Tired from cave exploration and a long drive, we settled in for a restful afternoon in our little cottage in Rotorua. The kids started their online learning and Trae grabbed a nap. I opened google maps to plot out a neighborhood walk. Then I discovered we were merely 10 minutes from a huge Redwood Forest filled with hiking trails. The kids and Trae rallied to make my spontaneous request for a golden hour hike happen, and it was perhaps my favorite experience in NZ yet. The trail wound through towering Redwoods - like quiet giants welcoming us to visit - before climbing through rainforest and eventually summiting at an overlook as the sun went down. The air was cool and damp and filled with life. The ground was soft and covered in fallen leaves and a bed of pine needles. And the smell - of decomposing leaves and fresh air- maybe my favorite of all time.
I told Poppy she had inherited a love for mountain hikes - after initial grumbles asking how far the hike would be, the energy of the forest was contagious. - Kim
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