5 May 2007

Maungaroa Ridge Track

page 3

The surrounding bush is changing from kanuka to tanekaha and kauri

It's slightly tougher territory along here - the sort that often hosts dracophyllum and these little whipcord ferns which I haven't identified yet.

The track is a little overgrown along here and every now and again a slightly larger kauri presides.

Briefly we head uphill and the track becomes rougher and more root ridden. Signs of the earlier "road" have vanished.

The bush has become almost monotype at this point.

and the track is less obvious.

Kanuka reasserts itself and other species return in a slightly lusher environment.

A small Pittosporum tenuifolium, (kohuhu) like a blue green mapau, is common in many areas of thre Waitakeres, but less so along this path.

Metrosideros diffusa makes its way up a punga trunk

and Alseuosmia macrophylla (karapapa) is also plentiful towards this end of the track. In flower, this is possibly the most fragrant plant to be found in the New Zealand bush. I have even become aware of the fragranc e along a path before I have located the bush.

We carry on through young kauri.

Just through here the tops of the kauri extend beyond the kanuka and they look as if they'd been badly bitten by salt-filled westerlies.

A kanuka roof fits together quite magically.

Hello! Might have to squeeze through here.

I a lighter patch of track, grasses grow thickly alongside.

and the occasional group of larger kauri confront us as we pass.

Then it's back into kanuka and punga again for a spell.