April 23, 2024
Our dear friend, Louise, led us on a short hike through the Alice Eaves Scenic Reserve. The Reserve was owned by Alice and Edward Eaves and was cared for by Alice until her death in 1955. It was then gifted to the New Zealand public in 1960 and is free and accessible to all visitors.
Kauri are New Zealand’s largest trees by volume (but not height). Seeing these tall straight trees, it easy to see why early European settlers quickly realized that the trunks of young kauri were ideal for ships’ masts and spars. The gum from the trees was also essential in the early manufacture of varnishes. Consequently, the Kauri forests were decimated right through until the middle part of the twentieth century. The trees are now protected but in recent years have come under a different threat. Kauri dieback is a disease that can lead to the death of the trees. To prevent the spread of the disease, footware-washing stations have been set up at the entrances and exits of walking tracks.
Like all of the forest (called bush by New Zealanders) we have visited here, the Reserve is very well maintained by the Department of Conservation. Wooden boardwalks and stairs make it easy to get around and view the magnificent Kauri trees.
Someone had left this little surprise tucked into one of the trees.
This old Kauri has been standing for approximately 800 years, during which time it had survived lightning strikes, fires and blows from a miller’s axe.
After our walk, we went to nearby Orewa for lunch. Just 25 miles north of Auckland, Orewa is a bustling seaside town, sitting beside a long wide beach.
Parts of the beach are lined with private homes. Here are a few.
Mal and Lauren 