Kiwis and Rain Forrests

Well, I'm sure it's a known fact that the Kiwi is the national bird in NZ. It's just so sad that the little bugger is on the extinct list, is of a shy nature and tend to avoid humans and is bred nowadays in strict controlled reserves. Hense the ban on all predatory animals!! Yep, in all the time here we haven't even seen a live one!! Niel and Ilse did, at the Wellington Zoo. It had only one leg!!!! See, it was attacked by a stray cat and hence the sad tearjerking little display and story you get when vsiting the Wellington zoo!! Hence, I've not been there!!!! :-)

So, enough of the sadness. The rainforrests are amazing. This one listed here is the Bushy Park reserve where Kiwi's are bred. But we saw none when we were there. Think they were all sent to visit Santa. (We were there in December)

The estate house on Bushy Park's land. They serve a mean tea!!! :-)

This is as close to a Kiwi as we could get!!!!

Huge huge huge trees!!! The demand respect for sheer size.

Speaking of respect...you just have to respect the dedication of a serious recreational photographer!!

But it's not without it's rewards! A camera flash lights up the "silver" bottom of the Silver Fern and can turn any photographer into a queen of the jungle. Go Jane go!!!!


Tree-Huggers!!!!Can't take them anywhere!! Wonder of dit hulle Bominee is??? :-)


The atmosphere in the forrest is pretty much magic!! We all just wabted our pictures taken in this amzing piece of nature.


Tiny, Esme and Minka & Maih also felt the awesomeness of the forrest!!