Hakuna Matata? Oh no, Tane Mahuta? Both!

With the knowledge of being able to find a first small job and thus bring at least some peace in financial matters and a beautiful sunrise (see previous post) behind us, we were already feeling very good this morning. The family at home is also doing well and our car is still running perfectly (oh yes, my eye is also more or less back to normal!). The phrase 'Hakuna Matata' fits quite well! By the way, the translation here would be 'No worries!'. It seems that we have already internalized that quite well...

But the day is still young, so..where to go? The answer is almost self-evident due to the geographical circumstances of New Zealand: The Waipoura Forest, where the largest remaining population of ancient and giant Kauri trees can be admired, is less than 30 kilometers away. And off we go...

We, the early risers, arrive at the Visitor Center of the Forest around 8:15 am and seem to be the first ones there. Where are all the fair-weather hikers? But our arrogance is quickly dampened: Just as we have locked the car and are about to start walking on the first track, we are called back. A park ranger (or someone else who apparently has something to say here) explains that almost all the forest hiking trails are closed - bad weather and therefore: danger for the hikers! Because if one of us were to break a leg, we are told, it would cost the operators of the Forest 3,000,000 $. Great. Being nice as we are, we save them these high expenses and decide not to break a leg today. However, this also means that we cannot go for a hike in the Forest...

Too bad! We inquire about what else there is to see and learn that there is a road to the Look Out Point that we could drive up by car to get a view of the Forest. Said and done! However, the road there is only average and the view was pretty cool, but not as impressive as expected, so we make our way back slightly disappointed.

We decide to try one more thing. The infamous Tane Mahuta, one of the largest Kauri trees (51.2m), is supposedly located right next to the road and possibly accessible..."We park our car at the corresponding spot and indeed! After about 0.5 minutes or 100 m on foot, we suddenly find ourselves in front of this monster. What a huge trunk! Perhaps this Kauri should consider going on a diet, because you can definitely see its nearly 14 meters in girth...

Even though the photo lacks a reference object and the tree doesn't look that huge, let me tell you: This thing is completely gigantic! Excited, both by the tree and by not coming here for nothing, we admire the tree and take some photos, but all attempts to capture the dimensions fail miserably!

But every excitement eventually gives way to tiredness when you have only slept for 5 hours and are still a little tired from the previous day's activities. That's why we take one last photo of Tane Mahuta and head home, it's only 90 kilometers away...

The rest of the day then consists, quite unusually, mainly of eating...Hakuna Matata!