The spiritual tip of New Zealand and the great Kauri forests

Cape Reinga

The northern tip of New Zealand

Where the Tasman Sea meets the South Pacific Ocean

Where in Maori Spirituality the spirits of the dead go to leave this earth

Descending the cliffs

The trees

back to the sea

 

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Cape Reinga and the Tasman Sea meeting the Pacific Ocean
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Cape Rienga and the sandy dunes that span the west cost of northern New Zealand

Sandy beaches and huge dunes spread south along the west coast on Northland

The 90 mile sandy beach ending a Ahipara

A small fishing village at the southern end of the 90 Mile Beach

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Low Tide on the 90 Mile Beach at Ahipara
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Fishing Boat beaching for retrieval

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Retrieving the beached fishing boat

South of Ahipara are the ancient giant Kauri forests

Trees thousands of years old

Kauri Pan e
Te Matua Ngahere- Father of the Forest

Te Matua Ngahere is estimated to be over 3,000 years old and is still growing – an awe inspiring living organism.

These remnant giant trees are a wonder and thankfully have been preserved.

The trip then along the Hokianga Estuary

To the Estuary’s mouth was a mixture of beautiful food and stories of both Maori and Pakeha history

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Panoramic view of the Hokianga Estuary

 

 

 

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