Kauri Trees

The awe-inspiring kauri trees were harvested by European crews and exported for their valuable wood. Their sap was used as varnish. Kauris are left from dinosaur times.
The jungle where they grow is a national park today.

Alligator

Alligator on our neighbor's lawn.

Maoris

They are part of a dance troupe performing in the Auckland museum. This museum has some awesome Polynesian art including carved war canoes and council houses.

Waka

The great Polynesian migrations happened on large traveling canoes, called waka.

The shed below was built for one of the ceremonial war canoes used by the NZ Maori. The canoe is a reproduction for the anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi that established New Zealand.Decorative bow. Mouse over title for an additional photo.

Copthorne Hotel

Sunset in Hokianga.

Stay here if you want an awseome view of Hokianga Harbor.

Hokianga Harbor

After miles and miles of travel on a narrow road in the jungle, we landed on a hill with this marvelous view of Hokianga Bay. The great Maori chief Kupe landed here and the first group of Polynesians made the bay their home. The tiny town of Omapere.
Yes, these are real sanddunes, an entire peninsula made of sand dunes. European sailors did not find this bay for a long time because its entrance is hidden by the dunes that extend into the ocean. Many shipwrecked trying to negotiate the shallow entrance to the estuary which is also buffeted by winds. Mouse over title for a satellite photo on Wiki.

Auckland, NZ

High time to return to the South Pacific :-)
This tower is an Auckland landmark.