Puketi Forest and Paihia

When we arrived in New Zealand, Pat was coming down with flu, which cramped our style somewhat. We decided to go out to a forest to see the really large Kaori trees. We had seen the stump of a giant Kaori at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds  - the 800 year old trunk had been used to make the ceremonial canoe. Puketi is not the site of the largest trees, but it was one of the closer forests and it has reasonable length walks. 

John by a kauri tree.

Some views of the forest

Haruru falls was New Zealand's first river port and a route to inland  Maori settlements. 

Unknown (to us) wild flowers around Harura.

Hen and chicks in the car park by the falls.

Finally, for this area, something about Paihia itself. Some of the houses on our route from our apartment to the town to give a flavour to the area. 

 

Paihia was a nice little town and a great base from which to see the area.

Alliums are often make a sort of low hedge to a property.

Tiger lilies grow wild in the countryside

This iris type flower is just outside a house in Paihia