Monday, 26th February 2007
Went to the Whakarewarewa Forest, locally known as The Redwoods. After a two hour walk I continued on to The Buried Village then went back to Rotorua to visit St Faith's Church.
The track initially passes through Redwoods . . .
then through the Radiata Pine.
The Whakarewarewa thermal area . . .
and again
Rotorua from the Radwood Forest
A clear path runs through the trees and fern . . .
and looking more closely . . .
at the trees
Entrance to the forest
In 1886 Mt Tarwera exploded in a mighty eruption that split the mountain . . .
and buried the small village
Te Wairoa was a staging post for the famous Pink and White Terraces, also destroyed
Excavated base
Excavation of buildings began in 1931 and some buildings have been reconstructed
Maori war canoe
A scenic walk leads down to Wairori Falls . . .
which plunge down 30 motres
to the bush clad valley below
The surrounding landscape sprouted from deesolate land to become beautiful native bush
The Meeting House at Ohinimutu, Rotorua
St Faith's Church where one of the stained glass windows shows Christ walking on the water of Lake Rotorua