#flathal #flatstanleyproject #waitangi, #newzealand
New Zealand has a population of just over 5 million people—nearly one third of whom live in the Auckland area.
Less than 9,000 people live in Bay of Islands, where the Flat Friends made our second stop in New Zealand. Waitangi, the community our tenders brought us into, has a population of less than 75!
As our guides in Bay of Islands pointed out, New Zealand is a nation of farmers. We took a scenic train ride from Kawakawa, and one of the engineers slowed the train at one point because one of the cows from his herd was on the track!
Our journey on the “Scenic Vintage Railway” started by going down the center of the Main Street of Kawakawa. The train headed towards Opua—stopping before the tunnel to Opua and then being towed by a second engine back to Kawakawa, because the tunnel sprung a leak during a rainstorm! They had seen a dent in the ceiling of the tunnel before that, and thought it needed work, but when it sprung a leak they discovered it might be at risk of collapse and totally closed it until major repairs can be completed.
This train line originated in the late 1800s, carrying coal from a mine. That tunnel was made before a lot of modern technology, and research tools were available— and for over 100 years it served the train line well!
Now, instead of containers full of coal that needs to get to people anxious to keep their homes warm in the winter, this rail line carries tourists who want to spend a few hours reliving a “moment from the past,” and glimpse the scenery of New Zealand along the way. As the train would its way between trees and along waterways, guides shared local history, with both the settlers and Māori side included.
A scenic ride on a vintage train just might be one of the most relaxing ways to sightsee ever!
This tour wasn’t about covering great distances, but taking the opportunity to savor small moments. We crossed a waterway where some ducks were swimming— and tried to tell if we saw some Pacific Black Ducks playing with the Mallards.
In the fields we saw some Australasian Swamphens— commonly known in New Zealand by the Māori name pūkeko.
On our return to the tender pier, we saw a few Variable Oystercatchers— they are endemic (native) to New Zealand! Remember when we learned about endemic birds on Robinson Crusoe Island last year?
