My last week in Whangarei Jeanette and I snuck away for an afternoon and visited a little local waterfall. It was actually pretty impressive that this trail and waterfall were tucked away right in town.
Both of us were impressed with the big boulders along the trail all covered with moss.
The thicker parts were just a mini garden growing on the boulders.
Along with the very colorful mushrooms and fungus growing. I have seen several of them and every time it still makes me think of Alice in Wonderland.
The boulders along the stream were fluted like the ones up in Wairere Boulders but apparently they are not limestone. I just couldn't help but see this area with the boulders and stream and woods and think it would have been an amazing spot to have right in your backyard as a kid.
At the end there was this beautiful little waterfall in the trees. It was really nice to watch the fall down on these rocks but up at the top it was even better.
You could just sit on these rocks up at the top and watch the pretty still pool and then the drop down to the second pool for hours. The water was a deep green color and so still, it just felt peaceful to be near it.
We decided that these two ducks had picked a pretty great spot to call home.
After a little peace at the waterfall we decided to check out another local waterfall.
Apparently this is not impressive at all for what this waterfall normally looks like. I told Jeanette that she just should have acted like this was how it always was because coming from Nebraska it doesn't take much of a waterfall to impress me, I never would have thought anything less of it!
Heading back we went by this lovely display of country New Zealand in a single photo: your "local" or local pub out in the country complete with a group obviously celebrating a successful hunting trip.
Nearby was where several generations of Jeanette's family had lived and the site of the Pa, or Maori village that was nearby. It reminded me a lot of how there are so many places in Nebraska that my parents know the past generations who have ranched where and how people use to live close to where they were born. I think it is becoming less and less common in the US but it is still generally what you find here in New Zealand. This drive use to lead to Jeanette's family's farm and featured some of the great stone fences that were so common in the area.
The day was great and really showed just how different of an experience I am getting from just coming to New Zealand on a holiday. I have gotten to be friends with some really great Kiwis and have loved getting to learn more about the real culture of New Zealand not just the places the guidebooks tell you that you should see. But the guidebooks are right about how great the Kiwis are, they really do love making sure that everyone that visits has an amazing experience.
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