Today was my fourth day in New Zealand. We went to the largest Kauri tree in New Zealand. There is a family of trees that are all very very big and the biggest tree was called Tane mahuta (The Lord Of The Forest), it was 51.5 meters high and the girth of the trunk was 13.8 meters. The Lord Of The Forest is one of the largest trees in the world and is two thousand years old.
The Tane Mahuta towers over Kai and Vea who look like ants at the bottom of the tree.
(press the play button above to hear a story about a Kauri tree)
I want to tell you about the Kauri trees we saw today. They used to be found in several places in the world but today they are only found in New Zealand. The Kauri tree is a type of pine that the ancient New Zealanders (Maori) used for dug out canoes. The wood is easy to work with, strong, straight, and blemish free. Another neat thing about the Kauri tree is that it’s roots are very shallow and delicate and if you walk to close on the roots you can kill these giant trees. I went for a run through a kauri tree forest, the trees were just as big but you could get closer to them.
One of our morning ‘family runs’ through a Kauri Tree forest trail.
The kauri tree produces a gum that is kind of like sap, It gets clear in the middle over thousands of years. The sap would harden when it touched the air and form into a ball of gum. It would fall and become covered in soil and eventually fossilizing. Gum diggers would dig down and find the gum. The ancient New Zealanders used it for chewing gum, varnish and lots of jewelry. The gum of the kauri tree is the best varnish in the world.
It was so cool seeing the size of the tree up close I felt so small beside this giant tree.
Vea sitting easily inside the hollowed trunk of a cut Kauri Tree.
All 4 now.
(A Klog is a Blog by Kai. Kai + Blog = Klog!)
Gosh, Kai. You are making me jealous. I want a piece of that wood, even a small piece for a box. The picture of you in the forest and Vea in the tree trunk is superb.
Excellent Klog. Keep them coming. I wake up every morning and check the computer to see if one has come in.
Love,
Gramps
Hi grandpa and grandma
The forest was so cool we were all thinking of you and grandma on some of the hikes we did, wish you were right beside us in another camper, miss you.
Wow that is pretty amazing Kai. The boys would have lots Iof fun exploring the forest. Love the camper & what a great way to tour . We enjoy reading your klog’s.
Hi Michele
It was amazing. I wish Zach and Luke were there with me.
Now that is a TREE! I could use a little Kaurri sap for my table… Still enjoying your klog. Mary
Hi Mary
we saw some of the sap on a few tables and it was amazing.
Say hi to every body at school for me!
Amazing! I am learning so much! Thank you for your klog. The biggest tree I have seen here at home is that pine tree on the Oakridge – granite cove trail. You know the one that is hollowed out. The kauri trees are so big and only grow in New Zealand, very cool and important to save them. Do you know where else in the world really really really big trees grow and what are they are called?
Hi Marcia
There is some of the worlds largest trees in California called red wood trees, we saw the red wood trees when we were mountain biking in New Zealand.
Very interesting Klog Kai!!! The family run through the Kauri Forest looked amazing! I wonder if there is a special bird that alerted the natives as to whether or not the wood is good for making a canoe (bugs or not) as there is with the Koa trees. Too bad that sap could not be used for pancake syrup…you would be hooked!!! Love you!! XO
Kai that was a great Klog. Your writing has become very descriptive. I saw it in my head before I saw the picture. Awesome
Hi Jackie
Thanks, it was such a giant tree it probably toolk 20-30 people to fit there arms around it!
Thank you for sharing your amazing journey. I do appreciate the updates and wonderful pictures. Safe travels and enjoy every moment. 🙂
Kai, that’s the biggest tree I’ve ever seen! Must have been great to be so close to it. Very interesting facts about the historical uses of the tree. What a great adventure – keep Klogging! Cheers