Lake Waikaremoana

With darkness lasting longer than light here in the western US, I am reminded that spring is quickly unfurling in the southern hemisphere. One of the strangest experiences is to leave the northern hemisphere in the dead of winter, to arrive in the southern hemisphere at the height of summer. Leaving a place that holds 8 hours of sunlight, and arriving in a different place with 16 hours of sunlight is certainly an experience that will leave the body somewhat confused.

New Zealand is a country blessed with amazing beauty. Most of the country has been converted from ancient native forest, to various types of grazing land and timber land to support the commercial interests of land holders. Of course, the most beautiful and mysterious places in New Zealand lie within the protected confines of national parks.

One such place called Te Urewera National Park allows a visitor to witness ancient New Zealand nature as it mostly once was.



Lake Waikaremoana

It is rare to see water clarity as great as what I experienced while camping on the shore of Lake Waikaremoana. The lake is huge, the deepest on the North Island, and completely natural (no dam). The forest and vegetation around the lake are native, allowing one to sense the pristine state of nature from the days of old.




A hike through the local forests will provide incredible views of the native Kauri trees that once dominated the New Zealand countryside. A slow growing hardwood, the Kauri have long been a prized wood for building. Unfortunately very few kauri forests are left due to the over logging and consumption by invasive non-native possums.



Kauri Tree