The rise and fall of a social media tree: Before photo Heather Mickelson. After photo; Dan Hutchinson
The ‘Taupō Tree’ at Waitetoko has tipped over, leaving tourists flummoxed and locals curious.
By Dan Hutchinson
Taupō landscape photographer Heather Mickelson knows the tree well – it’s one of her favourite spots.
She returned home from a trip to Taumarunui a couple of weeks ago and wandered down to the beach just north of the Tauranga Taupō Bridge to get a few snaps for an 'Out of Place' topic she was doing with a photography group.
“I was devastated to find this - an end of an era.”
The willow stands in the shallows of Lake Taupō – and has become one of the district's most photographed landmarks, says Destination Great Lake Taupō general manager Patrick Dault.
The tree's location on SH1, about halfway between Taupō and Tūrangi, makes it a natural stopping point.
He says the appeal lies in the emotional connection people form with images they find on social media — and the desire to experience that in person.
Ethan and Luke know the pulling power of the tree only too well with visitors often driving down their short lane and asking where the tree is.
Ethan left for a holiday on the Gold Coast on August 10 with the tree still standing. When he returned a week later, it was down.
Luke believes the combination of a high lake level over winter and persistent westerly winds likely weakened the tree's foundation.
The root bolus eroded on one side and the tree tipped over.
The tree is thought to be at least 50 years old and while it is now lying on its side, it’s not actually dead.
"It's still alive, still flowered, it might just grow its roots back down," Ethan says.
A neighbouring tree may be able to resurrect the social media following and it has its own trick – it’s mobile.
It floated into shore this year and is now perched on the beach less than 100 metres south of its fallen comrade.
Sitting on a floating mound of sediment, containing pumice, it shifts with wind and water levels.
The idea of resurrecting the Leaning Tree of Taupō has come up in conversation amongst the neighbours.
"We were thinking about that, you know, putting a strop on it and seeing if we can lift it back up," Luke says.
However, the tree now lacks the ballast around its roots to stand upright on its own.
