Our main objective today had been to do a scenic drive around some of the upper reaches of Kaipara Harbour. It was disappointing because many of the roads were very rough and Chris did not want to venture down in the new car. The unexpected highlight of the day was the Kauri Museum where we spent several hours without realising it until we looked at our watches when we left. It was quite a Tardis, much larger than it looked on the outside and charted the social history of the area and how it was dependant on the Kauri tree.
There were beautiful examples of ornate Victorian furniture made in Kauri wood. Working saw mills and other machinery in realistic reconstructions od their original settings. A two story boarding house from about 1910 had been reconstructed with very good room settings illustrating the period. There was great attention to detail and I particularly liked the mud on the shoes od the dentists patient which was also over the footrest of the treatment chair. Huge slabs of Kauri, with equipment for felling, milling and transporting. In the basement was a magnificent display of Kauri Gum (amber) Carved and specimen pieces.
Outside there was a school, used from 1879 - 1972 which had desks like I remember from my early schooldays, and complete with pens, maps and books. A church, and a Post Office with several room settings. The switchboard was like the one I used at the GPO only smaller (not so many lines then) and of course the old black finger dial phones. In those days the postmaster and family lived there so there were the family living quarters.
The souvenir shop was tempting but expensive so it was lucky that they were closing. If we have time will definitely go for return visit