Just down the road from my little village in rural Waikato is a place that can give you some idea of what it would have been like to walk in the New Zealand bush before people came and cut down most of the forests for farmland.
Yarndley's Bush is one of the few remaining stands of the native Kahikatea, or white pine. It is New Zealand's tallest forest tree, growing up to 60 metres, and living as long as 500 years. The trees at Yarndley's bush are around 35m, and not much older than 100 years, but are still imposing, and hugely impressive to walk underneath.
To get there you park at the nearby car park, and take a short walk down a steep hill between farm paddocks. Often there are cattle or horses grazing next to the track. On the day I took these photos, a herd of horses was my welcoming committee.
Once inside the forest canopy, you'll find a circular boardwalk that takes you on a meandering loop through the 14 hectare block. It's a short walk if you maintain a brisk pace, less than 10 minutes, but it's best enjoyed by walking slowly and soaking in the chorus of birdsong from the tui, grey warbler and finches. Sometimes a cheeky fantail will shadow you, flitting from branch to branch and eating the insects you disturb with your passage. There are also signs spaced along the walkway full of interesting information about the trees and their history.
Looking up into the canopy can make you feel truly small.
Halfway along the walkway is a lookout platform, which you can climb to get a little closer to the forest canopy and the birdlife . It's a great spot to sit and soak in the ambience of the bush, especially in the late afternoon when I visited. Even in winter, the chorus of birdsong fills the air.
The raised walkway isn't just to keep your feet from getting wet in the swampy ground. The Kahikatea trees have extensive above-ground root systems which are vulnerable to damage. The roots allow the trees to absorb oxygen from the air, since they often grow in swampy areas.
It's also a great walk for dog owners, since dogs are allowed provided they are kept on a lead.
The hike up the hill as you leave gets the blood pumping, and if you are lucky and leaving near sunset as I did, you may be treated a vista like this.
A great place to spend some time with nature, it makes me remember the times I have walked through the different walks in Stratford.
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