Ron (our leader for the next 20 days) picked us up from the Sebel suites this morning at 8.0 as promised. Weather beaten man with a Rickerty van (Sorry Ron   🙂   ) just enough room in the trailer for the luggage and yes I know I brought way too much….. a long old drive to Hokianga and the Copthorne hotel. First item of the day a detour. Ron had that look of a lot of detours lol. Went to see the Gannets by the sea. And what a sea!!! If you wanna surf then just look at those waves. As for the myriad of birds well I have never seen anything like it. It was about at this point that I realised that the weather beaten Ron and the rickerty van was what I had come for.

Onwards to the Kuri museum. I felt that the mood for revolution was over when Ron said “lunch ahead”. Super large BLT and a coffee. Must bring more water. Then Hey a museum about a Tree…looking forward to this…..errmm. How wrong was I. The kauri tree as any native of the south will tell you is as impotent to them as life itself. Fabulous museum and I learnt so much about a tree which they have a piece of that is 3 million years old. The bowl I brought was from a swamp kauri which was only 45000 years old…..sheesss.

Onwards to the living thing…..Met Bill….good old Maori name….at the last remaining 2% of the New Zealand forest. The Kauri tree is now protected btw. And what a tree 13m diameter. The kuris have very shallow roots so need to be protected from marauding animals and others. Tane Mahuto is the Lord of the forest so Bill said. And I for one believe him. Not far away is the father of the forest Te Matua Ngahere. After  we had some songs and some whistle blowing while being given the history of the tree. At least 2000 years old…… So I said my prayer and wished the Lord of the forest all the best. Stupid but I meant every word. Then off we trotted to bills home..over the water anyway. Fabulous view. then into the bar at the Copthorne Hotel. Another Fabulous Room and Hotel. I’m getting used to this. I have to say after watching all the luxury coaches going by and the looks from those in them I am so glad I picked Moa trek. We got Ron and we got Bill. They don’t   😉

Great dinner with some wonderful new friends; and yes I drank the whole bottle Dan   😉

Thought for the day: Nothing lasts forever but 3 million years is as close as you gonna get!!!