NATIVE BUSH WONDERLAND

I've said it before and I will continue to say it, we have some pretty wonderful places here in Opotiki.

Hikutaia Domain being one of the many.



Just a few kilometres from the CBD (she says with a wry smile), well we do have a business district, albeit a rather small one, is the Domain.

In a forest like setting, specimen plantings of shrubs, trees, ferns and grasses, and walking tracks, is a parkland that has a great selection of this country's native flora.


The reserve of native plants only is one of the finest in New Zealand and includes many beautiful walks in it's 5ha. Most of the different species of flora are labelled with pegs stating the Botanical name, the place of origin and the common or Maori name, if known.



The domain was established in 1930's and thanks to a local lawyer and amatuer botanist, Mr Norman Potts, the reserve is one of note, not just here but abroad.
While there are a lot of highlights to the domain, the historic tree "Taketakerau" which has a girth of about 22 metres, a height exceeding 23 metres and is estimated as over 2000 years old, is one of not only historical but also great cultural significance to our area, so we really do consider we do have a native bush wonderland.


Oh look there's my car, whilst not of any great historical of cultural significance, it certainly makes my life much easier.