From the Archives
Rotorua Redwoods
August 5, 2009
It took me a full seven years in New Zealand to realize that we have redwoods. But once I found out, it didn’t take long to organize a hiking trip: Whakarewarewa Forest is just three hours south of Auckland, on the shores of Lake Rotorua.
The result of a commercial forestry experiment started in the late 1800s, Whakarewarewa Forest has a selection of exotic trees—some planted by prison labor. There’s Douglas fir, Mexican cypress, Oriental plane tree, Japanese cedar, Australian eucalyptus and many more. But the main attraction is unquestionably the beautiful stands of California redwood.
Wide walking paths meander through the most prominent groves, offering easy access to the biggest trees. But as you set off on the half-day or full-day hikes, the paths soon peter out into steep, muddy tracks, with thick vegetation on all sides. Here, the already lofty redwoods seem even taller, even straighter as they emerge from the chaos of native ferns.
It may be a far cry from stunning Sequoia National Park in California. But the curious juxtaposition of California redwoods with the almost impenetrable New Zealand rainforest makes Whakarewarewa Forest a very worthwhile hiking destination. Below, some photos from my weekend outing to the forest.
Travel companion Sarah patiently waits for the shutter to close.
Closeup of a mature California redwood. Because of the high humidity in New Zealand, these trees don’t bear the scars of forest fires so often seen in California.
HDR image of a stand of redwoods.
A cluster of redwoods reaching for the sky.
Subscribe to the News Feed
Follow Me on Twitter