Redwoods Treewalk
Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest—also called “The Redwoods”—is known for its massive stands of 75-meter (250-foot) tall California Coast Redwoods. They were first planted in Rotorua in 1901 as an experiment by the timber industry to see if they’d be commercially viable. It was decided that the trees weren’t of high enough quality to harvest and this attraction is all that remains of the extensive plantings. Interestingly, the climate and volcanic soil led to these trees growing far faster than their ancestors did in California, achieving heights in just 100 years that would have taken several hundred in North America.
Visitors have several free and paid ways of accessing this attraction. The marquee activity is the Redwoods Treewalk, a series of suspended boardwalk and bridges ranging in height from nine to 20 meters (30 to 65 feet), strung between these giants. At night, these same walkways are illuminated by lanterns and light installations (a dazzling effect) and given the name Redwoods Nightlights. Those two experiences take roughly 45 minutes, and are suitable for families. For daredevils, there’s the new Redwoods Altitude course, a combination of walkways, ziplines, and rope bridges that swing a terrifying 25 meters (82 feet) above the ground. This more intensive experience is guided and takes two hours. And the park itself is considered a mecca for mountain biking; cyclists can zip between the trees, and hikers can do walks on the ground, free-of-charge.
Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest—also called “The Redwoods”—is known for its massive stands of 75-meter (250-foot) tall California Coast Redwoods. They were first planted in Rotorua in 1901 as an experiment by the timber industry to see if they’d be commercially viable. It was decided that the trees weren’t of high enough quality to harvest and this attraction is all that remains of the extensive plantings. Interestingly, the climate and volcanic soil led to these trees growing far faster than their ancestors did in California, achieving heights in just 100 years that would have taken several hundred in North America.
Visitors have several free and paid ways of accessing this attraction. The marquee activity is the Redwoods Treewalk, a series of suspended boardwalk and bridges ranging in height from nine to 20 meters (30 to 65 feet), strung between these giants. At night, these same walkways are illuminated by lanterns and light installations (a dazzling effect) and given the name Redwoods Nightlights. Those two experiences take roughly 45 minutes, and are suitable for families. For daredevils, there’s the new Redwoods Altitude course, a combination of walkways, ziplines, and rope bridges that swing a terrifying 25 meters (82 feet) above the ground. This more intensive experience is guided and takes two hours. And the park itself is considered a mecca for mountain biking; cyclists can zip between the trees, and hikers can do walks on the ground, free-of-charge.
Details
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
