OKERE FALLS

OKERE FALLS and the REDWOODS

Another leisurely morning around the Condo today. We are nearing our end of stay on the North Island. Still craving new sights, we took a short drive out to a scenic river to see OKERE FALLS. The parking lot was only about halfway full as we pulled in, so the trail should not be too crowded. The short hike though the thick New Zealand forest was beautiful. We could hear the roar of the falls as we neared the overlook point. A few people stood by waiting for a group of whitewater rafters to come. With cameras ready we all prepared ourselves for some free entertainment. The colorful rafts and screaming rafters came floating down the falls, crashing into the white foam, performed time and time again, until 5 or 6 rafts had jumped the falls.

As the rafters continued along, we hit he trail to the viewing platform of the next falls. Again, they were fun to watch. This was definitely something that we MIGHT do. Perhaps if the water was warmer, and my arthritic bones were easier to move, and if it was Tuesday, I might have booked a spot on the boat!

Ron and I hit the trail for the final falls and the end of their excursion, while the girls hit the trail back to the parking lot. We watched the rafts to the end and then we returned to the parking lot. The water was crystal clear and inviting, regardless of its temperature! But we were satisfied without partaking!

From OKERE FALL we headed to another short hiking place along a beautiful creek, through a forest of large REDWOOD TREES. The walk along this crystal clear stream was the most scenic we have seen! The large Redwoods towered more than a hundred feet high, or so it seemed! Some were as much as 4 or5 feet in diameter! The sign said that these were like those in California along the coast, but that these were all planted in 1919. Two thousand years from now these will be more than huge!

Half of the scenic creek came from HAMURANA SPRINGS, a deep, underground cold water spring. There were kids swimming in the 51 degree water. I have never seen water this clear in my life. I always thought some of Oregon's lakes and streams were clear....and they may be! But this water is unlike any I've seen. The deep spring belches more than 1,000,000 gallons of 51 degree water every hour! Quite a sight!

The New Zealand vegetation along the Creek mingles Yucca type vegetation, tree ferns and Giant Redwood Trees, creating a spectacular vision!

This one gets TWO THUMBS UP!!