B and G in New Zealand: Northland Part 2

Northland roadside scenery

We spend most of our days staying at our bach in Coopers Beach, not driving anywhere. We are enjoying swimming, walking the beach, enjoying the deck, and today we are going ocean kayaking.

We did walk the Mahinepua Peninsula Scenic Reserve, one of our favorites. You get the heart rate going, walking up and down the hills until you get to the trig, and the views are spectacular all along the trail. We had a nice visit with a New Zealand couple along the trail.

We also drove to Wairere Boulders (a privately owned property). The Swiss owners discovered the unusual basalt formations here and built a two hour trail up and over the boulders and through the nikau palm, kauri and tree ferns, so that people could enjoy this special place.

Basalt boulder

On the way to Wairere Boulders, we took a side trip down a long narrow dirt road to Omahuta Kauri Sanctuary Walk and the Kauri Stump Walk. Both short walks were worth the drive. The six hectare grove of kauri were spared in the mass logging that was done in 1951. The stump we saw was much much bigger than the base of any of the remaining kauri trees.

Grove of young kauri trees

8th largest kauri tree in New Zealand
Hokianga

The 62 year old stump of an enormous kauri tree.
G is standing at the back edge.

Our last long walk of this trip was to Whangamumu Beach and a historic whaling station. First we drove to Paihia to the Opua Vehicle Ferry for a quick and fun trip over to Russell. The walk took us over farmland with grazing horses, up a steep hill and down to a secluded and picturesque beach. A little further was the site of a historic whaling station active from 1844 until 1940. After our walk we enjoyed strolling in historic Russell and getting a bite to eat.