Waipoua Forest Kauri Trees 

Stereoscopic Picture of Cathedral Grove

By John Wattie

New Zealand's largest trees are able to grow anywhere in the country, but naturally grow only in the north of North Island. These northern latitudes were warm enough during the ice age to support the mighty conifers. Kauri trees grow so slowly they were unable to colonise further south after the ice age, before white men arrived and exploited them. 

New Zealand Kauri are probably the largest trees in the world, although not the tallest. Similar trees grow in Fiji.

Kauri trees contain the most wood per tree and excellent timber it is. The trunks grow to a huge girth, but without branches, before opening into a canopy high above ground. Milled planks are straight grained, homogenous, strong wood, excellent for furniture and ship building.  They were the first valuable export from New Zealand, but were cut mercilessly until few big ancient trees remained.

Waipoua forest is the last big area of Kauri, conserved since 1940 and later declared a National Park. 

A flat picture does not due justice to the cathedral, but it begins to come alive in stereoscopic format. I have yet to see any picture which conveys the awe inspiring reality of the place and this is a continuing challenge to me. Cathedral Grove was nearly silent on this day. Sometimes wind is heard in the canopy and the distant call of a Tui. 

1. a general view       (cross eye and parallel view stereo) 
2. a bigger picture      (cross eye and parallel view stereo)  The distant trees 
3. Bigger still              (Anaglyph format)                           The near trees.

A mono version of this was used in the 2002 Schering Calendar. That version was taken on Velvia film and has enhanced colour. The stereoscopic version is from a Nikon CoolPix 950 Digital camera, with more gentle colour.

 X Stereo

RIGHT

LEFT

U Stereo Big  / Small 

RIGHT

LEFT 

RIGHT

LEFT