Timber Milling History of New Zealand

Follow The Traces on Aucklands' West Coast

Following the traces in West Auckland of the timber milling industry in New Zealand around 1840 to 1860. An idustry born of the European migration stream that made New Zealand to: No Other Home Than This

The kauri trees once started their journey from Piha Valley on a tramline that transported them via Karekare Beach. From there following the coast to Wonga-Wonga Bay at Whatipu to be shipped.

The slides below follow the path of the New Zealand forest giants. The journey begins at Piha Valley above the Kite-Kite Falls. At track entrance a tree trunk still commemorates the timber industry of West Auckland. 

Nowadays kauri wood is recovered in swamps and used in traditional carvings and to produce New zealand gifts like photo albums .

The reason behind that is these giants become ancient 1 thousand to 2 thousand years and older. Which incidentally gives a clue about their growth rate that is very slow.

The train passes Karekare Beach at Karekare Point. Sometimes the wind sets remaining bolts free. Nothing stops views over a vast sandy coast line towards Whatipu.

Yet following the trees' journey along the cliffs past Cowan Point to Tunnel Point the landscape changes remarkably. Entering through the tunnel parts of the old steam engine lie deserted in a sheltered kettle. Surrounded by cliffs and wetland a campsite gives hikers and trampers' room with basic facilities to stay over night, after acquiring permission at the Auckland Regional Council.

The thumbnail leads to play jig saw puzzles online.

On another day we finished the journey of the mighty kauri at Wonga-Wonga Bay in Whatipu. We caught one of the most amazing moments at the beach. It lasted only about five minutes but these were fascinating. A hot summers’ day was interrupted by rain and led to the three last slides.

The meeting of wind and rain with this extraordinary natural light put the bay into an atmosphere of total absence of presence.