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NZ Hike Sand Dunes and Puketi Rainforest (Wednesday, February 24)
First thing after breakfast, we headed out to catch a water taxi to the other side of Hokianga Harbour where the sand dunes awaited. We were the first ones there. The close sand dune was pretty steep and so it was a challenge to climb with our boards. Once at the top, though, we made short work of sliding back down belly first on the short board. The biggest challenge was stopping at the bottom before sliding right into the water, but since the tide was out, we just dug our toes in as brakes. I got right to the edge of the water but didn’t get wet. Whew!
I went up and down a couple of times, then the real climb of the day began. Once more up the dune and then all the way to the top and over to the other side. Some places were really soft, others relatively easy to walk on. But here’s the difference between today and what I’m used to at home: the sand wasn’t all that hot. I walked up and back in bare feet and it was very comfortable.
Got some good shots of the dunes. At the top, the more solid rocks reminded me of the same kinds of swirls and coloring of rocks in Utah.
After a couple hours hiking in the sand dunes, and once we got back to our starting place, there were a bunch of kids doing the sand surfing thing. By this time, the tide had come in so the water was much closer to the edge. I opted to walk down since I didn’t want to get the camera wet!
After the water taxi ride back to the harbor, lunch was under the trees. Then it was off to our next hike, at Puketi Forest. This is another rain forest, but it wasn’t really wet since it’s apparently been a bit dry here lately. We saw a lot more Kauri trees here, though they’re generally not as large as the ones we saw last night.
(I have to correct one thing in yesterday’s blog, though. Kauri trees apparently are found other places than New Zealand, but I’m not sure what they’re called elsewhere.)
This was a nice hour or so walk, then we headed off for our destination for the night, Paihia and the Bay of Islands. This is a nice sea-side area and close to where the major treaty between the Maori tribes and the British Crown was signed.
Tomorrow should be the most challenging hike of this portion of the trip. I’m not looking forward to the initial climb up, but ya’ gotta’ get up to see the views!
