Last of the Samurai

From Wellington we made our way up the Lower and Upper Hutt Valleys and crossed the Tararua Range climbing up steep mountain curvaceous roadways with no protective barriers and then swinging right and left down into the valleys beyond. the views were spectacular and we saw gold mines, and black sands near New Plymouth , and wind farms at Ashurst and the pretty town of Wanganui with its great memorial to the veterans sitting atop a hill. We of course climbed the hundreds of steps to see the view and we were not disappointed.... and ....and ... and it just goes on seemingly forever that it really takes your breath away as you wait to see what is around the next bend.
Well here is one of the views as you approach Mount Taranaki. This mountain was used for the set of The Last Samurai and it reminds one of Mount Fuji as it shoots straight up from the surrounding pastures. We hiked to the snow line in brilliant sun shine travelling through the rain forests below and reaching the gravelly volcanic rubble at the snowline. Great fun and worth the effort. we could have taken a guide and gone to the top but as we said before unfortunately we did not come prepared. Next time!