Our Fullday walk ,20 kilometers we encounter many different associations of forest

From regenerating forest to mature 1200year old Kauri Trees.

Agnes from the California USA was amazed at the fruit in the forest.

Bush Lawyer (Rubus cissoides) is a vine that climbs trees,it is very stout and thick.

It flowers September to November,then Fruits November to April.

At the moment the fruit is in abundance.

Puketi Forest birds have more fruit available through the predator control

being undertaken in the forest.

Forest to the sea

The Kaka.(Nestor Meridionaus) is a noisy and sociable bird of the forest.They live mostly on New Zealands off shore Islands.Numbers are low.Their call resembles a creaky door,can live up to 20 years.2 species are found  one in the North and one in the South Island. North island has olive-brown plumage,South Island brighter green and crimson plumage and almost white crown.They eat nector,fruit ,berries,sap,seeds,insects and grubs. They breed in September,laying average 4 white eggs in a hollow tree or branch.Very vulnerable to predators. They have been seen in the Puketi Forest, a colony of nine birds have been residing in private land not far from thePuketi.With all the conservation work being undertaken in the forest they may in time find it a very safe place to Breed.

Thr Kiekie or Freycinetia banksi is in abundance in the Puketi Forest.This is a robust climber whose leaves often completely obscure the trunks of supporting trees.It may also form dense entanglements on the ground particularly in swampy sites.The leaves are up to1.5cmlong x2-2.5 cmwide with sheathing bases and finelytoothed cutting edges.The very small flowers male and female on different plantes are densely crowded on finger like stalks clustered at the end of the branches.The female flowers form a corn cob like fruit ripening late summer. With the conservation efforts in the forest the fruit is more noticeable.

Today we had forestwalkers from the cruise ship The Volendam . They all loved the crisp clean air full of Spring flower scent.I told them of the success The Puketi Forest Trust has had with the on going Conservation efforts. Eradicating Predators ,to the release of Bird life back into the now safe Forest.We visited Giant Kauri trees (Agathis Australis),viewed spring growth and flowers emerging.Also the bird life was in abundance,bird song lilting through the forest canopy.

Bill and Beate from Atlanta Georgia USA  are following in the footsteps of a very famous sailor ,navigator, surveyor and man of science  Robert Fitzroy, captained HMS Beagle on three voyages around the world.In 1831 he sailed for the south via South America, on this voyage Charles Darwin the famous Naturalist accompanied him.

Darwin visited the Bay of Islands,travelling by foot up two of the main rivers taking notes of Flora and Fauna and the people who lived here .

Fitzroy later became the Governor of NZ from 1843-1846. Bill and Beate enjoyed the forest walk, especially the flora and fauna, the size of the Kauri trees and the conservation work being done in the forest.

Today we witnessed conservation at its best,the New Zealand Robin released in June 09 is now flying freely through the Puketi Forest .Today was the first time Adventure Puketi has been able to show our clients what the Puketi Forest Trust and Volunteers,their success of six years of hard work.Sabine and Lynn from Switzerland love Nature and it was a pleasure to be able to show them the conservation effort being put into Puketi forest.

Wow what a night to remember. After recent rain our usual nightwalk took us an extra hour to complete. The forest was alive with nocturnal creatures. My clients had weta walking on their skin for the first time in their lives, our forest has nothing to be afraid of, night or day. Conservation in this area of the forest has really brought the forest back to its usual state.

Congratulations to Father and Son Dan and Danny Waldsmith from South Carolina, USA for choosing Eco tours in Northland New Zealand. Northland is now been recognised as a Destination not to be missed for the Top Quality Eco Tours. From Forest walks, Diving, Boat tours ,Conservation and Scenery.

The cilents were WOWed by the clean clear water, the size of the Kauri, with the growth of the spring flowers and conservation at its best.