On top of Great Barrier Island . . . . .

. . . . . a 'wee' walk today, to the top of Hirakimata, or Mt Hobson, the tallest peak on GBI. I found the steepness of the track quite challenging but am encouraged in that although I seemed to be really slow, we still managed to finish within the suggested time of 4 hours. Walking through the remaining kauri forest, right near the summit, was very beautiful, and all the mosses hanging from the trees reminded me of Lord of the Rings terrain. We started off trying to count the kauri trees we saw, but gave up as there were simply too many! What a fabulous thing to be able to say. 

Wikipedia says "Located in the centre of the island, Mount Hobson rises 621 m (2,037 ft) above sea level.
Various mountain tracks allow relatively easy access to the summit, with the shortest (2 hour) track leading through the famous Windy Canyon (which is the way we went). Great views over the island, to the Coromandel Peninsula and the Poor Knights Islands are often possible from the top of the mountain. The summit area is also a breeding ground for the black petrel, and the track in this part is mostly composed of boardwalks and stairs to protect the breeding areas and prevent erosion.
Such a wonderful day!!! So lucky. I'm looking forward to an early night :)