I spent 2 nights at Opononi, a small town located in Hokianga Harbour. Opononi became well known in the 1950s due to the appearance of a friendly dolphin that not only performed various tricks but allowed children to ride on its back. The locals christened the dolphin 'Opo'.
Pictures: (1) me at Opononi with the sand-dunes in the background, (2) the Hokianga Harbour, (3) info on the biggest Kauri in the world and (4) Tane Mahuta.
A BBC reporter captured Opo in action on film and this documentary, entitled 'Opo - The Gay Dolphin' is played daily at the Opononi Visitor Centre. Some tourists were overheard to have asked "How did they know the dolphin was gay?" Read more about Opo at
Besides Opo, Hokianga is also home to the biggest Kauri tree in the world located in the Waipuoa Forest Reserve. Known to the Maori as "Tane Mahuta" or "Lord of the Forest", it is estimated to be 2,000 years old and the volume of its trunk is approximately 244 cbm, which would produce enough timber to build 10 houses.
Pictures: (1) me at Opononi with the sand-dunes in the background, (2) the Hokianga Harbour, (3) info on the biggest Kauri in the world and (4) Tane Mahuta.
2 comments:
Awesome
Hi there, I live up here and just had a read of your blog, it looks like you are having a great time, but working hard! thanks for sharing x
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