old growth forest - Sanctuary Mountain
With two mates, my wife and I travelled to the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island to spend time at Sanctuary Mountain, the world's largest fenced eco-sanctuary.
The weather was less kind, with extended periods of rainfall on Saturday and Sunday, so our time in the reserve was limited to a four-hour period from late morning to mid-afternoon on Saturday. That being the time when most birds slept after early morning activity, we spotted and heard less bird life than we had eagerly anticipated.
Nonetheless, the walk through ancient forest was magnificent and richly rewarding.
Today’s photograph is one of my favourites. The fractal beauty of fern combined with new and old growth leaf and limb — the dark insistence of tree trunk and gossamer delicacy of tree branch — signify the sylvan signature and visual verity of our walk.