Kauri belong in the Jurassic period, so it's no wonder that they're huge! they are now only found in the southern hemisphere, and then only in a few places.
Basically, when the Europeans arrived there were great forests of kauri, which grew hundreds of feet tall, perfectly straight. they were thousands of years old and made perfect ship's masts and wonderful planks for building. The forests were decimated in a very short space of time.
Tane Mahuta is the tallest living kauri remaining, its age is unknown but is estimated to be between 1250 and 2500 years old. Its Māori name means "Lord of the Forest" and the photos just don't do justice to the overwhelming size of it!
The trunk girth 45.18 ft, its height is 167.98 ft!!
Continuing on the kauri trail we headed for the fattest (widest is kinder) kauri still living, Te Matua Ngahere . The tree's Maori name means "Father of the Forest". As you approach it it seems to loom out of the forest, just of unbelievable size! It's trunk is 16.4m wide and it's still growing..
The lookout tower at the end of the walk gave views over what would have once been huge kauri forests, now planted by the forestry companies with pines, but you could imagine it!
Tomorrow it's the kauri museum!
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