The Last Tree Days

Thursday, January 25th

Now that we're back at Ruakaka for just the one night, we need to resolve how best, from tomorrow morning, to spend the last three days of Ellen's 4-week stay in New Zealand.

We decide to head northwards, to the Far North of the Northland district, which will be my second visit to this particular region during the recent past; the last occasion occurring around a month ago.

So around midday we set-off up SH1 for the City of Whangarei - around 28 km (17½ miles) away - where we turn west towards the township of Dargaville which is just inland from the Tasman Sea coastline.

The rural scenery is very pleasant indeed; enhanced by the fine weather, which unfortunately is forecast to turn cloudy, with probable rain, within the next 24 hours.

We stop to check our location and ensure that we haven’t missed a turning

The New Zealand countryside is in full bloom at the moment, as you would expect, now that the country is approaching its 'high summer' season

Within a while we enter the Waima Forest, where the alleged tallest tree in New Zealand; a giant Kauri known as Tane Mahuta stands proud at 51 metres (169 feet) in height, and has a circumference of 13.8 metres (45 feet). There is no proof of the tree's age, but it is estimated to be between 1250 and 2500 years old.

We remember well this particular forest from last year’s visit to NZ.

The narrow road through the forest twists and turns nearly all the way. Most of the riding is spent in second and third gears, with even the occasional drop into first gear, in order to negotiate the odd very tight switchback here and there

A couple of giant Kauri trees guard the road

But after around 13 km (8 miles)...

... or so ..

.. we emerge back into full daylight again

By around mid-late afternoon we reach the mouth of Hokianga Harbour. Apparently sand tobogganing is very popular down the dunes on the opposite side of the harbour entrance ..

.. and notice the soon-to-be expected unsettled weather advance inland from the Tasman.

After a further 30 - 35 km (18½ - 22 miles) we reach the small sleepy township of Rawene; then buy ourselves an ice cream, and wait for around 30 minutes until 5:30pm when we embark on the vehicle ferry across the Hokianga Harbour Narrows.

Then, after around a further 55 km (35 miles) we head for the motel in which I stayed in Kaitaia for two nights a month ago. We had a choice of routes to Kaitaia; either around the longer, more westward, (and scenic) Awaroa road; or shortcut back to SH1, which would involve another passage up-and-over the Mangamuka Gorge, where once-upon-a-time I took more riding risks than I ever normally would just to prove something to myself.

As Ellen could not remember the Mangamuka that well from last year, we jointly decided upon the slightly shorter SH1 option. Oh dear, here we go again, with that darn 13 km (8 mile) stretch of 'twisty magic' road .. again!

Exactly as we arrive at the beginning of the Mangamuka Gorge .. so the rain starts .. :o( .. So much so that it was necessary to stop at the summit in order that I could cover-up with my foul weather overalls.

No more racing for me - 'the Mangamuka Kid' - today. And so we traversed the Gorge, at a very sedate speed indeed. But that's providence for ya! .. :o)

Later that evening, after checking into the motel, we enjoyed a couple of the best medium-rare beef steaks that money can buy. Ansome!

It's been a funny ol' day