Cape Reinga Lighthouse, the spirit tree is on the rocky outcrop in the middle.Closer-up of the tree. Cape Reinga lighthouse and the meeting of the Tasman Sea with the South Pacific Ocean.
At the Cape, the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean in a spectacular swirl of currents. At the northernmost tip of the Cape is a gnarled pohutukawa tree, believed to be over 800 years old. According to Maori oral history, the spirits of deceased Maori leap from this tree into the ocean to return to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.
Te Paki Stream is the entrance to New Zealand’s “90 mile beach” highway, in the far north. Because of unusual weather patterns the stream has silted up to where it doesn’t work for that any more. But the tour buses still come in so the daring can ride boogie boards down the sand dunes.
Going up to ride down.
I took a pass on the thrill, but enjoyed watching others.