Redwoods Forest, Whakarewarewa facts for kids
Redwoods Forest is a special place near Rotorua, New Zealand. It's home to a huge group of coastal redwood trees that originally came from California. This amazing forest covers about 6 hectares (15 acres) and is part of the bigger Whakarewarewa State Forest.
These redwood trees were planted here a long time ago, at the start of the 1900s. People wanted to see if different types of trees from other countries could grow well in New Zealand for timber. It turns out, the redwoods loved it here! They grew much faster than they do in their native California. This is because the soil in Rotorua is very rich, and there's lots of rain. In just 100 years, some of these trees grew taller than 70 metres (230 ft)!
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Discovering the Redwoods Forest
The Redwoods Forest is also known as the "Redwood Memorial Grove." It's now a protected area, which means it's kept safe for everyone to enjoy. It's a very popular spot for fun outdoor activities.
Fun Things to Do
The forest has lots of cool things to do. You can find many exciting mountain bike tracks winding through the trees. It's a great place for an adventure on two wheels!
The Redwoods Treewalk
One of the most exciting attractions is the Redwoods Treewalk. This is a special walkway suspended high up between the giant redwood trees. It lets you walk among the treetops and see the forest from a whole new view.
Above the walkway, there are beautiful wooden lantern sculptures. These lanterns hang between the tall tree trunks. When night comes, they light up, making the forest look magical. Colored spotlights also shine on the plants and tree ferns on the forest floor, creating a stunning glow.
Amazing Animals in the Forest
The Redwoods Forest is also a home for some special birds. You might be lucky enough to spot the New Zealand falcon, which is a native bird of prey. The North Island robin also lives here, and sometimes you can even see the Whitehead (bird). These birds are all endangered, so it's important to protect their home.
