Ulsterkiwi
13th April 2014, 12:33
My wife and I were in Northland for a week's holidays. We planned to go visit Akzle but the excitement just got too much so we decided to go diving in the Bay of Islands instead.
Anyway our first day's diving was called off because of a broken boat so we took off from our base in Kerikeri for Cape Reinga. On the way we saw the signs for the Gumdigger's Park. My wife loves all things wood/kauri/gum so we decided to check it out.
I realise a place like this is not everyone's cup of tea but for those with any interest in the history and heritage of New Zealand, this place is a real treat. Its (so far as I know) the last remaining and intact site where gum digging took place until the mid 1930s.
A cool walk through native bush, loads of exhibits, a recreated gum diggers settlement and a shop where you can buy stuff (surprise surprise) but the cool part is the very informative owner who is happy to spend ages talking about the history of the place, kauri gum, the life of a gum digger, Northland in general, just a nice guy who is very passionate about what he does. He also has a beautifully kept Triumph sitting in the car park so by visiting this place you would be supporting a fellow biker.
Should mention the very nice couple we met there from Christchurch who had ridden there in very short time. She had a much cooler bike :cool:
heres a linky, if you are ever up top, check it out....
http://http://www.gumdiggerspark.co.nz/ (http://www.gumdiggerspark.co.nz/)
Anyway our first day's diving was called off because of a broken boat so we took off from our base in Kerikeri for Cape Reinga. On the way we saw the signs for the Gumdigger's Park. My wife loves all things wood/kauri/gum so we decided to check it out.
I realise a place like this is not everyone's cup of tea but for those with any interest in the history and heritage of New Zealand, this place is a real treat. Its (so far as I know) the last remaining and intact site where gum digging took place until the mid 1930s.
A cool walk through native bush, loads of exhibits, a recreated gum diggers settlement and a shop where you can buy stuff (surprise surprise) but the cool part is the very informative owner who is happy to spend ages talking about the history of the place, kauri gum, the life of a gum digger, Northland in general, just a nice guy who is very passionate about what he does. He also has a beautifully kept Triumph sitting in the car park so by visiting this place you would be supporting a fellow biker.
Should mention the very nice couple we met there from Christchurch who had ridden there in very short time. She had a much cooler bike :cool:
heres a linky, if you are ever up top, check it out....
http://http://www.gumdiggerspark.co.nz/ (http://www.gumdiggerspark.co.nz/)