Wet Westland Rainforest

March 1, 2008

Down on the forest floor someone small and insignificant scrambled up over a large and very wet moss covered boulder, struggling to get a better view of the small waterfall that had been taunting him with singing as he struggled, camera and tripod in hand, to see where the sound was coming from. He sighed, letting a smile slip out across his lips at the scene now unfolding before him. Beautiful singing cascades flowed across mossy boulder after mossy boulder down into the gurgling brook below. Satisfied, he slowly set up his camera and surveyed the scene he was about to photograph, his heart beating fast with excitement and anticipation.

Welcome to the West Coast of New Zealand where rainforests meet glaciers winding up to soaring majestic mountain peaks. Such are the forests of Westland, New Zealand. Rich with all manner of growth, and very, very wet. Covered in moss, covered in fern, covered in all manner of trees and plants found nowhere else on earth, this is lush dinosaur territory. Copious moss hanging from every living thing in sight leads the mind to imagine something far older, and more terrifying than these trees, could be lurking behind the giant Rata right in front of you, watching your every move with an unblinking dinosaur eye.

Here is a taste of the forest interior from Westland, New Zealand.