A small group of us are in the Waipoua Forest, in Northland, New Zealand, in the country's largest stand of native kauri trees, including the big daddy of the them all, Tane Mahuta, the lord of the forests in Maori mythology. We are guided by Koro Carman, founder of Footprints Waipoua, a tour operator that takes visitors into the forest at dusk and exposes them to the Maori … [Read more...] about Lord of the forest
New Zealand
Whangamata a feast of beach delights
Whangamata is my favourite beach resort, mainly because during the summer months it combines reliable weather with good swimming and there are enough shops and other attractions to hold the interest of visitors and holidaymakers. The Maori name 'vVhangamatii.' comes from the words 'whanga' which means bay, and 'mata', that means a hard stone, referring to the obsidian (or … [Read more...] about Whangamata a feast of beach delights
Kai Waho a happy place
The day Tom Loughlin takes me into the bare hills high above Lake Taupo, the only sound we hear standing on the deck of the whare overlooking the vast valley is a gentle wind and the far-off cheep of a miromiro bird or tomtit. If you can’t bear your own company or if you are terrified by your own thoughts when you are alone, this is not the place for you. But this is … [Read more...] about Kai Waho a happy place