A beautiful day in “Gizzy,” as the locals call it! We chose our own adventures today, ranging from a visit to a local arboretum displaying trees from around the world, a homestead and farm visit, and, of course, a winery tour and tasting since we’re right in the middle of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s beautiful wine country.
12/1/2023
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National Geographic Orion
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island sits forty-five miles northeast of Aukland, New Zealand. It is a massive island with a long and occasionally troubled history. Birds were the original caretakers of the island but were overthrown when Polynesians arrived around the year 1000. The disturbance to the island then was nothing compared to the near extinction event that followed the arrival of Europeans. Cleared of endemic trees and nearly all the native avifauna, the ecosystem of Great Barrier Island barely held on. More than a century later, the tide began to turn. Through the conservation efforts of mostly private individuals, the island is on its way to becoming a haven for indigenous flora and fauna. From the glorious native kauri tree, almost wiped out in the demand for timber, to the charming and iconic kiwi bird, positive change is taking place. Our visit today was a fantastic opportunity to explore a conservation success story in progress.
