses...to entertain the little explorers |
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In New Zealand, in order to survive, trees sometimes have to be
very flexible |
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| Executive summary of the science |
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| More whimsy...a horse's head |
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| Fairy apartment building |
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Basalt tower atop the mountain from which it has
all cascaded |
