Pohutukawa Tunnel

In Whakatane we drove through a Pohutukawa tunnel.   The Pohutukawa tree is known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree because it flowers in Summer which is when Christmas is in New Zealand.   It is too late to see the flowers on the trees at this time of the year, but imagine what it would have looked like with all those beautiful red flowers on it.

POHUTUKAWA is another tricky word to say - Poor - hoo -too- ca - wah

This is what the Pohutukawa looks like when its flowering.