NZ Forest Pics

[Ianab]

Hi Folks
A while back I was asked to post a few pics of NZ trees and forests as I'm sure they are very different to what most of you are used to. These are some shots I took today in the local National Park, camera's only, no chainsaws allowed.
1st pic, from the park gate looking up toward Mt Egmont

This is the access road through the dense temperate rain forest

A short walk off the road this beautifull old Rimu tree, forgot my tripod but was able to hang the camera from a sapling for a self portrait, and give some idea of scale ;)

Looking up the tree, probably 50ft to the 1st branch and dead straight.

Nearby tree has a large Rata vine clinging to it. The tree trunk is on the left and the vine is on the right

Looking up the tree with the vine curling around the trunk

This one is growing beside the road, car gives an idea of size here.

Closeup of the vine wrapped around the tree in the previous photo

Eventually the host tree dies of old age and usually leaves the Rata as a free standing tree encasing a rotting log. The Rata may live on for hundreds of years, long after the original host has vanished, leaving only a hollow centre, sometimes big enough to walk inside.

This old Rata still contains the dead host and has collected it's own community of vines and small trees.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour and photo marathon   :

Ian

[Jeff]

Great Pictures Ianab!

[Fla._Deadheader]

Yes, very interesting.  Thanks

[Norm]

Thanks for the tour lanab, I enjoyed it.

[Mark M]

Wow!

[OneWithWood]

We just finished watching the DVDs of the first two movies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  It was shot on location in NZ.  What a beautiful country!
Thanks for sharing some more of it, Ian.