Tree fern top

We were hiding from rain and gale force winds as well as terrible visibility on the mountains, so we headed for Lake Rotopounamu. There's a nice 6k loop all the way round the shore in the forest so it's nice and sheltered (apart from the half mile section where the path is along the beach - our arrival was nicely timed for a heavy, squally shower). On the way round it's impossible to see where the walk started, so it is a bit disorientating, and feels like being in a timewarp.

The forest is podocarp - which is native lowland forest in NZ. The tree ferns grow in the understorey and make the forest look really exotic. This shot was taken after I climbed a taller tree and looked down on the top of a young tree fern.... (OK, so the shot was taken from a bridge)